Roger McGuinn - Thunderbyrd (1977)

"Thunderbyrd" is American singer-songwriter and guitarist Roger McGuinn's 5th solo studio album, released in 1977 on the Columbia Records label. Following the success of his 1976 album "Cardiff Rose", McGuinn intended to make another album in collaboration with its producer Mick Ronson. This project however never materialized. Instead he put together a new band, "Thunderbyrd", and recorded this album with them.
The album contains four original compositions by McGuinn and his old songwriting collaborator Jacques Levy.
It also includes a version of Tom Petty's "American Girl", originally a hit the year before from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers's eponymous debut album. The lack of air play and attention left this truely fine album without much of an audiance. It opens with a tastier version of Peter Frampton's "All Night Long" and closes with a moody "Russian Hill" that evokes the past much like Led Zeppelin's "Ten Years Gone".

Track List

1.  "All Night Long" (Peter Frampton, Gallagher) – 4:19
2.  "It's Gone" (Jacques Levy, Roger McGuinn) – 3:57
3.  "Dixie Highway" (Levy, McGuinn) – 3:29
4.  "American Girl" (Tom Petty) – 4:30
5.  "We Can Do It All Over Again" (Barry Goldberg, Mentor Williams) – 4:44
6.  "Why Baby Why" (Darrell Edwards, George Jones) – 3:48
7.  "I'm Not Lonely Anymore" (Levy, McGuinn) – 3:07
8.  "Golden Loom" (Bob Dylan) – 4:07
9.  "Russian Hill" (Levy, McGuinn) – 5:03

Released:  March 1977
Recorded:  1976 at Wally Heider and Haji Sound
Genre:  Rock
Length:  37:34
Label:  Columbia
Producer:  Don De Vito