If you read the Chris Hjorts book and read between the lines of the reviews of concerts and McGuinn interviews from that time, this would make sense. Roger comes off as aloof at times or arrogant, maybe a little self absorbed. Nothing is talked about as far as his personal life at this time in the book but maybe what was going personally accounts for the perspective that people had on him at this time.
Wasn't Skip fired around the time it was compiled or shortly after its release? Regardless, I don't think the fact that a very good song (Gunga Din) was omitted is sufficient reason to conclude the omission was based on spite. Many good songs were omitted. Gunga Din was not a single a or b side like the two Battin tracks. It's hard to figure the logic behind some of the choices made for this record.
I think Skip was on better terms than Gene with Roger when let go...I'm going to compile my Best of Vol 2.
Funny, as all the tracks are credited to two performers, but "What's Happening?!?" is the only one credited solely to Jakob Dylan on Spotify. My local Arclight theater is showing this doc and I do want to see it, but it seems like the kind of thing Netflix/Amazon Prime was made for.
Here's my Best of Byrds Volume 2 compilation...nothing before Notorious Byrd Brothers Side 1 You Ain't Going Nowhere Ballad of Easy Rider Wasn't Born to Follow Drugstore Truck Drivin Man This Wheel's on Fire Side 2 Chestnut Mare Truck Stop Girl Gunga Din Jesus is Just Alright I Wanna Grow Up (to be a Politician) The other big problem that the the Best of Byrds Vol 2 has is the cover they chose...half the songs don't feature some of them. I would pick a different cover for sure.
Clarence does some great playing on the last minute of this (it sounds like he's playing Black Mountain Rag) but its buried under the harmonica and fiddle. The lack of guitar on this album by Roger and Clarence always puzzled me.
I think you're right that Skip left on better terms than Gene. Roger actually played on Skip's 1973 solo album, and he certainly didn't on Gene's. On the other hand though, it is telling that Roger chose to fire Skip at a point when he knew the band was going to break up, and was just finishing some final tour commitments. Why even bother firing him at that point? Why not let him play out the string? That suggests there was either some animosity, or loss of confidence in Skip's abilities, or something. But I don't think Roger's feelings about the guys influenced the compilation of Best of Volume 2. Another notable thing is that there are no Clarence-sung tracks, even though Roger really liked Clarence. That is definitely a better tracklist. But it would be hard not to come up with a better one. Even random selection would likely generate a better one.
I left that off purposely...it sounds too 'old byrds' like Volume 1 Byrds and it wasn't a must have anyway so I left it off, plus it doesn't fit the overall countryish late byrds sound on my comp
A1 Space Odyssey A2 The Christian Life A3 Child of the Universe A4 Medley: My Back Pages / BJ Blues / Baby What You Want Me to Do A5 Lay Lady Lay A6 Armstrong, Aldrins and Collins B1 Well Come Back Home B2 Tunnel of Love B3 Citizen Kane B4 I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politican B5 B.B. Class Road B6 So Fine Yep, I think that'd be my Best of Vol 2.
Best Of Vol 2: A1 Bad Night At The Whiskey A2 Truck Stop Girl A3 Fido A4 Chestnut Mare A5 King Apathy III A6 Jesus Is Just Alright / B1 Lover Of The Bayou (live) B2 Take A Whiff B3 Drug Store Truck Driving Man B4 Hungry Planet B5 Ballad Of Easy Rider B6 This Wheel's On Fire
I'd put on more singles and tracks that gained fame elsewhere like Drug Store etc. Lay Lady Lay would add value as a non lp track but it sucks so I veto it Best of Vol 2 A1 Goin Back A2 Wasn't Born to Follow A3 You Ain't Goin Nowhere A4 Hickory Wind A5 Old Blue A6 Drug Store Truck Driving Man B1 Ballad of Easy Rider B2 Jesus is Just All Right B3 Lover of the Bayou B4 Chestnut Mare B5 I Trust B6 Bugler
Sadly, the oft-told tale of life in the world of art and entertainment. Tell-all books from ex-spouses should be read with somewhat of a raised eyebrow, but I admit I was disturbed with some of it. Easy to judge though, and in that time and place, we were all being advised to experiment and scale new heights of self-indulgence. However, lots of art has been created under such circumstances.
Is Delores Tickner's book worth reading then? I mean, is it actually well written and actually interesting?
I found it extremely interesting as it covers the whole of The Byrds career, she was there with Roger from day one. My only criticism of the book is that it has many many diary entries of her life as a single mother towards the end that kind of derails it. This is HER story though, not a book about Roger or The Byrds, so I respect her decisions. I found it very touching that Roger cried the first time he listened to CSNY's Helpless, there are lots of illuminating passages on Gram Parsons too and if you are a Star Wars fan like myself you will find the stories involving their carpenter, a certain Harrison Ford, captivating!!! My two worlds collided in this book with some of the revelations there....
