Untitled

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Arguably the last truly great album from the Byrds, this was a double vinyl set on its original release in 1970 and, as was the vogue, the 16 minute "Eight Miles High" took up an entire side--allowing for plenty of free-flowing guitar, bass and drum solos. One album was live, opening with a gritty "Lover Of The Bayou" and an inspired take on Bob Dylan's "Positively 4th Street". The second studio album contained the Byrds' biggest latter-day hit, "Chestnut Mare", as well as Roger McGuinn's haunting "Just A Season". Here, IUntitled/I is supplemented byIUnissued/I: a whole bonus disc of rare and unreleased material. There are storming concert versions of Dylan's "You Ain't Going Nowhere", "My Back Pages" and "This Wheel's On Fire", and studio highlights include "Lover Of The Bayou" and an undubbed "Kathleen's Song". Complete with detailed sleeve notes, recording details and bonus tracks, IUntitled/Unissued/I is a perfect illustration of how to repackage archive recordings. I--Patrick Humphries/I

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Customer reviews

review by: Top Dog Max date: 2009-05-14 rating:
Underrated classic
Well here goes - and most Byrds purists will want to throttle me for this - but UNTITLED has always been my favourite Byrds album. And this last iteration of the band was definitely the best live. The reason being is that the Parsons (Gene that is - not Gram) White alumnus were operating at the absolute peak on this one, and contributed songs, playing, vocals and arranging that was easily the equal of McGuinn. The original double vinyl was also, in my humble opinion, certainly up there with other major doubles released at the time - and that includes the White Album, Electric Ladyland and Wheels of Fire. Yes - UNTITLED is that good. br /I don't want to bore you too much on the Parsons/White axis, but they were truly exceptional on this album. Parsons, although the band's drummer, is an incredible multi-instrumentalist; at home on all stringed instruments. Clarence White was, as acknowledged by many guitar masters, a true great of the instrument whose creative direction is all over UNTITLED, and it is these 2 musicians that helped to give UNTITLED its deep country and folk influence. br /Some hidden treasures of this superb recording: br /** Lover On The Bayou - a heavy rock song unlike many others recorded by the band. Written by McGuinn and Jacques Levy, it was part of their aborted Gene Tryp stage play - many other songs of which appear on UNTITLED. This song has been recently covered brilliantly by Tom Petty on the Mudcrutch album. br /** Clarence White's acoustic guitar on Chestnut Mare. In my top 5 singles of all time, this wonderful song is truly enhanced by White's fills and runs on acoustic. Crisply recorded, his playing goes in allsorts of harmonic directions and resolves beautifully at the bridge section. br /** Gene Parsons lead vocal on Yesterdays Train. Parsons is also blessed with a smooth tenor voice, and was lead vocalist with the previous Parons/White band Nashville West. His vocal prowess is here in all its glory, and although he never got on with McGuinn, the band's leader allowed him to take many lead parts at the time (i.e. the beautiful Gunga Din from Ballad of Easy Rider). br /** 12 string on Just A Season. One of McGuinn's best ever "jingle jangle" sounding songs, and a testament to the overall quality of song on UNTITLED. br /Listening again to this, (and the CD package comes with a magnificent set of previously unreleased recordings from the time) you realise that Clarence White was such a tragic loss. He was sadly killed by a drunk driver whilst loading a truck after a gig in 1973. His playing was steeped in his bluegrass background, and his style was unmistakeable. A true genius tragically cut down when his best years were still ahead of him. Skip Battin also died a few years ago, which sadly leaves us with just Parsons and McGuinn. br /They haven't spoken for many years, largely because the Parsons/White/Battin team were only hired by McGuinn as paid employees; and as such, Parsons has received no royalties whatsoever on the re-release of these great recordings. Not a very fair legacy for this team of superb musicians and their families. br /Other recommended listening if you love UNTITLED (as I do!): br / br /** Gene Parsons - Kindling br /** Roger McGuinn - Cardiff Rose br /** Tom Petty Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch br /** Flying Burrito Brothers - Flying Again (3rd iteration of the band which features Parsons) br /** Nashville West - Nashville West br /** Randy Newman - 12 Songs (features White Parsons) br /** Clarence White - Tuff Stringy (many of his sessions from the late 60's) br /** Hillbilly Zen - Julian Dawson Gene Parsons br /

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review by: Willingale date: 2009-05-03 rating:
Not just the orignal double album,its now a double CD.
This is some double CD. br /The original Untitled tracks 1 - 7 are live 8 - 16 are studio recordings. br /I enjoy all the live work,except Eight Miles High,a great song,but at 16 minutes long,on this occasion it fails to impress. br /Chestnut Mare is well known,but look out for Yesterdays Train Just A Season,the're sublime. br /I only recently discovered the hidden Amazing Grace,it does'nt get much better than that. br /The second disc Unissued is 14 songs which include alternate versions,studio live recordings. br /The less wel known tracks are Kathleen's Song,White Lightning Pt 2 Willin. br /Like so much of The Byrds,this is another essential collection.

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review by: jamesmcintyre42 date: 2009-05-01 rating:
Amazing....grace
Great album...in case anyone hasnt noticed theres a "hidden" track at the end of disc one...a beautiful accapella version of Amazing Grace....just in case you miss it br / br /Jim

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review by: davethorn13 date: 2007-06-17 rating:
Unreal
I had long assumed that The Byrds had used up all their ammo once Clark, Crosby and then Hillman had left. This 1970 set proves otherwise. Jim McGuinn built a great new band around him, with Clarence White's fabulous, incendiary playing on the live half of the original album a highlight. Gene Parsons and Skip Battin, meanwhile, provide a restless and inspired rhythm section, which is as important to keeping the 16-minute version of 'Eight Miles High' on fire as the guitar interplay. In addition, McGuinn had several great songs left over from an aborted musical he'd collaborated on. The best of these are the live 'Lover On The Bayou' which opens the album and the studio cut, 'Chestnut Mare' which features more wonderful work from White. br / The song quality isn't consistent but the playing is. What makes this album such fantastic value, however, is the addition of the bonus disc, 'Unissued'. This is also a mix of live and studio recordings, four of which are alternative versions of tracks on the first disc. There are fine versions of Dylan's 'You Ain't Goin' Nowhere' and 'This Wheel's On Fire', while 'Kathleen's Song' and 'White's Lightning' are also particularly impressive. br / However uneven this collection is, it lacks nothing in enthusiasm and dexterity, and represents great value.


review by: JohnM date: 2006-12-08 rating:
Just wonderful.
This was always a very good album indeed, and the remastered re-issue with the extra CD at a bargain price, makes it a truly great one. I still don't understand how Clarence White could play like that! Just wonderful, so perhaps you ought to just buy it.

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