Backstage Pass

Backstage Pass

Much like Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, the flight paths of ex-Byrds, Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark and Chris Hillman involve a fascinating tangle of intriguing collaborations, one-off alliances, bitter recriminations, missed opportunities and all points in between. This excellent concert, broadcast from Hempstead, New York's Calderone Theatre features a fascinating wide-cross section of the band members' extensive accomplishments both collectively and individually. There are recast versions of favourites from the Byrds' own pens (Feel A Whole Better, Mr. Spaceman, Eight Miles High, Rock'n'Roll Star) and covers (Turn! Turn! Turn!, Chimes of Freedom, You Ain't Goin' Nowhere), tracks from the MCH debut album (Release Me Girl, Feelin' Higher, Backstage Pass, Bye, Bye Baby) and even McGuinn and Hillman's unreleased Here She Comes Again. Another rarity is Bag Full Of Money, a song originally recorded by the Byrds in 1972 but never released. This version is taken from a 1978 broadcast by McGuinn and Clark which also includes the aforementioned Don't You Write Her Off, and fine versions of the Gene Clark obscurity Crazy Ladies, the classic Train Leaves Here This Morning (co-written by Clark and The Eagles' Bernie Leadon) and, finally, the traditional Fair And Tender Ladies.