Early psychedelia...where folk rock transitioned to harder rock....I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THIS SONG. I am born and raised in San Francisco, graduated from high school at the beginning of the Summer of Love. The epicenter at the time. I ALWAYS loved the BYRDS!
"Eight Miles High" can be taken as the first bona fide psychedelic rock song. It dropped in March of 1966 preceding The Beatles "Rain" by two months. The guitar lick is supposed to resemble the sound of a sitar, if Coltrane could be played on a sitar or a guitar. The harmonies in the verses are a hallmark sound of The Byrds, along with the jingle jangle guitars. But what struck me the most listening along just now was how the drums also laid down a template for other bands to follow in the decades since. When you're ready for more from The Byrds, check out "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" and "Mr. Tambourine Man" along with "Tulsa County" and "Hickory Wind" from when they turned towards country music a few years later.
This was early psychedelia. It was the transition from folk rock to a harder rock era and trippier psychedelia. I absolutely ADORED this song and LOVED THE BYRDS, from their folk stuff on. Growing up in San Francisco, graduating from high school at the beginning of the Summer of Love, it was the epicenter during that era.
London can be cold and grey. Music folks referred to the London Sound, since British bands ruled the airwaves. When the Byrds went there a band called the Small Faces were a leading Mod band.
The Byrds brought me from folk music into folk/acoustic rock. Of course, I was listening to early Dylan and the Byrds became famous covering his songs. So, initially, a short trip. Music changed FAST in the '60's and before the end of that iconic decade I was going to see Hendrix, Cream, and many others. Quite a trip, indeed!
Note Don McClean references the Byrds and this song as well as the Beatles and the Manson Murders in the lyrics from his song “American Pie” - “Helter skelter in a summer swelter The Byrds flew off with a fallout shelter Eight miles high and falling fast It landed foul on the grass”
"Eight Miles High" Eight miles high, and when you touch down You'll find that it's stranger than known Signs in the street, that say where you're going Are somewhere just being their own Nowhere is there warmth to be found Among those afraid of losing their ground Rain gray town, known for its sound In places, small faces unbound Round the squares, huddled in storms Some laughing, some just shapeless forms Sidewalk scenes, and black limousines Some living, some standing alone
During the Beatles 1965 US Tour, David Crosby became their LA contact when they played there. Crosby supplied the Beatles with pot and acid and brought them around to the clubs and parties of the LA music scene. The Byrd's cover of Dylan's My Back Pages is definetly worth a listen.
Love this song. They helped pioneer psychedelic rock with it. Another great one from them is "Mr. Tambourine Man", in which they helped to pioneer folk rock the year before.
A short and great little fantastic poem of a song by these guys is Wasn't Born To Follow. It's in the movie Easy Rider... "Where the trees have leaves of prisms That break the light in colors That no one knows the names of..."
Sixties music, especially the psychedelic type groups, all the lyrics were symbolistic. You pretty much had to live in the 60s to even begin to understand most of it. But it was fun to listen to.
Classic song from a legendary band. This is from the "psychedelic" era...I like the way you called the guitar "unique" without criticizing the style. Trippy!! ☮
This is why some of us LOVE your channel. You do the best reactions to the best music ever produced. I knew this song would get the reaction it is getting with your subs/admirers. Thanks again.
This such a cool song from the period. But every time I hear it reminds me of a scene of Gemini 6 and 7 orbiting together in space with the Earth as the background in a documentary from the late 70's about NASA and the race to the Moon,
When I hear Roger McGuinn on his 12-stringer, I always think of his play like a jazz singer scatting...goes off on a tangent but always finds itself back to the rhythm.
That song was written As the byrds were touring England. They were literally 8 miles high on an airplane and he wrote that song as they were about to land at england. Some of the places he was talking about in that song was probably about england..
Hello my Friend. Welcome back to the Classic Rock Restaurant. No need to see the menu, I have a special treat for you today I'm sure you'll enjoy as usual. On The House, as usual.
"Eight Miles High" is a reference to The Byrds' first transatlantic flight to London, specifically the plane's landing. However there's been speculation that it could be a double meaning of the word "h*gh"...... 🤔😉
Can you believe all the great music from way back in the 60’s? I remember this song on the radio, it was psychedelic, but that’s what was in style. The Hippy scene was on its way & that wasn’t a bad experience, they represented anti war, no racism, sexual revolution, everything the previous generation was doing that wasn’t right!👍🥰
Whenever I hear this song, two others come to mind, both by The Dukes of Stratosphear: "25 O'Clock" and "You're My Drug". They did a very passable forgery of classic psychedelia. Meanwhile, the Byrds remain an inspiration to any who tread in their old path.
Their harmonies and musicianship are astonishing. You might want to try, "Feel A Whole Lot Better." Just an epic pop song with amazing 12-string guitar work.
It was pretty much assumed early on that this song was about drugs which saw it banned in some places,the band always claimed it was about their tour of the UK. My favourite band,this was a very different sound to their usual folk rock of the time.
This song must have come from my Old Man. The Head Waiter at The Classic Rock Restaurant. He only serves up the best tasting dishes for reactors to sample. Always as he says... On The House.
This song was written and released years before the jazz-rock fusion movement of the 1970s. "Eight Miles High" is one of the first psychedelic rock songs-- maybe even *the* first. Pioneering 1960s psychedelic rock with some influence from jazz (Coltrane) and Eastern music.
This song is often cited as being the very first psychedelic rock song. They wrote the song about flying over to England to play in 1965...thus the " rain gray town " is London. But the song is also kind of about drugs. The music culture & counter-culture were discovering recreational drugs at the time ( primarily marijuana & LSD ). In fact the song was banned by some radio stations in the USA because of alleged drug references.The music & song structure was heavily influenced by John Coltrane & Ravi Shankar. Read this, it's really interesting....en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Miles_High
No, the town in question was Liverpool, pretty sure of that. The Liverpool Sound was a trademark bandied around at the time . . . Love the way you raise your eyebrows at interesting moments in the song, you've got good ears! But take a little longer at the end of the music to share your impressions instead of racing through. Look forward to other reactions of yours.
Definitely London. The whole Liverpool scene and sound was already firmly in the past by this time, especially in the UK. It swept all before it in '63, but petered out quite rapidly during the first half of '64, overtaken by London-based bands like the Stones, the Kinks and the Who. I was there, I lived through it.
I really enjoy watching your reactions. You have been diving into the earlier music that I grew up with. This song I would say has the beginning elements of metal / rock that is used through today. The song is IRON BUTTERFLY - IN A GADDA DA VIDA - 1968 (ORIGINAL FULL VERSION). ua-cam.com/video/UIVe-rZBcm4/v-deo.html Enjoy and I hope you would do a reaction to it. Thanks.
Always interested in McGuinn’s modal playing on this song. This was written after their phenomenally horrible British tour. The Brits weren’t impressed with their poor live playing and arrogant attitude.
For about an 18-month period The Beatles The Beach Boys and The Byrds were the big three bands. Then the Byrds imploded and Brian Wilson had a meltdown. Such an original song from a legendary band.
Roger McGuinn had a unique style of playing his guitar. He was with the band through their entire run.
Psychedelic music with mellow folk vocals. Amazing.
Early psychedelia...where folk rock transitioned to harder rock....I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THIS SONG. I am born and raised in San Francisco, graduated from high school at the beginning of the Summer of Love. The epicenter at the time. I ALWAYS loved the BYRDS!
The lyrics of Eight Miles High were the Byrds' impressions of London, during their concert tour of England.
"Eight Miles High" can be taken as the first bona fide psychedelic rock song. It dropped in March of 1966 preceding The Beatles "Rain" by two months. The guitar lick is supposed to resemble the sound of a sitar, if Coltrane could be played on a sitar or a guitar. The harmonies in the verses are a hallmark sound of The Byrds, along with the jingle jangle guitars. But what struck me the most listening along just now was how the drums also laid down a template for other bands to follow in the decades since. When you're ready for more from The Byrds, check out "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" and "Mr. Tambourine Man" along with "Tulsa County" and "Hickory Wind" from when they turned towards country music a few years later.
After the British Invasion the Byrds were the band that ran the American flag up the pole...
Buffalo Springfield. Hard to get a more American name than that.
This psychedelic rock gives me flashbacks to and earlier trip, I mean time.
"FLASHBACKS".... there's a word I can relate to.
In better times....😢who's the President?😢😢
@@michaelasay8587 LBJ
This was early psychedelia. It was the transition from folk rock to a harder rock era and trippier psychedelia. I absolutely ADORED this song and LOVED THE BYRDS, from their folk stuff on. Growing up in San Francisco, graduating from high school at the beginning of the Summer of Love, it was the epicenter during that era.
Hey, fellow class of 67 member. I graduated down the Peninsula the same time.
London can be cold and grey. Music folks referred to the London Sound, since British bands ruled the airwaves. When the Byrds went there a band called the Small Faces were a leading Mod band.
The Byrds brought me from folk music into folk/acoustic rock. Of course, I was listening to early Dylan and the Byrds became famous covering his songs. So, initially, a short trip. Music changed FAST in the '60's and before the end of that iconic decade I was going to see Hendrix, Cream, and many others. Quite a trip, indeed!
Note Don McClean references the Byrds and this song as well as the Beatles and the Manson Murders in the lyrics from his song “American Pie” -
“Helter skelter in a summer swelter
The Byrds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass”
Great song, great band! Next, check out Eight Miles High live at the Fillmore from 9/23/70!
Its been awhile since I heard this one.
Another great band from yester year! This band was pretty big back in the day.
"Eight Miles High"
Eight miles high, and when you touch down
You'll find that it's stranger than known
Signs in the street, that say where you're going
Are somewhere just being their own
Nowhere is there warmth to be found
Among those afraid of losing their ground
Rain gray town, known for its sound
In places, small faces unbound
Round the squares, huddled in storms
Some laughing, some just shapeless forms
Sidewalk scenes, and black limousines
Some living, some standing alone
Eight Miles HIGH... Every time I hear this song. Spark Up My Pipe.
Or light that doob.
During the Beatles 1965 US Tour, David Crosby became their LA contact when they played there. Crosby supplied the Beatles with pot and acid and brought them around to the clubs and parties of the LA music scene. The Byrd's cover of Dylan's My Back Pages is definetly worth a listen.
Love "My Back Pages."
Love this song. They helped pioneer psychedelic rock with it. Another great one from them is "Mr. Tambourine Man", in which they helped to pioneer folk rock the year before.
Roger McGuinn playing his 12 string Rickenbacker electric guitar. The Byrds were influenced by the Beatles and in turn they influenced the Beatles.
There's a great live version, 1970 at the Fillmore East...
It's about the band flying to London.
Really!!! 😂
It's true. Gene Clark had a serious fear of flying and it really hindered his career.
A short and great little fantastic poem of a song by these guys is Wasn't Born To Follow. It's in the movie Easy Rider...
"Where the trees have leaves of prisms
That break the light in colors
That no one knows the names of..."
Let's call back to a line from American Pie. " The birds (Byrd's?) flew off a fallout shelter. Eight miles high and falling fast."
Definitely a reference The Byrd’s❤️
Sixties music, especially the psychedelic type groups, all the lyrics were symbolistic. You pretty much had to live in the 60s
to even begin to understand most of it. But it was fun to listen to.
Classic song from a legendary band. This is from the "psychedelic" era...I like the way you called the guitar "unique" without
criticizing the style. Trippy!! ☮
A real good Byrd song that features the 12 string Rickenbacker guitar is "I Feel A Whole Better."
Of all the bands in the history of Rock and Roll, the Byrds have to have the deepest rabbit hole in which to delve!
That rabbit hole was Bob Dylan, and covered his songs in a unique way, but made them hits
This is why some of us LOVE your channel. You do the best reactions to the best music ever produced. I knew this song would get the reaction it is getting with your subs/admirers. Thanks again.
From the songwriting genius that was Gene Clark.
Although some people consider this a drug song, it's really about their first tour of England and flying there.
Turn, Turn, Turn has always been a favorite Byrds songs of mine.
Good one I love hearing the oldies but goodies 🎶🎼🎵
Mcquinn saw John Lennon's 12 string Rickenbacher and said, "I've got to get me one of those."
My Mother "Dotty" assembled both of them and Harrison's and several others while at "RIC" in early 1963/64
I'll bet Lennon heard Fred Neils 12 string and said "I gotta get me one of those".
This such a cool song from the period. But every time I hear it reminds me of a scene of Gemini 6 and 7 orbiting together in space with the Earth as the background in a documentary from the late 70's about NASA and the race to the Moon,
Another great song from this album is 5D (Fifth Dimension). I think you will like it.
When I hear Roger McGuinn on his 12-stringer, I always think of his play like a jazz singer scatting...goes off on a tangent but always finds itself back to the rhythm.
That song was written As the byrds were touring England. They were literally 8 miles high on an airplane and he wrote that song as they were about to land at england. Some of the places he was talking about in that song was probably about england..
Hello my Friend. Welcome back to the Classic Rock Restaurant. No need to see the menu, I have a special treat for you today I'm sure you'll enjoy as usual. On The House, as usual.
"Eight Miles High" is a reference to The Byrds' first transatlantic flight to London, specifically the plane's landing. However there's been speculation that it could be a double meaning of the word "h*gh"...... 🤔😉
My mother assembled the Rickenbacker 360-12 string guitar Roger is playing in the Byrds music.
Very cool!
Can you believe all the great music from way back in the 60’s? I remember this song on the radio, it was psychedelic, but that’s what was in style. The Hippy scene was on its way & that wasn’t a bad experience, they represented anti war, no racism, sexual revolution, everything the previous generation was doing that wasn’t right!👍🥰
Your reaction to the guitarists was priceless
These guys were listening to Ravi Shankar and John Coltrane
Not many will associate 1960’s music with influencing the punk, new wave, goth and alternative scene, but it definitely did and still does.
Whenever I hear this song, two others come to mind, both by The Dukes of Stratosphear: "25 O'Clock" and "You're My Drug". They did a very passable forgery of classic psychedelia. Meanwhile, the Byrds remain an inspiration to any who tread in their old path.
Their harmonies and musicianship are astonishing. You might want to try, "Feel A Whole Lot Better." Just an epic pop song with amazing 12-string guitar work.
I see the song you’re about to play and am automatically drawn in. It was and still is a trip.
Love the Byrds.
This one gets about as close to getting into orbit as anything else the Byrds ever performed.
This ushered in the psychedelic era in the mid 60s. You either loved it or not. I loved it and still do.
Now you are on the tracks
It was pretty much assumed early on that this song was about drugs which saw it banned in some places,the band always claimed it was about their tour of the UK.
My favourite band,this was a very different sound to their usual folk rock of the time.
As a teeny-bopper, I bought the Byrds' album because I liked "Mr. Tambourine Man". Took awhile to aplreciate their other songs.
Great jam. Their "Wheel's On Fire" by Dylan is great too!
At the time many radio stations did not play this song...thinking that the title was a drug reference.
❤❤❤❤The 60’s the best music !!
This song must have come from my Old Man. The Head Waiter at The Classic Rock Restaurant. He only serves up the best tasting dishes for reactors to sample. Always as he says... On The House.
Love this song for years
Tite one!
Where is this? This song was written about an unsuccessful tour the band did of England, was thought at the time to be about drugs.
How about "Ripple" by the Grateful Dead? Imho their best. The version I like is the Oct. 1980 Madison Square Garden performance.
Raise your hand if you have ever gotten High listening to this song
The guitar style was mostly an imitation of John Coltrane's "India" from the "Impressions" album.
gray, gray town - London UK
Almost makes me miss the acid.
Almost.
You should check out the longer live version
Fusion?
This song was written and released years before the jazz-rock fusion movement of the 1970s. "Eight Miles High" is one of the first psychedelic rock songs-- maybe even *the* first. Pioneering 1960s psychedelic rock with some influence from jazz (Coltrane) and Eastern music.
This song is often cited as being the very first psychedelic rock song. They wrote the song about flying over to England to play in 1965...thus the " rain gray town " is London. But the song is also kind of about drugs. The music culture & counter-culture were discovering recreational drugs at the time ( primarily marijuana & LSD ). In fact the song was banned by some radio stations in the USA because of alleged drug references.The music & song structure was heavily influenced by John Coltrane & Ravi Shankar. Read this, it's really interesting....en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Miles_High
"Over, Under, Sideways, Down" by the Yardbirds has been credited as the first psychedelic song having been released previous to "Eight Miles High"...
Viet Nam era music.
The song is influenced by the music of Ravi Shankar and John Coltraine.
Making this a perfect time to check Coltrains "A LOVE SUPREAME".
Or
Eqinox
@@Blue-qr7qe or what ?
London
No, the town in question was Liverpool, pretty sure of that. The Liverpool Sound was a trademark bandied around at the time . . . Love the way you raise your eyebrows at interesting moments in the song, you've got good ears! But take a little longer at the end of the music to share your impressions instead of racing through. Look forward to other reactions of yours.
Definitely London. The whole Liverpool scene and sound was already firmly in the past by this time, especially in the UK. It swept all before it in '63, but petered out quite rapidly during the first half of '64, overtaken by London-based bands like the Stones, the Kinks and the Who. I was there, I lived through it.
@@Krzyszczynski Er, "Plain grey town", doesn't really describe London! Liverpool, yes. Perhaps they fused the two into one?
I really enjoy watching your reactions. You have been diving into the earlier music that I grew up with. This song I would say has the beginning elements of metal / rock that is used through today. The song is IRON BUTTERFLY - IN A GADDA DA VIDA - 1968 (ORIGINAL FULL VERSION). ua-cam.com/video/UIVe-rZBcm4/v-deo.html Enjoy and I hope you would do a reaction to it. Thanks.
SPOOKY JAMS? | In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly (Reaction)
ua-cam.com/video/o6FnMJc_GAk/v-deo.html
Try 5D.
Always interested in McGuinn’s modal playing on this song. This was written after their phenomenally horrible British tour. The Brits weren’t impressed with their poor live playing and arrogant attitude.
The Byrds now ? Alright JM
For about an 18-month period The Beatles The Beach Boys and The Byrds were the big three bands. Then the Byrds imploded and Brian Wilson had a meltdown. Such an original song from a legendary band.