One of my favorite music spots on the web is Wolfgang’s Vault. I get weekly emails from them as they release new concerts from the archives. Today they sent out a link to this concert from 1972. After listening to the music as I read email and scanned the news I rediscovered what it was about The Byrds that attracted me to their music way back when.

Never before heard, presented here is one of the more legendary live performances of The Byrds’ career, recorded on opening night of their last ever London engagement on January 16, 1972. Despite this final U.K. swing being booked on short notice, with practically nonexistent advertising, word on the street spread rapidly and the show sold out with a second show added the following evening. Much has been written about this night, including the fact that technical issues were apparent with the P.A. system. Largely a result of grounding issues between the group’s American gear and The Rainbow’s electrical system, nearly every published reviewer agreed that The Byrds easily rose above it and delivered a highly engaging performance. What makes this all the more delightful is that the issues plaguing the P.A. system that night do not affect the recording!

via The Byrds | Rainbow Theatre | London, England | Jan 16, 1972 – WolfgangsVault.com.

Follow the link above to listen to the entire concert or play the clip below for “Mr. Tambourine Man”.

Listen to more The Byrds at Wolfgang’s Vault.