Roger McGuinn Gene Clark CBC Toronto

[@Marekeb]

Wish I could’ve let Gene Clark know what his music means to my 23 year old self in 2024 through all of life’s ups and downs.

[@nikoberardo9213]

Felt. 26 years old here, listening to the Byrds for 20 of those years. Gene's listening.

[@driver75]

Gene Clark was special

[@scott25624]

how bout it.....

[@Secretarian]

Wow. Hearing Gene Clark singing a verse on his own, you can hear how his voice was perfectly suited to sit between McGuinn and Crosby.

[@PlasticPalatePeople]

At 4:00 minutes or so, the stage light to the left of Gene's face reminds me of the White Light album cover. His eyes have an impossible sadness and loneliness about them that belie his stoicism. Maybe his great gift/ burden was his ability to communicate that feeling through his music.. RIP Gene, and here's to hoping Roger keeps kicking around for a good while longer. Love them both.

[@mikehiers]

The fact that Roger has kept this music alive for almost 60 years is the ultimate testament. But he never had a harmony partner like Gene. Roger, alone is pure and brings tears. I've seen him several times and his authenticity never wavers.

[@Oodle-ox2vf]

David Crosby was a big part of the Byrds Harmony, and Hillman of course. Sad that Gene did not the same ongoing success, despite having a wonderful voice.

[@daveyvane]

Brings tears? Really? 😂

[@stacyblue1980]

LOVE Gene Clark. He was not meant for the rock n roll world. So special.

[@larrycom]

Correct

[@kathrynmcelroy5658]

He was not meant for the shitty trajectory of this so called fame. Fame should hold you up, not ruin your life if you are genuine.

[@namcat53]

Well said. @@kathrynmcelroy5658

[@johnhermann8121]

It is so good to see these two guys performing together. They were he heart and soul of the Byrds.

[@ervbefelnareik7604]

When Gene sang that verse in Tamborine Man I shed a tear. Beautiful.

[@ervbefelnareik7604]

And Roger's humming that harmony in the background.. Beautiful!

[@Robinbyrd11]

Me too.

[@daveyvane]

😂

[@schmozzer]

This was how the Byrds began with Gene and Roger harmonising together at the Troubador.

[@munimathbypeterfelton6251]

These guys held each other in such high esteem on and offstage. RIP Gene

[@thomasrobinson182]

Roger, for all the flack directed at him by some fans, always seemed willing to work with Gene.

[@Tom-bs3zh]

@@thomasrobinson182 I see more flack thrown at Crosby than anyone else.

[@pamelahay6242]

Yes, despite their ups & downs with each other I think McGuinn always respected and valued Gene’s undoubted talent and ability. Just lifestyle factors sometimes got in the way. They always sound great together. I think Gene Clark was spot on back in 1964 when rhey first met. They had similar ideas about wrangling that early Beatles sound into the folk & acoustic country roots they respectively came from and Gene’ssuggestion that they maybe form a Peter & Gordon type duo was 100% a good idea..... that evolved into the amazing Byrds!

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

@@Tom-bs3zh Yeah...as much esteem as I have for Croz's musicianship (which is genius level), he deserves a lot of the flak he's had to fly through. Hell, he attracts it like a magnet. Humility has never been his strong suit, but credit where credit is due; he has mellowed somewhat in his seniorhood, and has had the decency to acknowledge McGuinn's musical leadership in The Byrds.

[@davidmurray2539]

Yeah?? That so called "high esteem" didn't serve Clark at all when he was a Byrd. The two leaders, with their petty jealousies of Gene's far superior songwriting skills and royalty checks nudged him little by little right out of the group. After you get past the Dylan covers it was evident that Gene Clark was the heartbeat of The Byrds. Where they could've gone creatively with him on board through 5D to Notorious Byrd Bros and beyond is the stuff of imaginative speculation, and sadness. And it would've required the group's two bossiest, opinionated members be a whole lot more generous and respectful of the others.

[@johnjackson8401]

Gene Clark had something in common with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. When he sang, his voice was unique and soulful. You knew it was him and only him. Very talented singer, songwriter and artist. No Other!

[@daveyvane]

It is good they alternated vocals on different song. Like the Beatles did.

[@jdwfenton]

I truly believe that the Byrds made their best records when Gene Clark was in the band. I remember when " 8 Miles High " was starting to be played on radio and thinking there was nothing like it at all on AM radio at that time. Only decades later did I find out that McGuinn listened to a lot of John Coltrane and you could hear those influences in that song.

[@margieharvey3279]

What a treat, never seen this before. The harmony is spot on, Gene Clark's voice is beautiful and he's so good looking :)

[@kimbarrett9734]

I was always lovesick for Chris and roger, now its so clear Gene was handsome one by far and the voice and songwriter.

[@rickalan5871]

Ahaha, I saw him in 1970, you can't even begin to imagine how good looking. His presence and every gesture was just Regal.

[@suzannelawson9215]

@@kimbarrett9734 Yes, I too was crazy about Chris Hillman in his early days in the Byrds but as I got older, I was drawn to Gene Clark. Well....I also had a crush on Mike Clark the drummer until.....I read an interview, a question/answer article in 16 Magazine. They asked him something about what kind of girls he was attracted to and his reply was that he liked tall girls with long straight hair. Well.....that wasn't me at all being only 5' 1" tall and thick wavy hair and not straight at all. So I knew I would never be "his type." 😥

[@nancyfoster4599]

Let's face it- Gene Clark got Pete Bested. Am I right?

[@QueenSnowPea]

Gene Clark was definitely pleasant on the eyes.

[@emmastein6886]

What a wonderful video, I am watching it every day. With his stage presence Gene is in every way fascinating and his voice beautiful, incomparable and moving, simply unbelievable. ♥️

[@jerrykibbe6363]

Such a great song

[@51manchester]

Superb vocal from Gene supported by Roger

[@MarigoldThyme]

Gene Clark forever!💖

[@violinstudyingpiano8352]

Beautiful men and so talented and such fabulous harmonies, so wonderful music😀

[@alanmoore7008]

Gene should have been the main vocalist in The Byrds...nothing against McGuinn but Gene's voice is so soulful and dignified....

[@northernlight4614]

Alan Moore, Gene sang lead on a lot of Byrds' songs. Keep in mind he was only on the first two albums.

[@jerrykibbe6363]

@@northernlight4614 The reason why oh I can’t say , I have to let you go babe & right away…

[@commontater8630]

@@normatible9795 Roger and Gene were a duo first, then added the others to form the Byrds. Just because you identify Roger's voice with the Byrds doesn't make him a better singer. Gene really had a greater expressive range as a singer than Roger.

[@jerrykibbe6363]

He hated to fly

[@normatible9795]

​@@commontater8630i don't mean that. Gene is an excellent singer and wrote most of tbe byrds songs. I watched all videos available and listenrd to.all outtakes of all their songs. The byrds made 2 to 3 versions of their songs. Gene is always lead except bob dylan songs which has mcguinn singing lead..whether as duo, trio wd hillman and as a band, these 2 gentlemen always bring out the besf in each bother

[@JacksonBetz]

Love seeing Gene sing that verse of Mr. Tambourine Man!!

[@rickalan5871]

Oh yes, so much better than the byrds virsion with Mcguinn singing, Rogers' good, but his is a more commercial sound.

[@Burty755]

hits hard

[@Tom-bs3zh]

These guys completed each other musically. Just like Dave [Crosby] and Graham Nash, or Chris Hilman and Gram Parsons. When they play apart, they are still great, but when they play together its pure magic.

[@Mandrake591]

This is just wonderful. Obviously Gene and Roger respected each other a lot. I wish they had written & recorded more together, because everytime they did it was magic!

[@1FriendlyNeighbour]

Thirteen years earlier (1965), they had the #1 single; 13 years later (1991) Gene died. Here, in 1978 they were something special. Thank you for sharing this.

[@anthonybracciante5112]

I saw them perform at the NYU Student Union in November of 1977. This was an all acoustic show and it was amazing to hear Eight Miles High on an acoustic 12 string. I am a life long fan of Roger McGuinn. However, Gene Clark was the voice of the Byrds and I'm glad to have seen him perform several times. This video predated McGuinn, Clark & Hillman by about half a year.

[@Vesnicie]

I get so jealous when I read comments like these! Gene and I shared the planet for several years, but not long enough for me to realize just what I was missing by never going to see the man play. You must really treasure those memories!

[@Herblatz]

Acoustic? The "sound" of The Byrds was McGuinn's 12-string Rickenbacker, an electric guitar.

[@OliveAmanita2682]

​he frequently used acoustic 12-strings during the late 70s onward, and also his custom 7-string with the double G.

[@namcat53]

I was at the reunion at the Boarding House in San Francisco; it was incredible. This is a very interesting distillation of the Byrds sound with just the original duo's voices sounding amazing. THANKS!

[@emichin7010]

Saw Roger in a solo concert in Honolulu. Wonderful music, wonderful stories, wonderful evening.

[@garyshook5922]

The third song is Release Me Girl. One of the best versions I've seen/heard of this unknown classic.

[@MrRhmccabe]

By the time they got to it they were just hitting their stride and beginning to get comfortable playing,there is a part where McGuinn looks at Clark as if to say nice going Geno,during Mr.Tambourine Man.

[@violetjm]

That's at 3:46. Just before that, Gene has sung that glorious Dylan verse as beautifully as I think it has ever been sung.

[@TR-yi8up]

The way Gene steps out on each vocal is great.

[@ЕленаГуцу-и1х]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5XcqIyAqMp9gdU&start_radio=1

[@derekbryant2007]

That chorus on Turn Turn Turn.... 💥💥💥

[@dodgedandle8311]

Fecking MEGA.. Love Rodger and Gene , God Rest his Soul ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🌞🌞⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️👍🏻..He was Really Something else. Love you Gene and all what you Gave to us all..❤️❤️❤️⭐️👍🏻🌞

[@appamtnculture1302]

Two of the best folk collaborators I've ever heard.

[@mikehiers]

Gene was a great and tragic talent. Roger/Jim IS the American Beatle.

[@Zenben69]

So great to see these two performing together. As a kid, I never understood the reasons why Clark left the Byrds in the late 60's...also I was moving into other music as I expanded my music interests. Coming back to the vids of so many performances with either Roger or Gene and even with Chris (MCH) was so captivating, and that led to that last performance of all 5 originals at the Hall of Fame performance right before Gene passed. He went thru alot in his life, but his voice and songwriting always stayed at this amazing level. We see it easily now. He was genuinely touched by God or whatever you attribute to the influx of that level of creativity. Thanks for posting!

[@lesliegoodman-malamuth9796]

My understanding is that Gene’s agoraphobia and fear of air travel overwhelmed him, although I may be wrong. His rendition of “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” merits a lifetime’s work, IMHO.

[@jerrykibbe6363]

⁠Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers did a great job on Feel Whole Lot Better

[@voiceguy3635]

This "softer" version of "Mr.Tambourine Man" is perfection.

[@Tom-bs3zh]

This shows that Roger Mcguinn and Gene Clark played the biggest role in creating that signature Byrd sound. Don't get me wrong, Chris Hillman and Dave Crosby played huge roles after Gene Clark left, and they released some excellent material together. However, after Gene Clark left it's noticeable that something is missing.

[@Doones51]

i really like this pairing. Great live performance

[@johnstephen7610]

This is a priceless video. Thanks so much for posting this. Chris Hillman has said in interviews that, in the beginning of the Byrds, Gene Clark was the powerhouse in the band. I do notice that in the beginning of Tambourine Man in this video, McGuinn plays the intro at a quick pace, but when Gene joins in for the song, he slows it down quite a bit, tempo-wise.

[@eugeniamedina3267]

Gene was so handsome

[@sergiostelmach4273]

Just incredible to see this video with these legends ! Byrds forever !!

[@maureenhorrigan7151]

Great singer and writer.

[@gerrymarks7527]

I remember them on tv here in canada.😀

[@caryheuchert]

What a treat and joyous sound!

[@hamilton59840]

Before Gene Clark co-founded THe ByRDS in late 1964, he performed with The New Christie Minstrels with Barry McGuire and Larry Ramos (who later added his services with The Association in 1967).

[@THEScottCampbell]

Aired April 27, 1978 on the CBC Network, before the formation of McGuinn, Clark & Hillman. Had Gene kept his drinking under control, it could have been phenomenal. As it was, their second album "CITY" was epic.

[@Dan_Frechette_Songwriter]

These two are musical heroes of mine

[@robertnesfield6321]

A beautiful, beautiful version!

[@gregthompson647]

Gene Clark CRUSHING his verse...

[@namcat53]

I find violent descriptions of beautiful things very wrong and weird.

[@thefilmandmusic]

Gréât to hear Gene so clearly …nice version..Great harmonies, you hear the essence of The Byrds here

[@padraigreynolds]

This is just awesome!!

[@pirpirpir-os7ms]

yikes so awesome to learn about Gene and Roger ❤

[@margaretross9150]

This is great!

[@karlvalois4815]

Thanks for posting!!! I've never seen this clip!!

[@aarongoldstein7614]

McGuinn & Clark are introduced by none other than the late Peter Gzowski, an icon of CBC Radio. He once said, "Tonight, the world blows up at midnight, 12:30 in Newfoundland." My fellow Canadians will understand. Anyhow, I've seen McGuinn perform, but I really wish I had seen Gene Clark

[@catfan5439]

i was lucky to see gene whose music i love...around 1989,,,he was very ill and looked it ,,,but ,man he was still good!

[@timothyliepins4625]

beautiful :) any chance to see gene playing live is a wonderful thing, mcguinn ain't too bad here either aha

[@maureendevries1904]

I saw Roger McGuinn this summer and he's a modest man with a captivating talent. He's still going strong.

[@roberts1924]

Wonderful video. Had to turn the volume all the way to hear it decently, but at least I get to hear it. Love those classic harmonies.

[@DonStevens68]

So much talent lost in the world. Hardly anyone knows how to bring it back. I am glad I am in possession of many great tunes of the past. There is no more heart in music anymore.

[@margaretross9150]

It seems people want a "show" now. Big and glittery but no heart.

[@thefilmandmusic]

I always wonder , how much of Roger’s life has been spent tuning that Rickenbacker

[@TR-yi8up]

Best Release Me Girl live that I’ve seen.

[@ЕленаГуцу-и1х]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5XcqIyAqMp9gdU&start_radio=1

[@randalmcmurphy1893]

he is breaking my heart

[@dbitgood1]

Lovely harmony.

[@markmerrell4655]

Beautiful and timeless. Gene and Jim just fit so well together!

[@reggiepype]

Wow that's a sweet version of Release Me Girl! That's how that tune was supposed to sound.

[@driver75]

Gene had a soulful patience when he sang

[@aprendizdebrujo100]

how great was Gene Clark and no one knew...

[@duaneneuman6666]

They knew!

[@my2ube306]

Great performance

[@berndtherrenvolk1951]

Some random thoughts: 1. What a contrast. McGuinn has a fascinatingkt idiosyncratic voice that sounds almost Dylanesque (but with vastly better tone), while Clark has a . . . well . . . ethereal voice. After Roger's solo, they sing the chorus with Gene dropping down into a strong baritone to what seems like a harmony sixth, maybe even a third, below Roger's melody line. But then Gene effortlessly slides back up to sing his solo in song key and the utter purity of his voice is revealed as glides around as a tenor. And then Roger begins his lovely vocal instrumental to provide texture and context to Gene's lead. 2. In the early Byrd days Crosby would trash Gene's rhythm guitar-playing to where Gene only played a tambourine. (Remember that?) It looks like Gene became proficient enough to play like this. 3. Finally, Dylan is simply a genius lyricist. Simply genius. And he could sometimes catch a simple but beautiful melody, too.

[@thisistheworldtoday]

A powerhouse of talent... the vocals the songs the guitar playing... imagine adding Crosby to the mix...if only they hadn’t veered off into that country music and stayed folk rock based which was when they created such masterpieces... McGuinns guitar playing is amazingly beautiful...why is Clark playing guitar in this performance but only played tambourine or symbols in earlier Byrds performances?

[@THEScottCampbell]

Crosby talked Gene out of playing guitar onstage. On TV in 1966, Gene played guitar anyway.

[@christineparker8020]

I understand Crosby bullied Gene into giving up the guitar on stage. There is a special place in hell for David Crosby, the asshole. Ni one can ever replace Gene Clark. He had more talent in his little finger than Crosby had in his whole body.

[@roberts1924]

Fantastic!

[@dennisdemark8151]

Love this 🎤🎶🎶🎶🎸🎸🎸🎸🥁 RIP Gene 🙏🏼🕊️✝️🕯️🙏🏼

[@jamesfitzgerald6636]

Brilliant

[@kccramsey5898]

Interesting to hear them singing it together, just like on the record. I always thought the song didn't sound quite right when McGuinn sang the lead alone, since he and Clark meshed so nice in unison on the record, with Crosby's devastating harmony, of course.

[@MickeyYahoo]

The more I listen to McGuinn and Clark, the more I'm convinced that Clark is the hear of the Byrds famous "soaring harmonies." I'm sure Crosby added a lot - he's a helluva talent. But It sounds like the Byrds with Clark there and it doesn't when Clark isn't there.

[@johnstephen7610]

@@MickeyYahoo I recall hearing or reading an interview with Crosby years later, in which even Crosby said the Byrds pretty much ended when Gene Clark left. They moved into the country/americana/roots field and did some great stuff there, but Gene Clark was missed.

[@northernlight4614]

@@johnstephen7610 Interesting comment by Crosby considering he was a factor in Clark leaving the band.

[@johnstephen7610]

northern light yes it is. Long after Crosby screws people, he often acknowledges it.

[@northernlight4614]

@@johnstephen7610 So hard to work with. I would love to see a Byrds reunion though.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Peter Gzowski introducing them. I guess you have to be Canadian, but that mams a legend in his own right. Cheers

[@desy2478]

You can tell these two enjoy performing together. Crosby looked like he had a big ego on stage.

[@dougreed2257]

He still has!

[@wadecooperteasdale1903]

They really do look like they enjoyed performing together.

[@ScotchIrishTarheel]

Crosby developed into a very good rhythm guitarist and had one of the most beautiful harmony voices ever. The harmonies of McGuinn, Clark and Crosby were rivaled only by Crosby, Stills and Nash . . . the common element being Crosby. It's a shame he was a toxic band member. He unilaterally blew up both groups. He shamed Gene Clark into not playing guitar with the Byrds to where Gene ended up just being the "tambourine man." While Gene never became Roger McGuinn or Clarence White on guitar, he was competent, as shown here. And speaking of Gene Clark, his vocals were exquisite. His tone and pitch were perfect. McGuinn was a very good, actually iconic lead singer (and band leader and arranger), but Clark should have had more song leads than he did. It would have strengthened the band. Gene also was an excellent songwriter. A tune like "Feel A Whole Lot Better" looks simple at first glance, but both chord progression and lyrics are much more nuanced and sophisticated at second glance. And it has a great hook. And is highly danceable. Hillman -- who looked 16 years old until his 30th birthday when he woke up looking 30 -- was an excellent musician, very competent singer, and solid, reliable bandmate.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Musicians are gods.

[@driver75]

Magic

[@daveyvane]

Great lead at 9:58. Seems like McGuinn and Hillman were the only ones with their shit together enough to manage themselves well.

[@foldsofblubber]

they may have been the first ever super group. clarke on drums was steady and workman-like, but the other 4 were tops on instruments, vocals, harmonies and writing.

[@namcat53]

It took 'em a while to recognize Turn, Turn, Turn...

[@thomasrobinson182]

Much better than the disco-disfigured version on the MCH album.

[@clancydubh]

Great version of "Release Me Girl".

[@bokwanable]

Superb

[@jorgeespinosa4829]

If only the original Byrds line up had stayed together a little longer, they would have become something even bigger than they are today, their legacy and influence already established.

[@mrswimmyboy]

I don't think so. They were moving into "non commercial" music: country, space rock and psychedelia. I loved the Byrds' music, but they weren't on a path to becoming "bigger" or more popular. Gene Clark would have fit on the few records after he left, with the same result. Good music-no hits-smaller audience.

[@thisistheworldtoday]

Jorge Espinosa so true they would have rivaled the Beatles in greatness if they had stayed together and continued creating folk rock masterpieces instead of that country sound... but their influence in the music industry creating a folk rock genre is unparalleled.

[@mikeclark4416]

This is more of a Slow Bob Dylan . Great watching this -Thanks

[@keithdunwoody1302]

I can't help but sing the Crosby parts. ✌️

[@namcat53]

Oh, you're not alone in that. He's sorely missed.

[@lolitaguittap9185]

Roger Mc Guinn & Genne Clark are great lead of the group Byrd Band of the 60.

[@karyluhernandez5966]

Excelentes músicos y con clase

[@jorgemagalhaes5149]

Sensacional ver e ouvir uma parte dos vocais dos Byrds separadamente.

[@paulo12514]

Em pensar não veremos bandas como Byrds

[@scottmeeker9971]

EPIC !!!!

[@kenwoodbury1888]

If only Gene could have beaten his demons, he would have seen that all these years later that he is held in such high esteem.

[@mauricioochoa4179]

Such an uneasy relationship between these two. Yet, they accomplished so much together.

[@TR-yi8up]

+Mauricio Ochoa actually, of all the original byrds, Gene and Roger had about the best relationship of them all. You can see the 2 kids who first got together to play Beatles tunes at the Troubador, if you only look hard enough

[@TR-yi8up]

onemorebrando Neil Young did it backwards, so it all works out

[@jimbobogie8204]

The voice is still there...but I still miss "Jim" McGuinn's sunglasses!

[@kccramsey5898]

Was this before they did the MC&H album? I believe Gene & Roger would performing as a duo for a bit when they brought in Hillman and got the new record deal. Or is Hillman just taking the day off here? Anyone know?

[@mauricioochoa4179]

Before Hillman arrived.

[@MultiGator78]

It's funny how the mind works. Crosby dies and now I'm binging on the Byrds and esp Gene Clark. I want to understand who he was. The deeper I dig, the more I come away realizing he was a tragic musical figure in so many ways. Thankfully his music is going through a bit of a renaissance. He really was an immensely talented man who just couldn't figure out his place in it all and had all he wrong tools for coping.

[@suzannelawson9215]

Were these songs ever released on an album by Roger & Gene?

[@Robinbyrd11]

There's no such album. Sorry. But you can find more live recordings of the both of them on KZbin e.g. kzbin.info/www/bejne/boKbaKJ-i5V-j68

[@suzannelawson9215]

@@Robinbyrd11 Thank you.

[@kw5839]

I hate it when cameramen do not put the camera on the guy that’s doing the solo! Instead we’re looking at Rogers face while Gene’s playing. Why, just why?

[@MzzMercury]

Phenomenal !! What year was this please ?

[@violetjm]

April 27, 1978 , sorry, delayed reply :)

[@mauricioloiacono7949]

Gene Clark and James Roger Mc Guinn Teje Eternal Byrds.

[@thewordofgord]

Pleasing, if a little lacklustre. Maybe it just needs Hillman? Thanks for the upload of course..

[@TR-yi8up]

thewordofgord it’s understated, which is understandable in a tv studio. But Gene’s verse on Tamborine Man is anything but lackluster

[@aabacchi]

What's the name of the third song, please?

[@Robinbyrd11]

+aabacchi The third is named "Release Me Girl" written by Gene Clark and Thomas Jefferson Kaye in 1975. McGuinn Clark Hillman recorded it 1979 for their first LP. die-augenweide.de/byrds/songqr/release_me_gir.htm

[@aabacchi]

+Mani Hurth Thank you Mani Hurth for your kindness.

[@lizlawley6680]

Gene sang it with the Kansas City Southern band (Tommy Kaye and others) at the 3byrds gig at Hammersmith in April 77.

[@marcianamateus]

Please, what's the name of the first and second songs?

[@rsvplivemusic2556]

Marciana Mateus Mr Tambourine Man and Turn, Turn, Turn

[@marcianamateus]

@@rsvplivemusic2556 Obrigada

[@thetruthfornow6045]

Gene's plaintive voice yearns for the 12 string guitar twang and Byrdsy harmonies. His solo works are okay but they sound a little flat.