← Back

Untitled

by The Byrds

Released: September 14, 1970

Rock, country rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

This was the band's first official release of live recordings and marked the debut of Skip Battin, who replaced John York as the bassist in late 1969. It is a double album featuring live concert recordings from early 1970 on the first LP, and new studio recordings on the second disc. The studio portion of the album predominantly features newly written, self-penned material.

Inside the Recording

Today, the album is often regarded as the best work produced by the Byrds' latter-day lineup.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

However, the musical project was ultimately abandoned, and…

However, the musical project was ultimately abandoned, and five of the intended songs were recorded by The Byrds for (Untitled), though only four of them made it onto the final album.

(Untitled) is the ninth album by the American…

(Untitled) is the ninth album by the American rock band The Byrds, released in September 1970 on Columbia Records.

Among these songs are several composed by band…

Among these songs are several composed by band leader Roger McGuinn and Broadway theatre director Jacques Levy for a planned country rock musical based on Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt, titled Gene Tryp (an anagram of Ibsen's play).

Start listening here

Essential Tracks

Chestnut Mare

A single from the album, "Chestnut Mare" b/w "Just a Season," was released in the U.S. in October 1970 but did not make the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 121 on the Bubbling Under chart.

Just A Season

A single from the album, "Chestnut Mare" b/w "Just a Season," was released in the U.S. in October 1970 but did not make the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 121 on the Bubbling Under chart.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

The Byrds - Untitled

Open in Albums Gallery

Then

Reception

The album reached number 40 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and number 11 on the UK Albums Chart. In the UK, the single fared better, reaching number 19 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1971. A single from the album, "Chestnut Mare" b/w "Just a Season," was released in the U.S. in October 1970 but did not make the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 121 on the Bubbling Under chart.

Now

Legacy

Today, the album is often regarded as the best work produced by the Byrds' latter-day lineup.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

(Untitled) is the ninth album by the American rock band The Byrds, released in September 1970 on Columbia Records. It is a double album featuring live concert recordings from early 1970 on the first LP, and new studio recordings on the second disc. This was the band's first official release of live recordings and marked the debut of Skip Battin, who replaced John York as the bassist in late 1969.

The studio portion of the album predominantly features newly written, self-penned material. Among these songs are several composed by band leader Roger McGuinn and Broadway theatre director Jacques Levy for a planned country rock musical based on Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt, titled Gene Tryp (an anagram of Ibsen's play). However, the musical project was ultimately abandoned, and five of the intended songs were recorded by The Byrds for (Untitled), though only four of them made it onto the final album.

The album reached number 40 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and number 11 on the UK Albums Chart. A single from the album, "Chestnut Mare" b/w "Just a Season," was released in the U.S. in October 1970 but did not make the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 121 on the Bubbling Under chart. In the UK, the single fared better, reaching number 19 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1971.

Upon its release, (Untitled) received positive reviews and strong sales, with many critics and fans considering it a return to form for the band. Today, the album is often regarded as the best work produced by the Byrds' latter-day lineup.