Byrds roadie Dinky Dawson writes about his life on the road

Crawdaddy! magazine just posted an article by Byrds roadie/writer Dinky Dawson about their live gear and cutting-edge sound system on tour in 1970.

Check it out here: http://crawdaddy.wolfgangsvault.com/Article/Byrds-for-Gearheads.html

Byrds Induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame to be released soon on DVD

The Byrds Induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame will soon be available on DVD (october 20, 2009).

From the internet:

"If all those special moments from the Rock Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, especially the legendary jam sessions, have been on your "I wish they'd release those" list, you're in luck.

Time-Life has just announced the release of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live DVD boxed set on Oct. 20.

The nine-DVD collection will contain 125 performances, plus speeches, toasts and roasts rock royalty saluting each other. Eight of the DVDs will feature an assortment of performances spanning more than two decades of ceremonies, as well as induction and acceptance speeches, and never-before-seen backstage and rehearsal footage.

The ninth DVD will feature "The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," a star-studded concert event which opened the Rock Hall Museum in Cleveland in 1995.

The set will be available only online at for $119.96 though www.RockHallDVDs.com or www.TimeLife.com.

Here are the set's list of performers, as announced in the press release:

AC/DC, Aerosmith, The Allman Brothers, The Band, Jeff Beck, Bee Gees, Chuck Berry, Blondie, Bon Jovi, Ruth Brown, Jackson Browne, Lindsey Buckingham, Eric Burdon, Jerry Butler, Solomon Burke, The Byrds, Johnny Cash, Chubby Checker, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Cream, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Sheryl Crow, Bo Diddley, The Doors, Melissa Etheridge, Flea, Fleetwood Mac, John Fogerty, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Green Day, Dave Grohl, Buddy Guy, Emmylou Harris, Dhani Harrison, Taylor Hawkins, Isaac Hayes, Don Henley, John Lee Hooker, Bruce Hornsby, The Isley Brothers, Etta James, Mick Jagger, Jefferson Airplane, Billy Joel, Kid Rock, B.B. King, Ben E. King, The Kinks, Jonny Lang, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Jeff Lynne, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Mamas & The Papas, Martha & the Vandellas, Dave Mason, Paul McCartney, Metallica, Stevie Nicks, The O’Jays, Roy Orbison, Jimmy Page, Parliament-Funkadelic, Joe Perry, Tom Petty, Wilson Pickett, The Pretenders, Prince, Queen, Bonnie Raitt, The Rascals, R.E.M., Lou Reed, The Righteous Brothers, Robbie Robertson, The Ronettes, Axl Rose, Santana, Percy Sledge, Soul Asylum, Bruce Springsteen, The Staple Singers, Patti Smith, Booker T. & the MG’s, James Taylor, Traffic, Tina Turner, U2, The Who, Ann & Nancy Wilson, Steve Winwood, Ron Wood, ZZ Top."

R.I.P. Larry Knechtel

Larry Knechtel, a well-known studio musician who was a member of "the wrecking crew" and as such, played bass on The Byrds' first single (Mr Tambourine Man b/w I Knew I'd Want You), died on August 20, aged 69. He also played keyboards on The Byrds' Byrdmaniax LP.

He was also a member of David Gates' band Bread ('Guitar Man', 'Baby I'm-A Want You') during the seventies.

You can see an impressive but uncomplete list of his session work by visiting http://home.cogeco.ca/~mansion3/larryknechtel.html.

Manassas album of outtakes to be released in September

On September 22, 2009, Stephen Stills, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist will release "Manassas - Pieces", a 15-song collection of outtakes and rarities.

"The bits and pieces we were silly enough to leave off", Stills writes in the liner notes. Manassas, the country rock band he formed in 1971 with Chris Hillman of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, released two albums: a self-titled two-disc set in 1972 and "Down the Road" in 1973.

"Pieces" includes alternate versions of two "Down the Road" songs, "Do You Remember the Americans" and "Lies", the latter featuring Joe Walsh on guitar. It also features Manassas versions of "Word Game" and "Sugar Babe", which first appeared on "Stephen Stills 2" in 1971, as well as "Like a Fox", which features a then-fledgling Bonnie Raitt on backing vocals.

In the "Pieces" liner notes, Stills writes fondly of Manassas as "the first steel-guitar-driven country/rock band that any of us can remember...Whatever else has been said about this time of immense creativity, what Manassas turned out was a collection of material that remains the precursor of virtually all of the Nashville country rock productions that followed during the next decade. The energy is unrepentant, the creativity irrepressible, and the value of these recordings irrefutable.""

MANASSAS "PIECES"

(*previously unreleased)

"Witching Hour"*
"Sugar Babe"*
"Lies" * (with Joe Walsh)
"My Love Is A Gentle Thing"
"Like a Fox"*
"Word Game"*
"Tan Sola Y Triste"*
"Fit To Be Tied"*
"Love and Satisfy"*
"High & Dry"*
"Panhandle Rag"*
"Uncle Pen"*
"Do You Remember the Americans"*
"Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (and Loud, Loud Music)"*
"I Am My Brother"*

New Releases from Sierra Records

From John Delgatto:

In 1995, Sierra Records released the now out of print "Gram Parsons & the Fallen Angels - Live 1973" golden alloy target compact disc in a gold tray. Some thought it was an audiophile 24kt Gold disc. It was not. However, a limited number of actual 24kt gold discs with a hidden audio track (not on the actual released CD) exist! And you can now purchase it.

A limited number of these 24kt Gold audiophile edition CDs (with the hidden final track, the same original multi-page booklet and color inlay card) are available for the low price (for a 24kt gold disc) of $18.98 plus shipping/handling. The "hidden track" is Gram's early 1971 studio performance (Gram on vocals & organ; the late Sneaky Pete on pedal steel) of "1000 Dollar Wedding"! It was removed from the final released Sierra and current Rhino "Live 1973" CD as it did not fit the "Fallen Angels" program. This performance has never been issued in any form and is superior to the home recording of this song heard on the 2007 "Gram Parsons Archives Vol 1" release.

Though this offer is probably only for the die hard Gram fan (are there any left?) here's an opportunity to get on the ground floor on for this collector's item.

There is no limit on the quantity you can purchase so that these special limited editions CDs can be move out quickly. To place your order for this CD, just double click the "Add to Cart" button below which takes you directly to Sierra web store. You can also order it at sierra-records.com or sierrarecords.net listed under "SUMMER SPECIALS"

And yes, the buy $30 worth, take 40% offer (discount code: 2015) is still valid for the entire catalog, even for this new offer! Again, throw in the Sierra 10 CD offer, get FREE shipping anywhere for your entire order.

While still awaiting the arrival of the previous mentioned Byrds DVD-EP, John Hartford and Old & In Way CDs, there are still even more upcoming releases about to hit the streets including unreleased performances by the late Skip Battin, The Gosdin Brothers and more, all exclusive to Sierra and not available from any other mail order, internet (amazon,ebay, etc!) companies.

Let's keep Sierra rolling through 2010 with your continued support for the best music on earth!

Regards,

John Delgatto, Founder/Owner

http://www.goestores.com/storename/sierrarecordsbookshomevideo/ViewDept-251900.aspx

New Blog for Byrds (and related artists) items for sale

We have opened a new blog only for offering our spare copies of Byrds related items for sale.

It's at http://byrdsitemsforsale.blogspot.com/

Thank you for visiting.

For Sale - The World Turns All Around Him - A Tribute To Gene Clark

THE WORLD TURNS ALL AROUND HIM - A TRIBUTE TO GENE CLARK

24 Tracks by artists from all over the world (Groover label from Sweden - 2006)

SEALED $40

To order or to ask for shipping details, just send a comment to this post. Comments won't be published.