The Byrds -Sweetheart Of the Rodeo ( 50th Anniversary Tour ) 

Gram Parson's enthusiasm made SWEETHEARTS a monumental , ground breaking album. Timeless and authenic.

Anything that Marty or any of the Superlatives is involved with is GOLD.

When this album came out many haters hated this dynamic new sound! I loved it

I love love this album. It changed music and it changed my life. It was like the Velvet Underground and Nico album but for Country Rock, in that it didn't sell beans but influenced everyone. At the time, many thought it was a failure, but today it probably would be considered the greatest Byrds album.

I think that the 12 string, if it is there, is nearly undetectable is why I like that record so much. I fell in love with the California Country sound with that record and then got turned onto the Burritos, New Riders, and pretty much any Chris Hillman did afterwards. Lloyd’s steel on 100 Years can be injected straight into my veins. Thanks Otis and Chris!

Marty and Chris are a great match. They both are true students of country music history, can play it all all, and bring such heart and soul to everything they do. The Fabulous Superlatives are the greatest band ever, and Chris is a big part of that. ✌❤

I wish I could give this 1,000 likes. Chris is a great storyteller as well as being a world-class multi-instrumentalist. 💪🏻

*Clarence White is buried a mile and a half down the road here in Lancaster, CA. I will never forget the morning of July 16th 1973, awakening to the newspaper and the news of Clarence being hit by a drunk driver in the parking lot of BJ's Honky Tonk 10 miles down Sierra Highway in Palmdale."* *Long live CW and Gram Parsons too. Sweetheart of the Rodeo is/was a Masterpiece!*

I could listen to this guy for hours! He always has the most interesting stories!👍😎👍

Caught the Ryman date and it was a real treat. I cannot imagine any band other than MS and the superlatives supporting McGuinn and Hillman. Thanks to those guys for an amazing night of music

You deserve an award for your work...Otis Gibbs.

Thanks!!! Love Sweetheart and the Byrds always. Heard the 50th anniversary show in Austin. Great show! Wore my Sweetheart t-shirt so I didn’t have to buy one ar the show.

Easily one of my favorite albums. Gram was a genius.

Every time I see Chris on one of your videos, I say to myself, “Okay, this is it. This can’t be topped.” Then you come along a few days later and prove me wrong. Otis, if you can top this one, you are going to have an almost seventy-year-old man turning cartwheels. Thank you so much, once again.

John Hartford played fiddle and banjo on sweetheart, one of my favorite albums

Anything with Marty Stuart is Gold. And as always ... Otis has the best stories. Thanks Chris.

Chris is a damn talented player as well as being a walking music encyclopedia. Earl’s grandson too. Just coolness all the way around.

Scruggs family just have folk , country , rock , bluegrass music in their DNA.

I had a front row center ticket to this tour and couldn’t go because of a bout of depression. I really regret not making myself go and see and hear those songs. I hope I get another chance to see them in that incarnation of the Byrds. 🙏🏻❤️

No need to see a jeweler, Chris Scruggs is all the gold you need-priceless!🙏🏻🎧🎸

Fascinating interview. Chris Scruggs is the consummate pro, just like his fellow Fabulous Superlatives and, of course, Marty.

Wow! Chris Scruggs' interview segments are so full of priceless information. That Sweetheart of the Rodeo 50th anniversary tour was really special. Kudos to Marty and the Fabulous Superlatives!

Love the Byrds and all they did w Gram and Dylan covers

More Chris Scruggs!! Love this guy!

One of my favorite records back-in-the-day 🤗

I Like The Christian Life greatly inspired me to walk in the Spirit despite what other people think.

Otis Gibbs and Chris Scruggs, Muchas Gracias for yet another STELLAR Episode ~☆~☆~!!

The byrds were one of our favourites in the 1960’s and I ‘ll probably feel a whole lot better was one of the songs we played in my band! Great group!

Boy, doesn’t Chris look a lot like his grandfather?! Thanks for this entertaining & informative interview. When that 50th Sweetheart Anniversary Tour was announced and the first run of dates announced & I saw dates for Albany NY, I fairly seriously considered booking some flight tickets to NYC to travel up to visit/ stay with my best childhood friend who lives just outside Albany. I even got down to checking & booking available seats on line, at the theatre in Albany. But…flying half way round the world ftom Perth, Australia seemed perhaps a stretch too far, an unrealistic aspiration. I know I woild have loved the show as I always enjoyed Sweetheart of The Rodeo from first listening when I got my copy around 1975 and then had the pleasure of hearing Roger & Chris ( with Gene Clark), play some of their original Byrds hits live, which was unforgettable. Briefly met McGuinn & GC too. I know the Sweetheart Tour would have added an extra canon of cherished memories if I’d made it to Albany in 2018. .

I always love hearing from Chris -- articulate and humble. This is excellent, Otis.

Marty is the best! I love how he's keeping country music history alive. I wish he'd take over for the recently departed Joe Chambers at the Musician"s Hall of Fame. At least with recording artists as Joe did, before they go off into the ether.

I live in Carmel Valley in Monterey County, 13 miles east of Carmel-By-The-Sea. The tie to Sweetheart Of The Rodeo is the album cover which was drawn by artist Jo Mora who lived in Carmel. That was a poster for the California Rodeo in Salinas.

I can’t believe I missed this tour 😩

Byrds, Harrison, Rickenbackers. I could listen to these types of interviews all day long. Thanks Otis.

Always loved The Birds such a beautiful clean sound

I saw the Sweetheart 50th anniversary show in Roanoke, Virginia at the Jefferson Center October 10, 2018. It was a great show, one of the best I've ever seen. Thankful I was able to see it.

It’s time to release a multi disc cd and dvd of those 50th shows!!

Gold, gold, gold.....

I was at their tour stop in Austin at the ACL Moody Theatre. What an amazing night of music by amazing musicians.

Was such a great show and a memorable night. Never dreamed I would ever see that.

Ahh, the ol’ Rickenbacker through a Janglebox compressor. The most expensive pedal I own, but it really does make my Rickenbacker sound better than it ever has.

Thanks! Happy New Year! 😎🙂🌞

I wish they would release a CD or a DVD of these concerts!

I'll be looking out for you next outing to finish the tour. Cherish the Byrds.

Thank you for the shoutout about JangleBox, Chris! Marty & the Fabulous Superlatives are the greatest touring band in the USA, in my opinion. We never miss a show. The Sweetheart shows in 2018 were sensational. We saw two performances.

Thanks for giving a damn, Otis. You, & all your works, have filled the quiet time, during this holiday. Due to weather, many folks were unable to travel. Your content, CDs, & LP, along with my guitar, filled the void. Thanks to you & Ms Amy for filling my days w/song & tales of such great musicians, who have gone on before us.

thanks brothr otis purrfect for a crative editing etc day !

I love Sweetheart of the Rodeo. It got me to take a deeper dive into country and it got me to take my first deep dive into Gram Parsons. I remeber wishing I could make the anniversary tour, and it sounds like it was well worth seeing.

Please somebody, release a DVD of this tour! There are too many of us who would’ve loved to attended one of these shows but couldn’t!! PLEASE!!

Chris Scruggs played in my town Saturday night with the Fabulous Superlatives. Chris did a rendition on the standup double bass of Wipeout that blew away the versions you can find here on RU-vid. Marty and the rest of the band were dead-on. Clarence was weaved into the songs with Marty expertly bending the B, on occasion pointing the headstock out into the audience with the bend. So cool! I felt truly honored to be there in Decatur, IL on Saturday night. Thanks Chris! (Thanks Marty, Kenny and Handsome Harry too)

I saw the show in Raleigh N.C. October 2018. It was one of the best shows I have ever seen!

I'm still amazed that, with everything Chris Scruggs has going on for himself, he was thrilled to take on the job of bass player for Marty and the FS lads

Love these stories, please keep them coming.

Thank you, Otis 🙏🏻 I think I know what I'm listening to here shortly. Chris' knowledge and recall is amazing. So glad you did these interviews and recorded the history. Be good to you 🤍💛

Thanks so much for all the interviews you do Marty and his superlatives are my favorite and plus I was a big fan of the Byrds back in the day so much fun listening to Chris talk about the music I lived through and all they did to recreate it for the anniversary tour is awesome.🎶🎶🎶❤️

Become a member. ru-vid.com/show-UCYX2... www.patreon.com/otisgibbs Tip jar for anyone who wants to help support this channel. paypal.me/otisgibbs?locale.x=... www.venmo.com/OtisGibbs Paypal: @otisgibbs Venmo: @OtisGibbs

I appreciate the video, Otis and would love to hear more stories from Chris about the Reunion Tour. I just caught a clip of My Back Pages from that tour and Marty sounds fantastic using Clarance White's B-Bender. Going now to watch more ! Thanks Otis.

A matter- a -fact delivery combined with a wicked mastery and specificity of dates, tech, players, stories, historic context and ….

I went to this show at Moody Auditorium in Austin. It was fantastic as was the visit by Marty and the Fabulous Superlatives at Antone's the year before. Best live stage act in show business! My $.02.

Good stuff, thanks Chris and Otis.

Hey Otis! I am totally loving all these videos you've been posting with Chris Scruggs. I've seen interviews with Marty talking about him and what a knowledgeable guy that he is about music styles and your interviews with him have certainly proved that point. Once again stellar job entertaining all us music aficionado 's Peace and keep up the great work!

Fascinating

❤and Chris wraps it up with “and that’s good enough for me. I love this thank you very much Otis

Ryman show was a life highlight. Thanks so much for your efforts!

Just adding to the pile-on of love for Chris Scruggs.

I regret not making it to this tour. I remember there were two nights in LA at the Ace Hotel. I couldn’t make it up there, but was even more upset when I found out that Mike Campbell sat it on American Girl for the encore of opening night.

Really great to watch these with Chris. Big Marty and Byrds fan. I have some of those shows saved on You Tube. Thanks Otis.

Roger McGuinn was was doing a gig in New Orleans in late 70s or thereabout. Walked into a French Quarter bar with my wife and another couple in the late afternoon. We were the only customers there. Ordered drinks and sat at a table. Down the stairs walked McGuinn to the stage. Plugged in and proceeded to do his sound check, then back up the stairs. The wives had no idea who Roger McGuinn was. Our drinks never came. Free performance!

Hey Chris - your hard work sure payed off for that tour! We saw you in Albany, NY, and I still think about that show often. It was just amazing…

Great story and remembrance thank you both 👍

Congrats !!! On CLARENCE , love the Byrds .. Yes I’m old enough to know their songs like turn , turn , theres just something still missing , but what do I know !!! However sound great

Great stuff, Otis. One of my all time favorite records….

What great stories from a guy that is the real deal about other guys that are the real deal...wonderful to hear these backroom tales !!!

Excellent interview many thanks

Great content again Ottis ❤

Great stories!! Thanks

Wonderful stories! Chris seems like a HUGE music lover and a nice guy

Great to stories about the Byrds..! Thanks Otis.. and Chris.! And did Chris find a fountain of youth..?! …doesn’t looks old enough to even been born back then..! Lol… Oops… Chris was in the reunion gig… heh.. my bad.🙃

I felt like back in my music history classes. Have a great new year’s ✌️

OTIS, again you show case music that was special to me . Living in California in the 60s was a time of California country / rock start , it was time that they Bluegrass events all over campgrounds and could listen to artist for a whole weekend and they were very interesting a lot folks like Garcia , Parsons, Young , Stills etc .and many other , would show up and play Bluegrass and country rock . These events were all over the California coast North and South, and sometimes blend in with October fest and mid evil fest . They were very mellow and went on for year , before they became commercial and crappy.

Was privileged to catch the New Brunswick, NJ show on the second leg. So glad he talked about it.

OTIS - NICE WORK - I suggest you have a list of "Otis' Greatest Interviews"! You have a great talent for pulling out a story from all sorts of people and it's always a treat to hear the more colorful storytellers in your world. Chris Scruggs, Chuck Mead, Kenney Vaughn, Jim Herrington, Willie, I can only scratch the surface. Keep it rolling in the new year!

Wanted to catch that concert run so bad, but alas, it wasn't in the cards. Loved hearing Chris talk about it; love anything Byrds or Marty & Co. related. Happy Holidays to you & your's, Otis. Throw another log on the fire, it's chilly out there!

This is an excellent insight….and what a great guy Chris is 👍

Thanks for all that info. I didn't know Clarence was working with them prior to becoming a member. I believe it was the drummer, Gene Parsons, who built the string bender for him but Gene didn't join the Byrds till well after Sweetheart of the Rodeo. I guess Gene and Clarence go right back before Byrds. BTW, Gene sings a beautiful version of Bugler as a tribute to Clarence. Check it out on RU-vid

People in Rifle loved his performance (with the Superlatives) a few weeks ago and are still talking about it.

From Philadelphia, Mississippi: excellent Excellent EXCELLENT ~☆~♡~☆~ Harold Lane Howell

Great insight into the Marty Stuart/Byrds connection! Glad I got to hear them do some of it again at Marty's CMHOF residency in 2019.

The knowledge! The experiences! Could the Superlatives be any cooler?

I saw that tour in Akron, OH and Chris is right - it was special and it was fantastic.

We needed you in Portland

I'll go to my grave kicking myself for missing this tour.

i was so happy that this tour came to KC. What a great show! Also, Chris is the coolest. To me, the vibe of the Superlatives changed after he joined. Not that I have any insight, but it just seems more like a tight-knit family with Chris.

So cool!!!. There was a tour stop for this near me in Florida, but I had to work that day, but a buddy went, and I did "get the T shirt!!" I love all the tech stuff, pick vs no pick on the bass, and the B Bender guitar. I would like to know more about the B Bender and how it works. thanks Otis and Chris for all of this.

So Great!

Very interesting interview, particularly that Chris says Lloyd Green told him Clarence used the b bender on 'sweetheart' , that contradicts Gene Parsons who insists that Clarence did not use it on Sweetheart......and it wasn't till 'Tulsa County Blue ' on Easy Rider that it was used in the studio . Trouble is Clarence was so good and innovative its hard to tell. The outro on Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man ' on Dr Byrds would seem to have it and 'Old Blue' from the same record. Pity Gene isn't a mate of yours Otis , he'd have some stories and could probably ! confirm when it made its debut

Otis, I almost bet you could ask Chris Hillman to do an episode, and he would he would. I don't know if you spend much time in California, but he is a really nice guy and super podcast/video friendly. He is my one of my favorite musicians. A rock star who could play a mandolin in a tier one bluegrass band!!

I LOVE the later Byrds and I’m hoping Chris talked for like 8 more hours just about that tour alone.

Happy new year Otis!

I was at the show in Saratoga ,CA at the Mountain Winery.. It was awesome.