An amazing performance from the Acoustic Desert Rose Band at Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch! This show was part of the 2014 Concert Series. www.furpeaceranch.com
Chris Hillman is national treasure.He has played with every one. True Genius amazing voice and multi instrumentalist. Great stories. By the way this version is phenomenal. RIP Gene Clark.
Chris bailed me out of one of my life’s most embarrassing moments, many years ago. The free form FM station I worked at as a youngin’ told me to get a short interview with Roger McGuinn backstage before a show. I had a small broadcast quality cassette recorder and a mic, but when I was introduced to McGuinn, I was overcome with fanboy speechlessness. Chris was nearby, sized up the situation, took the mic, and proceeded to ask Roger a couple of questions about the show. He then did a couple of takes of the usual SPA format (station promotion announcement) all on his own …. “Hi, this is Chris Hillman of the McGuinn/Hillman Band and you’re listening to Wwww in Anytown.” I managed to thank both guys and sheepishly stumbled out of the dressing room with my precious recording. Thank you Chris! I still cringe at the memory.
I just listened to Gene Clark sing (and play, beautifully) his song the way he says he intended it to sound, the way he intended it to come out. It was deep, ethereal, moody, troubling, and absolutely exquisite.
What a hoot! Love the way Herb pretended to look overhead for imaginary byrds while John was doing his harmonics on the 12-string! Great improv dual solo between Chris & John. A masterpiece!
Actually holds up even more today, for me....brings me back to my first lost period in '75, wandering camp's woods wondering if i made a mistake going to prep school, this tune playing in my head clear as day....46 years later, turns out it was a mistake, this version is even better, really sweet to hear this...affirmation, conclusion.
Amazing to think that this was written in '65, I've always loved this song, I woudn't have believed that it could be done this good acoustically, awesome, better harmonies than the original.
Great Performance! A Song to UPLIFT the low mood level of Depression and Anxiety that hovers too close to ground level to that much higher up Feeling of Elevation through the stratus clouds into the upper atmosphere of comfort and inspiration! ENCORE for This "DESERT ROSE" bloom!
I was in high school when that song came out. Years later I thought myself naive for not realizing it was a drug song. There were no drugs in my HS at that time. Now I learn I was right- it's about flying to England. So there.
Yes it is, Chris Hillman of Manassas, and the Byrds before that, and several other great groups (the Flying Burrito Brothers, and this one, the Desert Rose Band).
Who are the 6 people that gave this a thumbs down? Playing insufficiently good for you? Don't like the gorgeous harmonies? The song itself is not up to your standards? What?????
Sorry to provoke you, I'm 71 and sometimes it feels like it happened overnight, that's what seemed sad. Thought I'd made a good-hearted post. Age-shaming? Sheesh!
Love the acoustic desert rose band 12 and 8 plus 6 is profound! See alto and sop mando plus 21 string Harp Guitar, @Barbara Salisbury 134 vids@ RU-vid.Would be honored!your acoustic friend Chris Young!
Chris Hillman on mandolin (original bassist for The Byrds, and founding member of The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Manassas with Stephen Stills), Herb Pederson on six-string and John Jorgenson on 12-string (winner of the Academy of Country Music's "Guitarist of the Year" award three consecutive years). All three were founding members of The Desert Rose Band. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hillman en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Pedersen en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Jorgenson en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Desert_Rose_Band en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Byrds en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flying_Burrito_Brothers en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manassas_(band)
Great vocals and rhythm, but without Jim's searing electric 12 string guitar it's not nearly as amazing. Sometimes the original is much better than any other attempt.
As a Byrds, Chris Hillman and John Jorgensen fan I'm distressed by this version. Eight Miles High is a classic, this extended live acoustic mix is not going to advance the lengend.
Don't think this masterpiece fits at all well in a blue-grassy milieu. The lyrical content is bleached, the energy and edginess missing. To get a true sense of Gene Clark's vision of Eight Miles High in a purely acoustic version, listen to Golden Earring's take. Only the original Byrds could've done it better, and three of them, Clark, Crosby, McGuinn did, semi- acoustically, also on yt.
