This article was originally published on beingtheremag.com, an independent music and film magazine that ran from 2004 to 2007. It is presented here as part of the Being There Magazine archive.
By Adam Anklewicz | Being There Magazine, February 2005
Who They Are:
Through their career The Byrds consisted of many combinations of Roger McGuinn (sometimes known as Jim McGuinn), Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Michael Clarke, Kevin Kelley, Gram Parsons, Clarence White, Gene Parsons, John York and Skip Battin. Their career lasted from 1964 to 1973, with McGuinn remaining the only constant member of the band. Exploding in the American pop scene with their first hit, a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” and followed by Pete Seeger’s “Turn! Turn! Turn!” The Byrds’ own songs were never as successful as those two singles, but they were amazing songwriters that have been overlooked too often.
How To Spot Them:
Look up in the sky! The Byrds never really looked the same between albums and went through so many members that it’s easiest to spot them in your record store by looking in the “B” section.
Gene Clark was booted from The Byrds because he didn’t want to fly. Clark had a panic attack on a plane and McGuinn told him, “You can’t be a Byrd, Gene, if you can’t fly.”
David Crosby was kicked out of The Byrds because the other members didn’t want to release his song about a threesome called “Triad.” The song contained controversial lyrics: “You both sit there with your long hair flowing / Your eyes are alive your minds are still growing / Saying to me ‘What can we do now that we both love you?’ / I love both you too / And I don’t really see why can’t we go on as three?”
Gram Parsons quit The Byrds because he didn’t want to tour in South Africa due to their apartheid.
The only member of The Byrds to appear on all of their albums is Roger McGuinn, who was previously known as Jim McGuinn. McGuinn changed his name in 1967 when a guru told him that the letter R would “vibrate better with the universe.” McGuinn changed his middle name to Roger to become James Roger McGuinn III.
Fifth Dimension (1966) “Hey Mr. Spaceman / Won’t you please take me along / I won’t do anything wrong”
Perhaps their best album, Fifth Dimension is definitely their most consistent. It is The Byrds’ third album and the first without Gene Clark, who was considered a key member of the group on their first two albums. The album is a perfect blend of folk, rock, psychedelic, soul, blues and much more. From the opening bass line to McGuinn’s memorable 12-string Rickenbacker guitar riff, “Eight Miles High” is definitely a key song on the album. But Fifth Dimension is filled with great tracks, even though most are not as popular. “I See You” and “What’s Happening?!?!” are perfect soulful folk-rock songs.
Key cuts: “Eight Miles High,” “5D (Fifth Dimension),” “I Come And Stand At Every Door” and “I See You.”
Younger Than Yesterday (1967) “Sell your soul to the company / Who are waiting there to sell plastic ware”
Starting off with the bang that is “So You Want To Be A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star,” Younger Than Yesterday is among The Byrds’ finest work. Younger Than Yesterday features almost entirely original songs with David Crosby shining for the first time as a songwriter. Bob Dylan’s “My Back Pages” is the only cover song on the album, and its lyrics provide the album with its title. From McGuinn’s spaced out-tale of aliens listening to radio (“C.T.A 102”), to Crosby’s comparison of the human mind and learning to a garden (“Mind Gardens”) to Chris Hillman’s country rock at its best, Younger Than Yesterday is truly an amazing record.
Key cuts: “So You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star,” “Renaissance Fair” and “My Back Pages.”
Sweetheart Of The Rodeo (1968) “I’ll do life in prison for the wrongs I’ve done / And I pray every night for death to come”
It’s hard to believe this to be the same band that performed “Mr. Tambourine Man” with the jangly guitar, and in many ways it isn’t. The legendary Gram Parsons joined the band for Sweetheart of The Rodeo and his presence is definitely felt on the album. Parsons called his music “Cosmic American Music,” but if it was made now, it would be called Americana or Alt. Country. Parsons blends classic country and western with rock ‘n’ roll, taking the lead on the Byrds foray into rural American music. “Hickory Wind” and “One Hundred Years From Now” are the only original compositions, both penned by Parsons, leaving Hillman and McGuinn as his backing band. The rest are solid renditions of mostly country classic.
Key cuts: “Hickory Wind”, “One Hundred Years From Now” and “Life In Prison”.
Ballad Of Easy Rider (1969) “The river flows / It flows to the sea / Where ever that river goes / That’s where I want to be”
Opening with the theme to the now classic Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper movie Easy Rider, Ballad Of Easy Rider is one of The Byrds’ best albums. Returning a bit to their folk-rock roots while still exploring country fare, The Byrds are in top form with Gene Parsons (no relation to Gram), Clarence White and John York all providing their own songs. The title track is better as a Byrds song than the solo McGuinn recoding used on the film’s soundtrack, while “Fido” is the story of a lonely man finding comfort in a canine friend. The songs are simple and subdued yet effective.
Key cuts: “Ballad Of Easy Rider,” “Fido” and “There Must Be Someone (I Can Turn To).”
Untitled (1970) “I cooked the bat in the gumbo pan / I drank the blood from a rusty can”
Untitled was the Byrds’ one and only double album. The first record was recorded live and included a 16-minute version of “Eight Miles High” which took up an entire side. The second record consisted of all new studio material. Roger McGuinn was working with playwright Jacques Levy on an ill-fated musical. After abandoning the project, a majority of the songs found their way onto this album. Skip Battin is a newcomer to the band and proves his skills as a songwriter with the amazing “Welcome Back Home” and, along with Gene Parsons, penned “Yesterday’s Train.” The live album is not great but the studio album is well worth the wait. The album consists of McGuinn’s best songwriting since Younger Than Yesterday. In 2000, Columbia/Legacy issued Untitled/Unissued, fitting the entire original double LP onto one disc, and bonus live and studio material onto a second disc.
Key cuts: “Lover Of The Bayou,” “All The Things,” “Just A Season” and “Welcome Back Home.”
Where To Go From There:
Mr. Tambourine Man (1965) – Everyone knows The Byrds’ first single and biggest hit, “Mr. Tambourine Man.” This album doesn’t get much better than that song; however, some of Gene Clark’s many compositions are among the best of early 60s pop. With a record four Dylan covers on one album, Mr. Tambourine Man can get boring for those of us who prefer Dylan’s original versions of these songs. Perhaps the best cover on the album is the ending track of the old standard “We’ll Meet Again.” Scattered throughout the album are Gene Clark songs which are among the best of those trying to capture the sound of The Beatles.
The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968) – Both David Crosby and Michael Clarke would leave The Byrds during the recording of this album. Crosby had left before the LP’s cover photo was shot and was comically replaced by a horse. Song after song of beautiful melodies and harmony, the Byrds are vocally in top form on this album, while their songwriting is not as top notch as on previous albums. Featuring no Bob Dylan covers, The Notorious Byrd Brothers stands apart from all the rest. Instead, The Byrds cover two songs by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, “Wasn’t Born To Follow” and “Goin’ Back.”
Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde (1969) – The first Byrds album with only one original Byrd remaining, Roger McGuinn saw the departure of Gram Parsons, Kevin Kelley and co-founder Chris Hillman after the release of Sweetheart Of The Rodeo. McGuinn and new members John York, Gene Parsons and Clarence White create some of the best country-tinged rock ‘n’ roll that has ever been recorded. Unlike their previous album, which was country with a bit of rock, Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde is rock with a bit of country and features some of their best as well as some of their worst music. Clarence White in particular shines on this album and his guitar work is amazing.
What To Avoid:
Turn! Turn! Turn! (1965) – Everyone knows the title track, and it’s a great song; overplayed, yes, but still a great song. Unfortunately the rest of the album doesn’t follow through. Gene Clark is not at the top of his game as a songwriter and, unfortunately, of the five non-covers, three of them are written by Clark. McGuinn and Crosby share the songwriting between them for the remaining two songs and prove that they yet are not even at Clark’s caliber.
Byrdmaniax (1971) – Perhaps The Byrds’ most boring album. It is hard to listen to without falling asleep. The only song which stands out is Clarence White and Gene Parsons’ “Green Apple Quick Step,” a fast paced western affair which suddenly loses its momentum when the track shifts to “My Destiny.”
Byrds (1973) – David Crosby, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, Michael Clarke and Roger McGuinn all came together in 1972 to record the first album since Turn! Turn! Turn! with all five original members. Unfortunately the concept didn’t work, and Byrds is a sloppy, effortless affair.
Everything Else You Need To Know:
ByrdWatcher (http://ebni.com/byrds/)
Byrd FAQ (http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/mcguinn/ByrdsFAQ.html)
The Byrds are known as a group that led to the creation of many other groups, not to mention solo careers. Among the finer albums recorded by these groups and former Byrds members are Gene Clark’s No Other, David Crosby’s If I Could Only Remember My Name, Gram Parsons’ G.P., Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s Deja Vu, and The Flying Burrito Brothers’ Gilded Palace Of Sin and Burrito Deluxe.