The Byrds.......... perfect example of an ever-evolving musical band, covering more than just a few genres at any given moment. They were quite extraordinary, in all their varied incarnations. I'm guessing late 1968, just after Gram Parsons left; getting close to 50 years now, since this type of brilliance blinded us with overwhelming emotions................I was fourteen then. WOW!!!!!! Those were great days in music to grow up in. Peace
I also remember it as being on the Playboy After Dark TV program. The year 1969 seems right also. What a wonderful era for music. I'm glad to have lived through it. As a young guitarist, Clarence was, and still is, my all time favorite.
Michael...returning home from the military late dec 67 ...almost 20 gone 3 yrs listenin to some serious Harmony's of Doo Wop we had a group on the ship from Brooklyn....so comin home all friends had just left are leaving sooo ready for a change and Clarence White, Gram ,and the Austin Music scene was just starting so I was also blessed to have lived through this time in life....being able to see these Musicians who played with different groups through the era seeing them numerous times Wow...could go on and on Thanks Yall for sharing this Hall of Fame Video ! And all the Great Comments ! ol man way down in TX JD. GREAT POST !
Absolutely the worst camera direction. Stage lighting awful. Hugh Hefner and his wall of stereo gear was no help. This appearance must have Mede the band wince and I doubt it sold any records. The same thing happened on the Tonight Show and nearly all successive shows. Rock has been & will be the red headed step child of television. Support live music.
What was always so amazing about Clarence was his economy of movement while at the same time putting so much into what he played with the paradox of what he DIDN'T play being just as vital as what he DID play, and his dedication to playing the melody while reaching the outer limits of it.
Clarence with his "B-bender"-tele built by Gene Parsons. A great player. Only recently is he getting the credit he's due! Thanks for sharing this clip!!
saw mcguinn last year in nj,, was very cool being 32 years old and being into this music and being able to see him perform, and just to look at the guy and think holy fuck he played with Clarence and gram
me too i loved this line up of the byrds,,saw them live in 1970/music hall in cleveland ohio..and...elton john opened for them!! (as it should have been) they smoked elton good they did...
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere and This Wheel's On Fire both by Bob Dylan; wonderful performance by The Byrds. Thanks for putting this up! It's awesome, and there I go, using that over-used word again, haha.
Clarence White - one of the ALL TIME great flatpickers. If you like him, check out Bryan Sutton playing Beaumont Rag and Doc Watson playing Black Mountain Rag. Hard to imagine anyone topping these 3 guys. Sure miss Clarence and Doc.
love this. absolutely love this. for some reason reminds me of altamont before all hell broke lose.. must be the dancers? roger & clarence in their prime i think.
Gene has been making them for 30 years at least and they are beautifully crafted. The two may have discussed the concept, but Gene is a high-level machinist as well as a hell of a musician. You should contact him if you want one. Tq
@DanStar707 Well there you have it. I have a copy and I play it once in a while, makes me feel great to listen. My old eyes have a problem reading though so I haven't looked at the notes. Thanks for the heads-up. :- )
I have a copy of The Byrds (Untitled) that I bought in 1970. Inside the cover it says "it's something he (Clarence) and Gene Parsons invented". I also have a copy of Gene's "Kindling" bought in 1974. Clarence plays on this. As you say Gene is a hell of a musician.
Clarence really brings on a steel guitar sound from a six string which evn overshadows McGuinns 12 string sound - whoooo! Aint Goin Nowhere / Wheels on Fire are these really danceable in that freaky 60s way? haha
Ricky Scaggs, Albert Lee, Jimmy Olander (lead player in Diamond Rio) to name a few. But I haven't heard a guitar player recording in Nashville, L.A., New York or ANYWHERE that would make me think "Yeah, this guy's REALLY been listening to Clarence".
Why is this only tagged Clarence White? I think anyone lookin for the byrds should be able to find this. I've been hunting for good videos from this era of the byrds, but i only found this on accident while looking at Clarence videos...
The Byrds - 1968-"Sweetheart Of The Rodeo"-is awesome album!!! C.White invented the B-Bender device. This device raises the b (second) string of the guitar a whole step by the use of pulleys and levers attached to the upper strap knob and the second string on the guitar. It is activated by pushing down on the neck, and produces a "pedal steel" type sound. White play 1954 Fender Telecaster with the prototype B-Bender.
John York sings the high harmony vocal. Plus, I wish he would have continued to performed with THE BYRDS. His lead vocal on FIDO sounds like GENE CLARK.
This is actually the latter-day Byrds, after all the other guys left.Post-Gram Parsons, I'm guessin,' not too long after Sweetheart of the Rodeo.Clarence White was truly a genius of Country-rock Guitar, SO innovative with the tele-B-Bender combo.So tragic how early he went.
@fiveslots I agree. Byrds are really peaking at this point, Jim's in charge, Clarence- a major talent and John York has the looks! This is an excellent post.
@HoGraz The name of the first song is "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." The name of the second song is "This Wheel's On Fire." Both were written by Bob Dylan. The originals are both on the "Basement Tapes" album by Bob Dylan and the Band. The Byrds versions of these songs are on "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" and "Dr. Byrds, Mr. Hyde" respectively (both lead off tracks for each album).
Actually they both invented it. It was in Palmdale CA. They played at a Country Bar at night and had a Auto machine shop during the day. I actually played the first one they made.
I think Marty Stuart also plays one and if I'm not mistaken, he may have given one of his "B Benders" to Marty. Mike Campbell of Tom Petty's Heartbreaks is also using one as of late for Petty's reunion of his first band, Mudcrutch.
I only saw Clarence live 1 time, but was heavily influenced by him. I actually had a B-string bender on my Les Paul back in '71-'72. Can I please get a copy of this, to download?\ Thanks, Steve
I think this clip is from Playboy After Dark. HH had some great music on the show. But the camera crew were clueless about where to point the cameras! They totally missed covering Clarence's lead playing in favor of the dancers. Silly.
I think you mean that you used to see Nashville West, but this is the Byrds, after NW broke up and Clarence and Gene joined the Byrds (late '68). Great clip from Playboy After Dark.
I think Marty sees himself as the "custodian" of the guitar known as "Clarence".In Guitar Player magazine's "Vintage Gallery" in 1994 he said "I don't feel like I bought the guitar, I just bought the rights to borrow it".
McGuinn at 17 was friends with Master Cylinder and recorded this in Master Cylinder's Hollywood Hills groove house......If you look close you can see the Block Heads from Gumby & Pokey dancing at the 4:20 time stamp
I don't believe that is Clarence on "Kindling." That's Gene on the stringbender and he tunes to open G. Do you actually see Clarence listed as a musician? :- ) Tq
I'm guessin' from all the "groovey" dancers and surrealistic set, this may have been the old Playboy/Hugh Hefner show??Cool Clarence White Solo! Man.. for a guy who pretty came out of the Bluegrass world, he sure turned into an AWEsome electric player, didn't he? Some people knock this later version of the Byrds..but I think they were great!!
You would've thought that by now they would've dropped the whole matching suit thing. I mean it was 1968, even The Beatles stopped it after they stopped touring in 1966.
I don't know if you'll even see this cause this comment is thirteen years old, but it was probably Clarence's influence given that he was a touring bluegrass musician and that's tradition
Ha, That acid story is hilarious, wonder if Marty found out if it was any good. Boy Clarence sure does sound like a steel guitar on the first song for sure!
@januarysixteenth You should watch Grateful Dead on Playboy After Dark,when their roadies dosed the cast and crew of the show with LSD. That was some dancing, even Hugh Hefner was tripping balls,haha
The Byrds.......... perfect example of an ever-evolving musical band, covering more than just a few genres at any given moment. They were quite extraordinary, in all their varied incarnations. I'm guessing late 1968, just after Gram Parsons left; getting close to 50 years now, since this type of brilliance blinded us with overwhelming emotions................I was fourteen then. WOW!!!!!! Those were great days in music to grow up in. Peace
I also remember it as being on the Playboy After Dark TV program. The year 1969 seems right also. What a wonderful era for music. I'm glad to have lived through it. As a young guitarist, Clarence was, and still is, my all time favorite.
Michael...returning home from the military late dec 67 ...almost 20 gone 3 yrs listenin to some serious Harmony's of Doo Wop we had a group on the ship from Brooklyn....so comin home all friends had just left are leaving sooo ready for a change and Clarence White, Gram ,and the Austin Music scene was just starting so I was also blessed to have lived through this time in life....being able to see these Musicians who played with different groups through the era seeing them numerous times Wow...could go on and on Thanks Yall for sharing this Hall of Fame Video ! And all the Great Comments ! ol man way down in TX JD.
GREAT POST !
Absolutely the worst camera direction. Stage lighting awful. Hugh Hefner and his wall of stereo gear was no help. This appearance must have Mede the band wince and I doubt it sold any records. The same thing happened on the Tonight Show and nearly all successive shows. Rock has been & will be the red headed step child of television. Support live music.
What was always so amazing about Clarence was his economy of movement while at the same time putting so much into what he played with the paradox of what he DIDN'T play being just as vital as what he DID play, and his dedication to playing the melody while reaching the outer limits of it.
Clarence with his "B-bender"-tele built by Gene Parsons. A great player. Only recently is he getting the credit he's due! Thanks for sharing this clip!!
Clarence rules ask Buddy Cage he played his style
In my opinion the best American band of all time
This is a thing of incredible beauty. Lifelong Byrds fan. I feel like Clarence and Jim/Roger were my guitar teachers, via all their great records.
saw mcguinn last year in nj,, was very cool being 32 years old and being into this music and being able to see him perform, and just to look at the guy and think holy fuck he played with Clarence and gram
me too i loved this line up of the byrds,,saw them live in 1970/music hall in cleveland ohio..and...elton john opened for them!! (as it should have been) they smoked elton good they did...
I love the Byrds. Roger, Gene, Clarence, and John all rock here!
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere and This Wheel's On Fire
both by Bob Dylan; wonderful performance by The Byrds.
Thanks for putting this up! It's awesome, and there I go, using that over-used word again, haha.
Clarence White - one of the ALL TIME great flatpickers. If you like him, check out Bryan Sutton playing Beaumont Rag and Doc Watson playing Black Mountain Rag. Hard to imagine anyone topping these 3 guys. Sure miss Clarence and Doc.
The best thing I've seen in a long damn time. Thank you. Thank you.
Here they still look like the clean cut American version of Beatles... and then the hair just growed and growed :)
Great find... I love it!
Amazing stuff. First time I've seen the John York era Byrds on video .... and of course, Clarence is awesome!
Marty Stuart owns Clarence's Telecaster now- he use it a lot- it's on the odd album cover.
This was an amazing video!
Thank you for posting-
VERY inspirational.
Banjoistically yours,
Jon Eric
God I love that B-Bender Tele!
10/20/2022,,👍🏼🌹🎸 was thinking about Clarence White today while jamming. ✌🏼
love this. absolutely love this. for some reason reminds me of altamont before all hell broke lose.. must be the dancers? roger & clarence in their prime i think.
Byrds are really peaking at this point, Jim's in charge,
Clarence- a major talent and John York has the looks!
This is an excellent post.
Thanks for posting this vid...now I am late for work!
I think it is the playboy show, I'm pretty sure Barbie Benton is in the front .
Great video, Clarence sure rocks out!!
Clarence, one of the best B string benders even
Amazing video ! Thank you !
Gene has been making them for 30 years at least and they are beautifully crafted. The two may have discussed the concept, but Gene is a high-level machinist as well as a hell of a musician. You should contact him if you want one.
Tq
@DanStar707 Well there you have it. I have a copy and I play it once in a while, makes me feel great to listen. My old eyes have a problem reading though so I haven't looked at the notes. Thanks for the heads-up. :- )
Clarence making his
"B-Bender" sing here.
Those city kids should have been
🇨🇱Texas🇨🇱 two-stepping to the first song.
R. I. P.
CLARENCE 🎸WHITE
I have a copy of The Byrds (Untitled) that I bought in 1970. Inside the cover it says "it's something he (Clarence) and Gene Parsons invented".
I also have a copy of Gene's "Kindling" bought in 1974. Clarence plays on this.
As you say Gene is a hell of a musician.
The guitar Clarence is playing in this video is, in fact, the very same guitar that Marty Stuart owns and plays on occasion.
Oh, Clarence without the beard.
Go Clarence.
And the dancing is GROOVY.
Clarence after Dark. RIP.
Is that Clarence doing the high harmony? And that iconic intro was him... Amazing!
Clarence really brings on a steel guitar sound from a six string which evn overshadows McGuinns 12 string sound - whoooo!
Aint Goin Nowhere / Wheels on Fire are these really danceable in that freaky 60s way? haha
Ricky Scaggs, Albert Lee, Jimmy Olander (lead player in Diamond Rio) to name a few. But I haven't heard a guitar player recording in Nashville, L.A., New York or ANYWHERE that would make me think "Yeah, this guy's REALLY been listening to Clarence".
Why is this only tagged Clarence White? I think anyone lookin for the byrds should be able to find this. I've been hunting for good videos from this era of the byrds, but i only found this on accident while looking at Clarence videos...
What a shame a drunk driver killed Clarence when he was packing up his car! Damn drunk, drugged or distracted drivers! What a senseless loss!
Dig the hippies groovin' to country music. LOL
If the video guy had just only known he would have never taken the camera off Clarence
fr
The Soul Train dancers meet chicken pickin'. 🤣
@@jgunther3398
LOL
Or the American Bandstand dancers....they should have been
two-stepping to that first song!
The Byrds - 1968-"Sweetheart Of The Rodeo"-is awesome album!!!
C.White invented the B-Bender device. This device raises the b (second) string of the guitar a whole step by the use of pulleys and levers attached to the upper strap knob and the second string on the guitar. It is activated by pushing down on the neck, and produces a "pedal steel" type sound. White play 1954 Fender Telecaster with the prototype B-Bender.
John York sings the high harmony vocal. Plus, I wish he would have continued to performed with THE BYRDS. His lead vocal on FIDO sounds like GENE CLARK.
This is actually the latter-day Byrds, after
all the other guys left.Post-Gram Parsons,
I'm guessin,' not too long after Sweetheart of the Rodeo.Clarence White was truly a genius of Country-rock Guitar, SO innovative
with the tele-B-Bender combo.So tragic how
early he went.
The original b string bender, very clever.
@fiveslots I agree. Byrds are really peaking at this point, Jim's in charge, Clarence- a major talent and John York has the looks! This is an excellent post.
Your brain cells are correct,I remeber watching playboy after dark on Friday nites after everybody else had gone to bed.
Note the use of a "string bender" on Clarence's guitar to get that cool twang. He pulles down on the neck.
@HoGraz The name of the first song is "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." The name of the second song is "This Wheel's On Fire." Both were written by Bob Dylan. The originals are both on the "Basement Tapes" album by Bob Dylan and the Band. The Byrds versions of these songs are on "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" and "Dr. Byrds, Mr. Hyde" respectively (both lead off tracks for each album).
Great music, but my favorite thing every time I see this video is the black guy getting down on the dance floor.
1968, give it back, now!
Clarence is awesome
Good lord...Clarence.
Man... Clarence. - Nobody picks like him on flat-top... and nobody picks like him on electric.
valuable video!
thanks for posting!!
Yes, Clarence is listed. I am not back home until the weekend but will post some of the listing.
Actually they both invented it. It was in Palmdale CA. They played at a Country Bar at night and had a Auto machine shop during the day. I actually played the first one they made.
I think Marty Stuart also plays one and if I'm not mistaken, he may have given one of his "B Benders" to Marty. Mike Campbell of Tom Petty's Heartbreaks is also using one as of late for Petty's reunion of his first band, Mudcrutch.
Great stuff...
@BlindTom61
Yes! Gene is making them still. And, yes, Clarence played on Kindling. I know - I was there.
I personally love Skip Battin, probably my favorite bassist. John York is great too. I just don't see how you can't like Skip.
Wonderful!
I only saw Clarence live 1 time, but was heavily influenced by him. I actually had a B-string bender on my Les Paul back in '71-'72.
Can I please get a copy of this, to download?\
Thanks, Steve
I think this clip is from Playboy After Dark. HH had some great music on the show. But the camera crew were clueless about where to point the cameras! They totally missed covering Clarence's lead playing in favor of the dancers. Silly.
Divine!!!
What a groovy psychedelic solo in the second song by Clarence-
Clarence rules
Nice to looklisten!!
Awesome!
Still the most mesmerizing anagogic guitar I've ever heard. His high tenor is ungodly too. You could miss the whole thing which was his early style.
Clarence sings in a pleasant baritone. That would John York singing tenor.
this wheels on fire
I think you mean that you used to see Nashville West, but this is the Byrds, after NW broke up and Clarence and Gene joined the Byrds (late '68). Great clip from Playboy After Dark.
Invented by Parsons, made famous by White.
I think Marty sees himself as the "custodian" of the guitar known as "Clarence".In Guitar Player magazine's "Vintage Gallery" in 1994 he said "I don't feel like I bought the guitar, I just bought the rights to borrow it".
WOW GREAT
love the goofy 60's dancing
@gdosic Clarence and Gene came up with the idea. Gene engineered it in his machine shop. C. Parsons
@thebeefdancer Hey buddy, this the Dr Byrds lineup before Skip joined. Gene was part of that lineup and he is playing drums in this video.
I'd like a copy of this to download also.
McGuinn at 17 was friends with Master Cylinder and recorded this in Master Cylinder's Hollywood Hills groove house......If you look close you can see the Block Heads from Gumby & Pokey dancing at the 4:20 time stamp
I don't believe that is Clarence on "Kindling." That's Gene on the stringbender and he tunes to open G. Do you actually see Clarence listed as a musician? :- )
Tq
Shame the camera stays on Roger during Clarence's solos.
I'm guessin' from all the "groovey" dancers and surrealistic set, this may have been the old Playboy/Hugh Hefner
show??Cool Clarence White Solo! Man.. for a guy who pretty came out of the Bluegrass world, he sure turned into an AWEsome electric player, didn't he? Some people knock this later version of the Byrds..but I think they were great!!
Actually John York the Bass Player is singing the high harmony parts
You would've thought that by now they would've dropped the whole matching suit thing. I mean it was 1968, even The Beatles stopped it after they stopped touring in 1966.
I don't know if you'll even see this cause this comment is thirteen years old, but it was probably Clarence's influence given that he was a touring bluegrass musician and that's tradition
I wish I could dance like that.
I'm pretty sure this is a Playboy After Dark episode from 1969. A few of my brain cells still work. ;)
McGuinn never really got over Peter, Paul and Mary, you know.
I thought I remembered this, but that must have been someone else.
Clarence went this way and after the Byrds crappy music and drugs went back to bluegrass with the Admirals before hit by a drunken driver
The hilarious thing is these people trying to Disco dance to this tune!!
Ha, That acid story is hilarious, wonder if Marty found out if it was any good. Boy Clarence sure does sound like a steel guitar on the first song for sure!
Who is playing the bass in this version of the Byrds?
Why is there so much footage of the Byrds since 1969 but so little prior to that?
5:31 Clarence forgets what he's doing, and makes up for it with dynamite
Was hippy line dancing ever a thing ?
@januarysixteenth
You should watch Grateful Dead on Playboy After Dark,when their roadies dosed the cast and crew of the show with LSD. That was some dancing, even Hugh Hefner was tripping balls,haha
@pdorn777
How can you tell if that's Paul Mooney?
That IS Gene on the drums. Camille Parsons
Before Skip.
I'm pretty sure this is from "Playboy after Dark"... I've seen that black dude doing his thing to Deep Purple on the same show..
That's the first song; what's the name of the second one?
Clarence White and Jerry Garcia...wonder if those guys influenced each other...they sound so similar
Never seen Gene Parsons without his moustache!