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Here's a short live recording of the original 5 line up, Jim McGuinn, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Gene Clark, and Michael Clarke from 1966. Except for the lack of compression on the Rick 12 string, the performance sounds about like the record, suggesting that the Byrds early on were a pretty tight and well-rehearsed concert band. Click on the audio player just below the banner that says "UPDATE May 4, 2012: BYRDS FLYGHT EXCLUSIVE"
JimK

I've heard that the early Byrds were erratic and sloppy onstage due to grass and (later) psychedelic drugs. This is not the case here. Hard to believe how good Roger's 12-string sounds straight through a Fender amp, and it also sounds like he's using flatwound strings.

The guitars sound a wee bit out of tune to me on that recording. There's a better Youtube video here:

Yeah, that's a famous youtube video. They're lip synching. So you're actually listening to the studio recording. Pretty common stuff back in the day.
JimK

jimk wrote:Yeah, that's a famous youtube video. They're lip synching. So you're actually listening to the studio recording. Pretty common stuff back in the day.
JimK

Darn it!

I saw Roger in LA at the Roxy in 1976 and I was 10 feet away from the stage and I can tell you, he can PLAY! They were promoting the new Jolly Roger album at the time. There were no other Byrds in the ban at that time but he did a ton of early Byrd songs as well as his newer stuff. Mostly good, rockin' stuff. The other act that night was Boz Scaggs. A good night, for sure.

The Byrds did lip sync Tambourine Man on their one and only Ed Sullivan appearance... but the clip above is a "live" performance of Turn Turn Turn from that show. According to what I've read about these Sullivan Shows groups sometimes would pre-record live during the rehersals and then performed other parts live on the air. I don't think this is the case with this Byrds performance. If you just listen to the video, you can hear they are live and not too shoddy at all considering.
There are plenty examples of the origanl five lip syncingfor tv shows, but among those are some live and also of this (usually) voice over pre-recorded insturments "live" performances as well such as Times They Are a'Changin on Hulabaloo.
In regards to early and even later Byrds' live recordings and performances. The Byrds sound is a strange alchemy which required many things to be in balance to work properly. Among variables such as guitars being in tune, members limited experience with electric instruments and musical styles, recording techniques and limitations, and "personality allignment" the Byrds could rise to the occasion when called to do so.

If you wish to hear what the orginal five sounded like live under maybe the best conditions of the day, check out their performances on the BIG TNT SHOW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIfMi0P8Vkk
They were certainly not the Beatles.... but then again... they were THE BYRDS!

Oops....I should have listened to that clip. I thought it was another performance of MTM. Sorry 'bout that, Chief.
JimK

thymecube wrote:The Byrds did lip sync Tambourine Man on their one and only Ed Sullivan appearance... but the clip above is a "live" performance of Turn Turn Turn from that show.

Thanks, man!

Usually the dead giveaway on the synced songs is that the guitars are not plugged in. There are cords coming out of all the guitars and from the mike stands. Also, Gene seems a bit off with the tambourine at the start. Overall, they sound really good. But where are the cutaways of the screaming and crying girls?

I totally enjoyed that live color clip! And I didn't miss the screaming girls a bit. They are a total waste of seconds -- Just sayin' I'd rather look at the Byrds...