Roger McGuinn - guitar, vocals; Clarence White - guitar, mandolin, vocals; Skip Battin - bass, vocals; Gene Parsons - drums, harmonica, banjo, vocals; Guests: Terry Melcher - organ; Jim Seiter - congas
Following the release of a new double album and shortly after Roger McGuinn became the subject of Rolling Stone magazine's monthly interview, October of 1970 would find The Byrds touring the college and club circuit in America to rousing response. When many of the band's contemporaries had split up or were nearing the end of their creativity, the double album Untitled would rejuvenate the band's following. An extensive touring schedule during this time also helped develop a new legion of fans and The Byrds were finally gaining a deserved reputation as a compelling live band.
It is no wonder that this occurred, as Roger McGuinn, Clarence White, Gene Parsons (no relation to Gram) and Skip Battin would become the most enduring lineup of The Byrds, performing and recording together from September of 1969 well into 1972. Much credit goes to McGuinn for maintaining a vision for the group and keeping this lineup together, but the secret weapon was guitarist Clarence White. It was White's innovative string bending techniques, combined with McGuinn's signature sound, which extended the band's explorations of country music within a heavier rock framework. White was an utterly unique talent, with blazing guitar chops, a razor sharp sound and astounding musical sensibilities. He was equally adept in both acoustic and electric settings. This was a key ingredient to the cohesiveness and strength of The Byrds live performances during this era. They would experience wildly enthusiastic audiences nearly everywhere they played, especially in Europe where their popularity had never really waned. The Byrds were one of very few bands capable of forging both a spiritual and musical unity between the two decades and both critics and fans agreed that this lineup was more accomplished in concert than any previous configuration of The Byrds.
Presented here is most of the band's first performance during a three-night engagement at the Boston Tea Party, when The Byrds headlined a bill that also featured Mylon Lefevre & Holy Smoke in the support slot. This evening's performance is another fine example of the musical chemistry between these four musicians. It's also notable for having their producer Terry Melcher playing organ on several songs.