Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Byrds Flyght Pages at New Location

In November 2009, Yahoo closed all websites that were freely hosted on its GEOCITIES subsidiary.

Several BYRDS FLYGHT pages disappeared in the process.

Hereunder is a link to the new place where these pages are made available again, but re-upping all of them will take some time, so please be patient.

Thank you.

http://byrdsflyght.ucoz.com/

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Starbyrd is alive !!!

Horst-Peter Schmidt from Cologne, Germany, has resurrected his band Starbyrd and recorded new tracks, which are currently in the final mixing stage.

The new CD will be called "Return Of A Starbyrd" and will probably be released in January 2011.

Horst-Peter has kindly sent us a demo mix of the CD and all tracks are the kind every Byrds fan dreams of : lots of Rickenbacker 12 string guitar and harmony vocals.

Byrds Flyght will publish further info as soon as the CD is available.

Here's what the cover will look like (name of the band and title of the album still missing at this stage)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Original Byrds Movie 1965

Byrds Flyght has recently acquired an original copy of an 8 mm movie featuring the original lineup of The Byrds.

The movie is called THE BYRDS FLIP THEM IN FRESNO and was recorded at the Radcliffe Stadium, Fresno, CA on Saturday, May 22, 1965.

See pictures and details here:

http://byrdsflyght.ucoz.com/index/byrds_in_fresno_movie/0-33

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Gene Parsons Recordings brought to our attention

Gene Parsons recordings just brought to our attention:

Gene Parsons sings lead and plays on a year 2000 live version of Sweet Desert Childhood on a Various Artists compilation released in 2006.

The CD is called Some Of The Very Best Of Local Licks Live and was released by The Coast (KOZT FM in Mendocino)

Gene Parsons plays pedal steel guitar and sings harmony vocals on all tracks from a double live CD by The Steven Bates Band. The CD is called Killer Rock And Roll - Live At The Caspar Inn - August 16th, 2008.

He sings lead vocals on Disc 1 Track 6 (California Blues).

Friday, November 19, 2010

Chris Hillman's video autobiography

Click hereunder for Chris Hillman's musical autobiography (82 min video)

http://www.chrishillman.com/video.html

Fascinating!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

New David Crosby solo album in the make

David Crosby has started recording his next solo album, with his son James Raymond producing, and Don Garcia recording, mixing and co-producing.

Monday, November 15, 2010

New Skip Battin song released

Empty Room by The Rogers-Nienhaus Band Featuring Skip Battin has been re-released with one hidden bonus track written and sung by Skip Battin.

The extra track is CHINA MOON

You can order the CD by going to the band's website at http://shop.rogersandnienhaus.com/

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Flying Burrito Brothers live CD to be released

According to some sources, The Flying Burrito Brothers concert at The Fillmore East, NYC (November 7, 1970) will be officially released on CD by Universal / MCA in February 2011.

The CD will be titled "Authorized Bootleg"

How funny, as this concert is already known to many FBBs fans, as it is widely circulating on bootleg CDs and tapes (see image hereunder).


Lineup: Chris Hillman, Michael Clarke, Bernie Leadon, Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Rick Roberts

Tracks: Lazy Days / One Hundred Years From Now / My Uncle / Cody, Cody / Christine's Tune (aka Devil In Disguise) / I Am A Pilgrim / Dixie Breakdown / Willie And The Hand Jive / Wild Horses / Feel Good Music / Hot Burrito #2 / Six Days On The Road

Gram Parsons Petition

Will James is running a petition to induct Gram Parsons into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Your signatures are needed, so go to this page and please sign it:

http://www.gramparsonspetition.com/

Thank you in advance.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Flying Burrito Brothers albums re-released

The Flying Burrito Brothers' FLYING AGAIN and AIRBORNE mid-seventies albums (featuring Gene Parsons and Skip Battin) have been re-released as a "2 on 1" CD on the british T-Bird label (a subsidiary of Sony)

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

New John York songs just released

John York has just released a new 5-track album titled CAMEOS.

The song are available as downloads only from his web site at http://www.johnyorkmusic.com

Songs : Come Back And Take Me - Rainbow - Some Days Even The Birds Sing A Sad Song - Achille's Heel - Ghost Flowers

Next to these new releases, John York's CD albums ARIGATOU BABY and CLAREMONT DRAGON are now also available for download from his website.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

New Box Set released...read more...

A new box set of a Zigzag Magazine concert from 1974 has just been released. It contains 5 CDs and a 32 page booklet.

Disc 1: Starry Eyed & Laughing Going Down/Nobody Home/Never Say Too Late/Down The Street/Money Is No Friend Of Mine/Everybody/Oh What/Chimes Of Freedom/50-50 (Better Stop Now)/Living In London

Disc 2: Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers I'll Be Home/The Streets Of Baltimore/Papa & Mama Had Love/Midnight Bus/Older Guys/Desert Island Woman/Friday Song/Goodbye Nashville, Hello Camden Town/Walkin' Blues/Just Like The Devil/Boppin' The Blues/Choo Choo Ch'Boogie/Fire On The Mountain/Drunken Sunken Redneck Blues/Six Days On The Road

Disc 3: John Stewart Wheatfield Lady/Daydream Believer/You Can't Look Back/California Bloodlines/Armstrong/Road Away/Last Campaign Trilogy: The Last Campaign, Wild Horse Road, All The Brave Horses/July, You're A Woman/Runaway Fool Of Love/Lady And The Outlaw/Cops/Mother Country/Never Goin' Back/Let The Big Horse Run

Disc 4: Help Yourself Running Down Deep/Reaffirmation/American Mother/Blown Away

Disc 5: Michael Nesmith Joanne/Some Of Shelly's Blues/Silver Moon/Different Drum/Propinquity/The Grand Ennui/Wax Minute/Tomorrow And Me/The Upside Of Goodbye/Roll With The Flow/Marie's Theme

The tapes were mastered by Tony Poole from Starry Eyed And Laughing (from stereo soundboard tapes that had been missing for years).

Starry Eyed And Laughing were a 70s band with major Byrds-sound influences.

Starry Eyed And Laughing were on the bill together with Michael Nesmith (with Red Rhodes), John Stewart, Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers and Help Yourself.

There's more info here

http://www.starryeyedandlaughing.com/zigzag.htm

and from there, a link to a Facebook page with even more info.

John Tobler - who was co-founder of Zigzag with Pete Frame - is releasing it through his RGF Records label ... (a nice symmetry).

Recommended by Byrds Flyght.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

New CD by Francesco Lucarelli - Recommended by Byrds Flyght

Francesco Lucarelli has just released his CD titled FIND THE LIGHT.

Here's what Francesco (Byrds and CSNY fan) wrote to us :

"I'm proud to tell you I have just released my own album: it's called Find The Light, and it's my tribute to the glorious music & musicians of the early 70's California singer-songwriters scene.

I didn't want to hide my influences on it. I'd rather wanted to make clear where I come from. Sort of my way to say thank you to all the ones who inspired me to write songs and make music. Like I paid my dues and now I'm ready to go my own way. So you will hear what you expect on it.

Find The Light features some special guests (like Graham Nash) and wonderful musicians (Kenny Passarelli, Jeff Pevar, James Raymond, etc...). And some very talented friends, too, like Bill Kaffenberger,
playing his Rickenbacker.

Stephen Barncard masterfully mixed it, giving the album the 70's feel and sound I was looking for, and Dave Zimmer wrote beautiful liner notes.

The album has been mastered in Nashville and printed in the UK.

If you visit
www.francescolucarelli.com you can listen to a sample with clips of the songs featured on the album.

The complete website will be up and running with more info, audio clips, stories and pictures in the coming weeks.

Francesco"

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Jimi Hendrix - Clarence White

On this day, the 40th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix' death, the time is right to quote this story told by Gene Parsons :

"One night when we were playing at The Whiskey and we were in the dressing room, this really well dressed black man wearing a feather in his hat walks in and says "Are You Clarence White? And Clarence says "Yeah". The fellow adds: "I've been listening to you for years, and you're one of my favorite players". So Clarence says, "Wow, thanks a lot, and what did you say your name was?" The fellow says, "I'm Jimi Hendrix"

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Desert Rose Band plays the whole "Sweetheart" album in concert!

Something very special happened at a Long Players with Bill Lloyd / Desert Rose Band concert last week.

Here, lifted from the Byrdmaniax Yahoo List, is "Wild" Bill Cody's review of the event.

This would have been every DRB Fans delight! It was an absolutely beautiful day up in the high country of Colorado, except for a little wind. The crowd was suprisingly sparse, maybe 300+ people? The DRB did their soundcheck at approx 10am...and they sounded GREAT! They all looked relaxed and refreshed; I guess that high country Colorado air will do that to you.
Now here's the thing....as most of you know, the first group up "The Long Players with Bill Lloyd" was going to perform the "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" album in its entirety, Chris Hillman was scheduled to perform it with them, since he was one of the original Byrds that put that historic album together. Well, I'm watching the stage and notice that J.D.Maness (who played pedal steel on the original Sweetheart album) was setting up. Then John Jorgeson appears on stage, tuning a number of instruments. Herb Petersen then walks up with a banjo and is testing a mike....WHAT...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Chris Hillman then takes the stage, the lame announcer this day introduces the Long Players and says that Chris, J.D., John and Herb would be joining in....GET OUTTA HERE!!! So they kick it off with "You Ain't Going Nowhere" with the genius of the DRB front and center, the only thing that would have made this better would have been to see Roger McGuinn walk out onstage with his signature Rickenbacker 12 string; unfortunately Roger wasn't there. The DRB then performed the entire album, and you could tell they hadn't practiced at all, because after a couple of verses on nearly every song Chris would say..."who wants to do a lead?" John or J.D. or both of them would break into some incredible leads, even Herb would break in with a lead on his banjo or Chris would dive into a searing lead on his mandolin. The harmonies were incredible. Whoever the Long Players were, they pretty much were in the background as the Desert Rose Band performed "Sweetheart of the Rodeo". What a great feeling knowing that they then would be back up on stage a little more than an hour later for the "last" DRB Show EVER!
After a memorable rendition of this incredible historic album (the first Country Rock album ever produced), the guys got off the stage and made way for Radney Foster (who invited Chris up to play on a number of tunes). Then the stage belonged to Richie Furay and his group.....it was indeed a "Good Feelin' To Know" that the DRB would be next.
At approx 4:10pm, the DRB took the stage and didn't disappoint. Even though I had no paper and pen to write down each and every song, it was an extended playlist that featured every DRB tune imaginable. The harmonies were heavenly as were the instrumentals. I was awestruck, sitting on one of the most beautiful places on God's Great Earth, seeing one of the greatest groups ever. It wasn't until near the end of the show that a sadness grew in my heart, knowing this could very well be the LAST TIME they ever perform together again! When the group hit the first few notes of "The Price I Pay" I knew this was it. John put together one of the most memorable leads I have ever witnessed on this tune!
After the show, everyone was accessable behind the stage, I asked John about all the guitars he lost in the Nashville flood and it nearly brought a tear to his eye, as he reinterated the devastation. I then asked him point blank...."Is this it for DRB"? He said with a wink and a smile...."You never know" as he was whisked away in a golf cart.
All in all a most memorable experience, those that were there were treated to an incredible and most memorable show ever AND to top it off....it was FREE!!!
"Wild" Bill Cody

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Clarence White (& Byrds) related blog

We don't usually advertise blogs, but Clarence White (and Byrds) fans should check The Adios Lounge at http://theadioslounge.blogspot.com for a series of 10 incredibly interesting posts about Clarence White.

Friday, August 20, 2010

New GRAM PARSONS 4 Disc Box Set to be released by Sierra Records

New Gram Parsons 4 Disc Box Set to be released by Sierra Records - "The Early Years"

Disc One is the now classic and ground breaking, "Gram Parsons - The Early Years Volume 1", 1963-1965 folk recordings of Gram Parsons and the Shilos, originally released in 1979 on Sierra / Briar Records. Available for the first time on compact disc, it includes all original tracks including a new version of Gram's "Zah's Blues" accompanied by a jazz combo! Added to these recordings is the never before released in any format "Volume Two" of more early performances, focusing on Gram Parsons' solo efforts recorded by Dick Weissman (of the fame folk group The Journeymen, along with John Phillips and Scott McKenzie), including several never before heard Gram Parsons' compositions. Closing out this expanded disc will be recordings by "Gram Parsons & The Like", his experimental band from his few months in late 1965 at Harvard University, including a rare performance with the legendary actor and Gram Parsons best friend, Brandon deWilde.

Disc Two is SIERRA RECORDS' 2003 release "Big Mouth Blues: A Conversation with Gram Parsons". This full color digipak packaged release was missed by many Gram fans and now included in this Box Set.

Disc Three is the first official DVD release from the original video tape of the rare and only performance of "Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels", previously released on a 1999 limited edition Sierra VHS tape, "Together Again For The Last Time".

Disc Four is the long lost, recently discovered Vinyl LP "PICTURE DISC" of "Gram Parsons - The Early Years" - color picture of Gram on Side 1, the original full color "Sierra-Briar Records" logo on Side 2. Originally produced in April 1979, only the test disc existed until now! The disc is playable on any phonograph turntable (pressed on clear, audiophile virgin vinyl), packaged in itself own clear plastic sleeve.

Plus: Three folded posters, the original 1979 "Early Years" color booklet, a NEW 24 page booklet / pictorial with additional accompanying notes to the box set, a full color T-shirt etc ....

Pre-orders here: Order box set only from SIERRA RECORDS

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

New Chris Hillman CD to be released in September


Rounder Records announce that the new Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen "Live at Edwards Barn" CD (15 tracks) will be issued on September 21, 2010.


Track Listing:


Going Up Home

Love Reunited

Turn, Turn, Turn (To Everything There Is A Season)

If I Could Only Win Your Love

Tu Cancion

Our Savior's Hands

Wheels

Have You Seen Her Face

Eight Miles High

Together Again

Desert Rose

Sin City

The Cowboy Way

Wait a Minute

Heaven's Lullaby

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Byrds T-Shirts

You can get Byrds and Byrds-related professionally made tee-shirts from Peggy's website at http://www.cypresscowboy.com

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Silver Meteor Album released on CD for the first time (with Clarence White and Gene parsons)


"SILVER METEOR - A PROGRESSIVE COUNTRY ANTHOLOGY" was originally released on Sierra LP in 1980 to rave reviews.

The 12 classic selections were highlighted by Clarence White's four recordings for his planned 1973 solo album, an album he never completed.

Hear all those original 12 tracks on this compact disc plus an additional 14 bonus tracks that were planned for a Volume Two back in early 80s but never released, including rare, sometimes unreleased recordings by the Country Gazette, Paul Siebel, Michael Dinner, Rick Cunha, Ian Matthews, Red Rhodes, etc...

These bonus tracks include backup performances by Clarence White, Linda Ronstadt, Herb Pedersen, Sneaky Pete and many artists from those early "country-rock" days in L.A.

Even Gram Parsons is saluted with two of his songs performed by the Country Gazette and with the closing song by "The Mystery Band" on a terrific performance of Gram's "One Hundred Years From Now".

Truly, the artists and songs speak for themselves!

Voted by the UK magazine "UNCUT" as the 11th "Greatest Lost Album" of all time, it is no longer lost but still GREAT!

Original Tracks:

Clarence White - NEVER ENDING LOVE / LAST THING ON MY MIND / ALABAMA JUBILEE / WHY HAVE YOU BEEN GONE SO LONG

Casey Kelly - SILVER METEOR / A GOOD LOVE IS LIKE A GOOD SONG

The Everly Brothers with Clarence White and Gene Parsons - I'M ON MY WAY HOME AGAIN / CUCKOO BIRD

Barbara Keith - THE BRAMBLE & THE ROSE

Levitt & McClure - LIVING IN THE COUNTRY

Blue Velvet Band - THE KNIGHT UPON THE ROAD / HITCH HIKER

Bonus Tracks:

Michael Dinner - THE GREAT PRETENDER

Paul Siebel with Clarence White - PINTO PONY

Rusty Young & Clarence White - EVERYBODY'S TALKIN'

Larry Murray - BUGLER

Rick Cunha - YO YO MAN

Red Rhodes - GREAT AMERICAN THUNDER TURKEY

Ian Matthews - SHADY LIES

Shiloh - SAME OLD STORY

Cold Steel - MISSISSIPPI MEMORY

Country Gazette - ALL HIS CHILDREN / THE GREAT FILLING STATION HOLD UP

Sari Schuwer & The Country Gazette - THE BRAMBLE AND THE ROSE / STILL FELLING BLUE

The Mystery Band - ONE HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW

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

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Gene Clark Collector's Items - updated with new finds.

Byrds collector supreme Whin Oppice sent us pictures and details about the new items that he recently acquired, which are:

1) the famous unreleased GENE CLARK SINGS FOR YOU original acetate album


2) Original 1972 A&M reel tape of the eight rejected completed tracks from Gene Clark's Roadmaster sessions.


See Byrds Flyght’s updated special page with BIG pictures at

http://users.skynet.be/fa409087/rareitems.htm

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Issue #3 of Fantastic Expedition is out

Issue 3 of FANTASTIC EXPEDITION is now available.

It features articles on Dillard & Clark's 2nd LP "Through The Morning, Through The Night", with new interviews with Byron Berline and Gene Clark's son Kai Clark and with previously unpublished photos by Jim McCrary.

There's also an article on the band Country Funk, who released a great album of Psychedelic Blues Rock / Country Rock in 1970.

Copies can be obtained directly from Jason Smith at helen.jason@btinternet.com

Friday, June 4, 2010

Bill Kaffenberger's New CD Is Out (strongly Byrds Influenced)

Bill Kaffenberger's new release of original material is now available at CD Baby for digital download.

Folks can download the entire release (11 songs) or pick and choose among individual tracks if they prefer.


The release is titled YOUR SIDE OF THE STORY and is full of that Rickenbacker Electric 12 String sound that we all love.

Most of the material is original material. Some of these songs were available for streaming on Bill's ReverbNation page previously, but the versions on this new release are the FINAL MIXES and include vocals and instrumentation not previously available.

The link is as follows:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/kaffenberger4

Bill is making a LIMITED number of hard copy CDs of this release available for those who cannot or will not utilize digital downloads. Serious inquiries regarding a hard copy CD of this release can be sent to Bill at:

lovingkindnessmusic@yahoo.com

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Gene Parsons on The Human Revolution CD (2008)

Gene Parsons just confirmed to us that he plays on a 2008 CD called Love Revolution by a band called The Human Revolution

Gene Parsons plays pedal steel guitar, mandolin and banjo on these tracks.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Roger McGuinn's Thunderbyrd 1977 Rockpalast Festival Concert Available At Last!

Finally, 33 years after it took place, Roger McGuinn's Thunderbyrd performance at the first Rockpalast Festival (German TV 1977) has been released on CD and DVD by the WDR-Rockpalast-MIG label from Germany.



This legendary concert was only circulating on bootleg tapes, CDs and DVDs until this month.

Roger McGuinn, Rick Vito, Charlie Harrison, Greg Thomas (with help from Little Feat's Sam Clayton).

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Roland White's solo LP from 1976 released on CD for the first time.

An obscure treasure, Roland White's 1976 solo album 'I Wasn't Born To Rock 'N Roll', originally issued on the Ridge Runner Records label, is re-mastered from the original tapes and released for the very first time on CD.

Roland White, along with his brother Clarence White, made bluegrass and country music history as members of The Kentucky Colonels.

Roland also played in Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys and Lester Flatt's Nashville Grass, and later in Country Gazette and The Nashville Bluegrass Band.

Clarence famously played with The Byrds, among many others, until his tragic death in 1973.

This album features Alan Munde, Kenny Wertz, Roger Bush and Dave Ferguson playing traditional tunes, as well as a composition called "Powder Creek", co-written by Roland Clarence.

This was the first appearance of this special tune on an album, a song which Roland now describes as having been composed with his brother on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1963!

The package includes original liner notes by Gene Parsons (The Byrds), new reflections from Roland, original album artwork, and one unreleased bonus track not included on the original LP!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

For Our Italian Visitors


For our italian readers:

The current issue of the LATE FOR THE SKY music magazine has a 6 pages long article about Skip Battin, inspired by the release of "Topanga Skyline".

Gene Parsons, Herb Pedersen, Ricky Mantoan and Beppe D'Angelo (italian drummer who worked with Skip) all contributed to the special...

Gene Parsons sent an extract from his unreleased book with a great page on Skip...

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Wanna Spend Some Time With Gene Parsons?

Want to spend some time with GENE PARSONS?

Click here:

www.StringBenderCottage.com

John York Releases

Two albums by John York: Arigatou Baby and Koto, have been re-released by GRA Records at http://www.gragroup.com/johnyork.html

Claremont Dragon is also available from them. GRA will also release John's West Coast Revelation album (part of it was available as downloads only until now) in the next few months, and they will also release John's new CD, Fanfare For 2, in the summer.

John York Radio Interviews

John York will be featured on the next broadcast of “Dave White Presents”.

In his conversation with Wes Britton, John York talks about his work with The Mamas And The Papas, Johnny Rivers, The Byrds and his solo work, especially his most recent album, Arigatou Baby.

The show will debut this Tuesday, March 30 at both 7:30 EST and 7:30 Pacific over — www.KSAV.org

On Wednesday, March 31, the show will become available for 24/7 download access at — www.audioentertainment.org/dwp

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Another one for our Italian-speaking visitors

Another one for our italian readers:

The current issue of the LATE FOR THE SKY music magazine has a long article about Emmylou Harris, as well as a short interview with Chris Hillman.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Previously unseen BYRDS pictures (The Netherlands 1970)

Previously unseen pictures of The Byrds in Holland, 1970 were sent to us by Philip from The Netherlands.

See special page here:

http://users.skynet.be/byrdsfollower/byrdsdoelen.htm

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Fantastic New Finds

Byrds collector Whin Oppice sent us pictures and details about his incredible latest finds, which are:

1) a Byrds movie from 1966 that was never released

2) outtakes from the 1973 Byrds Reunion album

See special page here: http://users.skynet.be/fa409087/rareitems.htm

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

New Songs by Bill Kaffenberger

New songs available from Bill Kaffenberger:

Bill got four brand newByrds-style songs, lots of Rickenbacker, at the following web site:


http://www.reverbnation.com/billkaffenberger

They are free streaming MP3s so no cost to listen.

They are part of a planned CD length release that Bill hopes to have out by Spring 2010.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

New Fanzine Out with previously unseen Gene Clark Pictures

The debut issue of "Fantastic Expedition" is just out.

As well as an in-depth feature on Dillard & Clark it features some previously unseen pictures from the Dillard & Clark Expedition show at the Troubadour in '68. Also includes a new interview with Dan Peek of America and plenty of other West Coast goodies.

Contact Jason Smith for details - helen.jason@btinternet.com

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

New CD by Horst-Peter Schmidt - Byrds Fans shouldn't miss it!

Horst-Peter Schmidt (Byrds-influenced artist from Germany - "The Crown Prince of The Rickenbacker 12 String Guitar") has just released a new CD called Phoenix.

Byrds / Rickenbacker / McGuinn fans won't be disappointed!!!

More info here: http://www.starbyrd.eu/40310.html

Liner Notes:

The Crown Prince of 12-String Guitar, Horst-Peter Schmidt, has returned from his musical sabbatical to treat pop fans to another janglefest of twelve new tunes that build on his Byrds-inspired legacy. Horst-Peter channels Roger McGuinn effortlessly through his Rickenbacker 12-string play and his vocals. The eleven tracks on Phoenix are original songs that draw on Horst-Peter’s varied personal observations. The opening track, “Another Day Without You”, is a song about his Rickenbacker 370RM 12-string guitar – which went unplayed for too long a period. This autobiographical tone is repeated in songs like Catch Me When I Fall - a song dedicated to his wife Uta - and You’ll Show Me The Way, a retrospective of Horst-Peter’s musical career. Other songs capture the spirit of 60s folk-rock by lamenting the current poor state of German education, the troubled global situation, the environment and Trail of Tears, a song rooted in American history, as interpreted by a German songwriter. In spite of these melancholy song themes, Horst-Peter retains his positive perspective and optimism as evidenced by City of the Angels and the climactic You’ll Show Me The Way. Just as Turn! Turn! Turn! gave hope to a conflicted generation in the 60s, the songs on Phoenix give hope to contemporary listeners. We have a troubadour from Cologne, Germany and his Rickenbacker 12-string guitar to thank for this chiming call for a brighter, better tomorrow.

Eric Sorensen, "Jangle On!" Columnist