Although much of it was rerecorded later ("She Has A Way" "It's No Use" etc.), there are enough unreleased songs and unexpectedly primitive arrangements to make this a worthy companion to the Columbia albums. The material is almost completely dominated by Gene Clark at this point, with only a nod to Dylan (an acoustic version of "Hey Mr. This compilation covers their entire progression, from simple acoustic folk act ("You Won't Have To Cry") to pallid Beatles imitators ("You Movin'") to fully-fledged, electrified folk-rockers ("I Knew I'd Want You" the fine, hard-to-get "Beefeaters" A-side "Please Let Me Love You"). Unlike any other major 60s group, the Byrds were cutting demos right from the start. In The Beginning (recorded 1964, released 1988)Ī unique document of interest to collectors, it's also a good listen. York left, late 1969, replaced by Skip Battin. The late 60s Byrds - Roger McGuinn (guitar, vocals) Gene Parsons (drums, vocals, guitar, harmonica, banjo) Clarence White (guitar, mandolin, vocals - featured on many earlier Byrds tracks) John York (bass, vocals). Band collapsed when Hillman and Parsons quit, late 1968. Crosby and Clarke left, late 1967, replaced in early 1968 by Gram Parsons (guitar, vocals) and Kevin Kelley (drums). The original Byrds - Gene Clark (vocals, rhythm guitar, tambourine) Mike Clarke (drums) David Crosby (vocals, rhythm guitar) Chris Hillman (bass, vocals, some mandolin) Jim/Roger McGuinn (lead guitar, vocals, some banjo name changed in 1966). There's also a pretty decent Gene Clark tribute page. However, there's much more nuts-and-bolts information at a second, informal Byrds site. The Byrds newsgroup () has an excellent FAQ maintained by none other than netmaster Roger McGuinn, which you can obtain at their nascent web site.
Thanks to the fact that Columbia has reissued all of the Crosby-era LP's with tons of bonus tracks on CD, you won't really need the two slightly older compilations: Never Before, a lengthy and solidly entertaining CD that features original-lineup Byrds outtakes and rarities and a four-CD boxed set that duplicates much of Never Before's material but also covers the "late 60s" Byrds, and includes a half-dozen new Crosby/Hillman/McGuinn tracks recorded in 1990. Gene Clark, Roger McGuinn, and Gram Parsons recorded a small stack of solo records, and I have reviewed a few of those too (see below) Crosby's post-Byrds work is covered on the CSNY page. There are a number of 70s projects featuring assorted members of the Byrds - in 1973 the five original members even recorded a poorly received, eponymous reunion record - but I haven't had a chance to hear any of them. I have reviewed most of these post-Crosby, McGuinn-dominated "late 60s" Byrds albums (the band actually recorded through 1971) just so you can confirm that you're better off avoiding them. When a third songwriter (Chris Hillman) finally left to form the Flying Burrito Brothers with temporary Byrd Gram Parsons, the only remaining original member - lead guitarist and Bob Dylan imitator par excellence Roger McGuinn - carried on the band in name only, leaving a treacherous minefield of look-a-like records. One or two solid, mature LP efforts - perhaps because they recorded too quickly and were too anxious to generate "product."Īnd eventually they were destroyed by infighting, with their best songwriter (Gene Clark) bailing out after just two LP's, and their best singer ( David Crosby) and their drummer (Mike Clarke) leaving not long afterwards in a power struggle.
Unfortunately, the Byrds were only able to craft
But they were actually first-rate songwriters themselves, pumping out an impressive series of high-powered Top 40 singles in just a couple of years.
Jangly 12-string guitar and endless harmony vocals. Merely ripped off Dylan's songwriting and the Beatles' sound, adding to it some Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels Live 1973 - Cardiff Rose -įirebyrd - Back From Rio - Live From Mars Hyde - Gilded Palace Of Sin - Ballad Of Easy Rider - (Untitled) - Byrdmaniax. Younger Than Yesterday - The Notorious Byrds Brothers - Sweetheart Of The Rodeo - Dr. Tambourine Man - Turn, Turn, Turn - Fifth Dimension - Gene Clark And The Gosdin Bros.