Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Wish it wasn't lip synch and oh for some better resolution but beggars can't be choosers:

/www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GZ3WGwh-hc&search=byrds

Great find, Glenn. I've never seen this before - thanks. But why would they promo this tune nearly two years after the records release? This clip was made after "Notorious Byrd Bros."...

Good question. Maybe they just didn't promo the country rock stuff, though Spaceman has that vibe to a degree as well.

The Byrds had two segments on that Smothers Brothers show—the second song was "Goin' Back", which was their then-current hit.
I think Roger has just always like Mr. Spaceman. It's included in the live "Untitled" and all Byrds hits and compilation CDs. Their manager, Jim Dickson, didn't care for it at all.

I have a copy of 5D with the Spaceman hit single promo sticker on it.

Who all is in this clip anyway? Is that Gene C? I thought he was long out of the band by then.

When the Who did My Generation on the Smothers show it was an old tune for them, too, though they were still pretty much unknown here.

The fact that it's all lip synched is kind of a drag. They let the Who use real fireworks but not real music.

Yes, that's Gene Clark - he rejoined the group for a short time after Crosby got the boot. Very short, maybe 2-3 months. This has to be the only footage of The Byrds with this line-up.

Yes, that's Gene Clark - he rejoined the group for a short time after Crosby got the boot. Very short, maybe 2-3 months. This has to be the only footage of The Byrds with this line-up.

Actually, that lineup—more or less—appeared in another TV show, "Where the Girls Are". Rogan gives the air date as April 23, 1968. Again, they played "Mr. Spaceman". The song is split between a studio performance and a very dopey filmed 'skit' with the Byrds running around with their guitars on a freeway.

What made this especially weird is that in the studio portion, Jimmi Seiter is playing bass along with a drummer I don't recognize. But in the 'skit' portion it's clearly McGuinn, Gene Clark and Michael Clarke.

Because Gene had once again left the Byrds by late 1967, I'm guessing the segment was filmed well in advanced of the April air date.

Keeping track of the vintage Byrds lineup certainly is a job for detectives. Has anyone written a good book on the band?

The definitive Byrds tome is Johnny Rogan's "Timeless Flight Revisited". More than 700 pages, extensive interviews with all of the principals, managers, friends and family, and the most exhaustive Byrds discography anywhere... including boots, videos, etc. A must-have for Byrds fans.

During this period, I don't think even they (The Byrds) knew who was in the band...

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to check that book out.

Personally, I love the lip-synched videos. Pop disposability at its finest. Great stuff!!

Does Mr. McGuinn ever play up in Toronto???? Would love to see him perform live.

Mick,

Roger is going to be in Buffalo in March ('07) if that is close enough. He also plays Chicago a lot (his old stomping grounds.) Don't know about Detroit.
Hope that helps a little.

I used to work on a bar on Division Street that I read is directly across the street from Roger's boyhood home, which is like 8 west.

Wow! That is one cool clip! Roger, Gene, Chris, and Michael together again. It sure is a shame that Gene Clark didn't rejoin for longer - what a great songwriter he was!