(Untitled) is the ninth album by the American rock band The Byrds and was released in September 1970 on Columbia Records. This is a double album, with the first LP featuring live concert recordings from two early 1970 performances in New York City and with the second LP consisting of new studio recordings. This album represented the first official release of any live recordings by the band as well as the first appearance on a Byrds' record of new recruit Skip Battin.
Album Description & Collectors information: Gatefold (FOC) cover design with artwork / photos on the inside cover pages
The Byrds' "Untitled" album was a double LP set that included both live recordings and studio tracks. The live recordings were taken from concerts that the band had performed at the Fillmore East in New York City and the Fillmore West in San Francisco. The studio tracks were recorded at Columbia Studios in Hollywood, California. The album was produced by Terry Melcher and the band, with additional engineering by Stephen Barncard. The Byrds' Untitled album is considered by many to be a landmark record in the history of rock music. It marked a departure from the band's earlier sound and demonstrated their willingness to experiment with different styles of music. The album showcased the band's ability to seamlessly blend elements of folk, country, rock, and psychedelia into a cohesive whole. The live recordings on the album captured the energy and excitement of the band's live performances, which were legendary in the 1960s. The studio tracks, on the other hand, demonstrated the band's proficiency as songwriters and their ability to create intricate and nuanced arrangements. The album's influence can be heard in the music of many subsequent bands, including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, R.E.M., and Wilco. It has been praised for its innovative use of the 12-string guitar, its intricate harmonies, and its incorporation of country and folk music into the rock genre. |
Music Genre: American Folk-Rock |
Album Production Information: The album: "BYRDS - Untitled" was produced by: Terry Melcher, Jim Dickson Liner notes by Derek Taylor Album cover design: The Cafe Society Dancing Band / Babitz Album cover photography: Nancy Chester |
Record Label & Catalognr: CBS S 66253 |
Media Format: Double 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone RecordTotal Album (Cover+Record) weight: 480 gram |
Year & Country: 1970 Made in Germany |
Complete Track-listing of the album "BYRDS - Untitled" |
The detailed tracklist of this record "BYRDS - Untitled" is:
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Note: The photos on this page are taken from albums in my personal collection. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone ).
"Untitled" Orange Colour with CBS Walking Eye around Center Hole Record Label Details: CBS S 66253, Made in Holland t ℗ 1970 Sound Copyright
The Byrds were an influential American rock band that emerged in the mid-1960s, blending elements of folk, rock, and country music to create a distinctive sound that would go on to influence countless musicians in the decades that followed.
Formed in Los Angeles in 1964, the original lineup of the Byrds included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke. They quickly gained attention with their distinctive sound, featuring McGuinn's jangly 12-string guitar and the group's tight vocal harmonies.
The Byrds' early hits, such as "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!", were folk rock adaptations of songs by Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger, respectively. But as the band evolved, they began to incorporate more original material and explore new musical directions.
Their 1966 album "Fifth Dimension" marked a major turning point for the band, featuring experimental songs that incorporated elements of psychedelia and Indian music. The album also marked the departure of Gene Clark, who was replaced by Gram Parsons for the band's next album, "The Notorious Byrd Brothers".
Parsons' influence helped shape the Byrds' sound even further, as they embraced country rock and began to incorporate pedal steel guitar and other traditional country instruments into their music. However, Parsons' tenure with the band was short-lived, and he left to form the Flying Burrito Brothers after recording just one album with the Byrds.
Despite the various personnel changes over the years, the Byrds continued to release innovative and influential music throughout the 1960s and into the early 1970s. Their influence can be heard in the music of countless artists who followed in their footsteps, including Tom Petty, R.E.M., and the Eagles.
In addition to their musical contributions, the Byrds were also notable for their role in popularizing the use of the 12-string guitar in rock music, as well as for their innovative use of studio techniques such as phasing and echo.
While the band officially disbanded in 1973, their legacy lives on as one of the most innovative and influential groups of the 1960s. From their early folk rock hits to their later experiments with psychedelia and country rock, the Byrds' music continues to inspire and influence musicians to this day.
Trivia: The band name "The Byrds" is actually a play on words, as it intentionally misspells the word "birds." The band's founding member and guitarist, Jim McGuinn, came up with the name as a nod to the influence of the Beatles, who had famously misspelled their name with an "a" instead of an "e" in their early days. The misspelling of "birds" as "byrds" was meant to give the band a unique and distinctive name that would set them apart from other bands of the time. Additionally, it has been suggested that the misspelling also gave the band a certain mystique, as it forced people to ask questions about the origin and meaning of their name. Overall, the intentional misspelling of "birds" as "byrds" was a clever and effective branding decision that helped to establish the band's identity and contributed to their success.