The principal figure in the second-most-important American rock band of the 60s, Roger McGuinn’s legend always seemed to fit him loosely. With his distinctive, twangy voice and immediately recognizable 12-string Rickenbacker, McGuinn was one of the most influential musicians of his time. Yet his stature as the Big Byrd never translated into a successful solo career. He recorded five albums in the 70s, only one of which cracked the US Top 100 (1974’s Peace On You), and by 1975 he could be found among Bob Dylan’s supporting tour musicians as part of the Rolling Thunder Revue.
In 1979, a reunion with Gene Clark and Chris Hillman led to one of the year’s best albums, but the partnership was over by 1981 and McGuinn didn’t release another album for a decade. In 1991, encouraged by the success of Tom Petty and the Traveling Wilburys, Arista Records released a new Roger McGuinn album entitled Back From Rio. Sounding strikingly like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (who were featured on the album), Rio became one of the year’s biggest surprises. There would be no encore, however, as McGuinn turned his interests to self-released folk recordings (a trait McGuinn shares with the fictional Doonesbury character, Jimmy Thudpucker).
The Discography
Draggin’ (1973)
b/w Time Cube. Released on 7-inch in June 1973 in the US (Columbia, 4-45931). Also released as promotional 7-inch in 1973 in the US (Columbia, 4-45931) with mono version of “Draggin’” on the B side.
ROGER McGUINN (1973)
I’m So Restless / My New Woman / Lost My Drivin’ Wheel / Draggin’ / Time Cube // Bag Full of Money / Hanoi Hannah / Stone / Heave Away / M’Linda / The Water Is Wide. Originally released on June 1973 (Columbia, KC 39146) and in the UK (CBS, 65274), reaching #137 on the US charts. Re-released on elpee and CD in July 1988 in the UK (Edsel, ED/EDCD-281) and in 2007 in Japan with two bonus tracks (Sony, SICP-1543). Repackaged with Peace On You on CD on August 4, 2004 in the UK (Beat Goes On, BGOCD 620). Re-issued on 180g elpee on September 23, 2013 in the Netherlands (Music on Vinyl, MOVLP873).
Same Old Sound (1974)
b/w Gate of Horn. Released on 7-inch on 1974 (Columbia, 3-10019). Also released as promotional 7-inch in 1974 in the US (Columbia, 3-10019) with mono version of “Same Old Sound” on B side.
PEACE ON YOU (1974)
Peace on You / Without You / Going to the Country / One More Time / Same Old Sound // Do What You Want To / Together / Better Change / Gate of Horn / Lady. Originally released on elpee and 8-track in August 1974 (Columbia, KC/TC8 CA 32956) and in the UK (CBS, 81071), reaching #92 on the US charts. Re-released on expanded CD with one bonus track (“Rock & Roll Time”) on January 20, 2004 in the US (Sundazed) and in 2007 in Japan (Sony, SICP-1544).
Peace On You (1974)
b/w Without You. Released on 7-inch on September 1974 (Columbia, 3-10044) and in the UK (CBS, S 2649). Also released as promotional 7-inch in 1974 in the US (Columbia, 3-10044) with mono version of “Peace On You” on the B side.
ROGER McGUINN & BAND (1975)
Somebody Loves You / Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door / Bull Dog / Painted Lady / Lover of the Bayou // Lisa / Circle Song / So Long / Easy Does It / Born to Rock and Roll. Originally released on elpee and cassette in June 1975 (Columbia, PC 33541) and in the UK (CBS, S/40 80877), reaching #165 on the US charts. Re-released on CD with Cardiff Rose in 2007 in the UK (Beat Goes On, BGOCD-774). Re-released on CD with two bonus tracks (“Wasn’t Born To Follow (live),” “Chestnut Mare (live)”) in 2007 in Japan (Sony, SICP-1545).
Lover of The Bayou (1975)
b/w Lover of The Bayou (mono). Promotional copy released on 7-inch on 1975 (Columbia, 3-10201).
CARDIFF ROSE (1976)
Take Me Away / Jolly Roger / Rock and Roll Time / Friend / Partners in Crime // Up to Me / Round Table / Pretty Polly / Dreamland. Originally released on May 1976 on Columbia (PC 34154) and in the UK, the Netherlands and Spain (CBS, S 81639) and New Zealand (CBS, SBP 234850). Re-issued on CD in the US (Columbia, CK 34154) and in Austria (Columbia, 468358-2). Re-released with two bonus tracks on October 19, 2004 (Sundazed, SC-6204) and in Japan on 2007 (Sony, SICP-1546). Re-issued on CD in 2013 in the Netherlands (Music on CD, MOCCD13078) and on 180g elpee on March 31, 2014 in the Netherlands (Music on Vinyl, MOVLP1022).
Take Me Away (1976)
b/w Take Me Away (mono version). Promotional copy released on 7-inch on July 1976 (Columbia, 3-10385).
THUNDERBYRD (1977)
All Night Long / It’s Gone / Dixie Highway / American Girl / We Can Do It All Over Again / Why, Baby Why // I’m Not Lonely Anymore / Golden Loom / Russian Hill. Originally released on 1977 (Columbia, PC 34656) and in the UK (CBS, 81883) and Japan (CBS/Sony, 25AP-569). Re-released in Japan on 2007 (Sony SICP-1547).
American Girl (1977)
b/w Russian Hill. Released in the UK on May 1977 (CBS, S 5231). Promotional copy released in US on 1977 (Columbia, 3-10543).
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND AND ROGER McGUINN LIVE FROM THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PALACE (1990)
Live tracks: Mr. Bojangles / High Horse / Turn! Turn! Turn!* / Mr. Spaceman* // Dance Little Jean / Cadillac Ranch / Mr. Tambourine Man* / Tiffany Queen*. Live recording featuring material by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Roger McGuinn (*) released on cassette in 1990 in the Netherlands (Big Country, 2630144). Re-issued on CD in 1994 (Javelin, JAV CD 1002).
BACK FROM RIO (1991)
Someone to Love / Car Phone / You Bowed Down / Suddenly Blue / The Trees Are All Gone // King of the Hill / Without Your Love / The Time Has Come / Your Love Is a Gold Mine / If We Never Meet Again. Originally released on January 8, 1991 (Arista, AC/AL/ARCD-8648) and in the UK and Germany (Arista, 211/261/411 348), reaching #44 on the US charts.
King of the Hill (1991)
b/w Your Love is a Gold Mine. Released on 7-inch in Spain (Arista, 113 993) and on 3-inch CD in Japan (BMG, BVDA-15), and with extra track (“The Time Has Come”) on CD in Germany (Arista, 663 993). Promotional two-track CD released in US with edit and album versions (Arista, ASCD-2154).
Someone to Love (1991)
Released on CD in US (Arista, ACSD-2214) and in the Netherlands (Arista 164 354).
BORN TO ROCK AND ROLL (1991)
I’m So Restless / My New Woman / Draggin’ / The Water Is Wide / Same Old Sound / Bag Full of Money / Gate of Horn / Peace on You / Lover of the Bayou / Stone (The Lord Loves a Rolling Stone) / Lisa / Take Me Away / Jolly Roger / Friend / Dreamland / Dixie Highway / American Girl / Up to Me / Russian Hill / Born to Rock & Roll. Compilation released on CD in 1991 in the UK (Columbia, 488223) and Japan (Sony, SRCS-5639). Re-issued on CD in 2012 in Australia (Floating World, FLOATM6169).
LIVE FROM MARS (1996)
Heartbreak Hotel / Daddy Roll ‘Em / Gate of Horn / Chestnut Mare / Bells of Rhymney / Turn! Turn! Turn! / Beach Ball / Wild Mountain Thyme / You Showed Me / Mr. Tambourine Man / Mr. Spaceman / Eight Miles High / So You Want to Be a Rock & Roll Star / King of the Hill / May the Road Rise / Fireworks / May the Road Rise. Released on November 11, 1996 (Hollywood, 162090).
McGUINN’S FOLK DEN, VOLUMES 1-4 (2000)
Originally released separately on disc through mp3.com. Re-released as four-disc set in 2005 as The Folk Den Project (April First).
TREASURES FROM THE FOLK DEN (2001)
Wagoner’s Load / Dink’s Song / Bonnie Ship the Diamond / Cane Blues / Reel / Fair Nottamun Town / John the Revelator / Alabama Bound / Finnegan’s Wake / In the Evenin’ / Willie Moore / The Brazos River / Sail Away Lady / John Riley / Trouble in Mind / Whiskey in the Jar / The Virgin Mary / Pete’s Song. Released on Auust 28, 2001 (Appleseed, APR CD 1046).
LIMITED EDITION (2004)
If I Needed Someone / Parade of Lost Dreams / Shady Grove / James Alley Blues / On and On / Southbound 95 / Castanet Dance / Shenandoah / When the Saints Go Marching In / Saint James Infirmary / May the Road Rise to Meet You / Echoes Live / Made in China. Released in 2004 (April First, AFP-0401).
LIVE FROM SPAIN (2007)
My Back Pages / Ballad of Easy Rider / Wasn’t Born to Follow / On Easter Morn He Rose / Mr. Spaceman / Pretty Boy Floyd / You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere / Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man / Chimes of Freedom / On and On / Lover of the Bayou / Chestnut Mare / Jolly Roger / The Bells of Rhymney / 5D / Mr. Tambourine Man / Turn! Turn! Turn! / Eight Miles High / So You Want to Be a Rock ‘N’ Roll Star / May the Road Rise to Meet You / Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. Released as limited edition (1,000 copies) double-elpee on July 17, 2007 (Sundazed, LP-5210) and through CD Baby.
22 TIMELESS TRACKS FROM THE FOLK DEN PROJECT (2008)
Wanderin / Follow the Drinking Gourd / Oh Freedom / Railroad Bill / Cane Blues / Coffee Grows on Wild Oak Trees / Waltzing Matilda / Ezekiel Saw a Wheel / Mighty Day / Down By the Riverside / The Colorado Trail / So Early in the Spring / Lilly of the West / Stewball / St.James Infirmary / Drunken Sailor / Silver Dagger / Wild Mountain Thyme / James Alley Blues / The Cruel War / The John B’s Sails / The Boll Weevil. Released on May 1, 2008 (April First).
CCD (2011)
Rolling Down To Old Maui / Randy Dandy Oh / So Early In The Spring / Catch The Greenland Whale / Go To Sea Once More / South Australia / Let The Bullgine Run / Back To Sea / Golden Vanity / Heave Away Me Johnnies / The Argonaut / Spanish Ladies / The Bonny Ship The Diamond / Sailor Lad / A Roving / The Cold Cold Coast of Greenland / Away Rio / Haul Away Joe / Drunken Sailor / The Handsome Cabin Boy / Greenland Whale Fisheries / Liverpool Gals / Ruben Ranzo. Released on CD on May 25, 2011 in the US (CD Baby).
