The Byrds - Live At The Fillmore

What do I know about the hippie generation? Not much. I was born in 1984 so I haven't lived through any of the golden eras of music. Luckily we have records, CDs, and tapes...

This Byrds album is amazing. Before deciding I wanted this album, I listened to a few sample clips and was immediately sold. I knew right away that this would be the album that would make my drive to work a whole lot better, and it sure did!


It starts off the way it finishes - smooth, soulful, and strong. The first few songs seem to blend together without more than a second break in between, I can't even imagine how awesome it would have been to be at this show. In between the beginning and end are tons of great songs, including a medley with their most famous hits - "Turn!Turn!Turn! - Mr.Tambourine Man - Eight Miles High." It's a great medley but the spotlight is easily stolen by less known songs as band leader, Roger McGuinn, narrates a few stories of how songs were created.


On "Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man," McGuinn explains that The Byrds went to Nashville before they were a proven group. After playing a few songs for a record executive, he quickly told them that he didn't like hippies and their music would never make it. They wrote this song about him. Ironically, the song is probably better known than the executive who didn't like it. I guess The Byrds got the last laugh on this one.


Another bonus surprise from this album is that The Byrds cover some good country songs. "Buckaroo" is an old Buck Owens & The Buckaroos instrumental that guitarist, Clarence White, burns up his B-Bender Guitar (http://www.stringbender.com/bender/classic.htm).


When you hear The Byrds rendition of Merle Haggard's "Sing Me Back Home" you'll get the chills. This is quality music from a group that appreciated good music as well as they played it.

If you like music, you will not be disappointed with the first Byrds live album ever released. I highly recommend this one!


Track Listing:
Nashville West
You're Still On My Mind
Pretty Boy Floyd
Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man
Medley:
Turn!Turn!Turn! - Mr.Tambourine Man - Eight Miles High
Close Up On The Honky Tonks
Buckaroo
The Christian Life
Time Between
King Apathy III
Bad Night at the Whiskey
This Wheel's on Fire
Sing Me Back Home
So You Want to Be a Rock'N'Roll Star"
He Was a Friend of Mine
Chimes of Freedom

So Why Do You Sing Like Me, Dion?

The albums slogan reads - "25 Dion Sound-A-Likes plus an unreleased track by Dion from 1963." At first glance, the cover has the exciting appeal of a diamond in the rough from an old record shop. When I heard the first few songs, I felt like I was back in the days of candy shops, bicycles, and poodle skirts. Believe me, as a true music lover and aficionado of all types, I was really impressed with these singers and groups that I had previously never heard of before coming across this gem of an album.

I'm 23 years old and somehow wound up as a diehard Dion DiMucci fan. I know its unusual and I don't have a good answer as to why but it has always been a goal of mine to obtain every song that Dion has ever recorded. "Teenager In Love", "Run Around Sue", and "The Wanderer" are some of the most popular songs of all time. With that said, they are also very easy to find. And while I do not underappreciate the hits that made him famous, I get far more satisfaction out of finding the songs that nobody else really knows about, especially when they're good. This album is a perfect example of that.

I was as much amazed after hearing this album as I was after finding it. Below is the track listing and album cover. I encourage email from anyone who reads this blog with questions, comments, or anything related to what I write about. jnastyproductions@yahoo.com

TRACK LISTING:

1 - Johnny Won't Run Around - The Crescents
2 - I'll Remeber Carol - Tommy Boyce
3 - Linda Lou Garret (Likes 24 Kara) - Nino & The Ebb Tides
4 - Will Love Ever Come My Way - Joey & The Continentals
5 - How My Prayers Have Changed - Buddy Clinton
6 - Heart Breaker - Dean Christie
7 - Joanne - Trode Martin
8 - Lonely Weekends - Curtis Lee
9 - A Kissin Friend - Rick & The Masters
10 - The Prettiest Girl I've Kissed Today - Jon Corey
11 - I'm Not The One For You - Sonny Dee
12 - Adam And Eve - Barry Darvell
13 - Dream Lover - Richie
14 - I Gotta Do The Latest Dance - Gene Montgomery
15 - Run Little Linda - Ral Donner
16 - Little Lover - Denny Diante
17 - I Saw Linda Yesterday - Dickey Lee
18 - Too Good To Be True - Tommy Manno
19 - Faded Roses - Matthew Reid
20 - Mi-A-Suri Talk - Mike Taylor
21 - Boom-Boom-Boomerang - Johnnie Shepherd
22 - I Hurt That Girl - Artie Wayne
23 - (Is There) Someone For Me - Don Dell w/ The Up Starts
24 - Bye Bye Love - Joe Ravel
25 - Gonna Make It Alone - Ronnie Dio & The Prophets
26 - Swingin' Street - Dion DiMucci