Ranking Records: The Byrds
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- Опубліковано 2 гру 2024
- If you are a current fan of Americana music, I hope that you have taken some time to get to know the music of The Byrds. Undoubtedly one of the most influential American bands of all time, their legacy includes being pioneers of what was later labeled as Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock and Country Rock.
The original Byrds included the big names of McGuinn, Clark, Crosby and Hillman with Jim “Roger” McGuinn the only one who made his way through all 12 of the LPs in the Byrds’ catalog. Here’s a schematic of the line-up changes that the band went through, culminating with a reunion of the original lineup for one last Byrds record in 1973.
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1. The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968)
2. Younger Than Yesterday (1967)
3. Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968)
4. Turn! Turn! Turn! (1965)
5. Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde (1969)
6. Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)
7. (Untitled) (1970)
8. Ballad of Easy Rider (1969)
9. Fifth Dimension (1966)
10. Byrdmaniax (1971)
11. Byrds (1973)
12. Farther Along (1971)
Could not have been better explained thanks for your time.
Really enjoyed the lesson on The Byrds. I have always enjoyed the hits, but never went my way to listen to the albums, but did only the other purchase 'Younger than Yesterday'. Maybe the start of many albums to come.
Thank you so much for this Mike! Really great video, was entertained throughout..really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on the music. I got into The Byrds and country music as a whole through sweetheart, and I've since become a devout Clarence White and Byrds fan alike. That fillmore album is a gold mine for us pickers!
I was a passioate fan from the beginning, which was the spring of '65 and I can't help but notice you have not once praised or really referenced their recorded output from the band's ony productive years, through to Notorious Byrd Bros, in which they easily rivalled your Beatles in creativity and innovation, most importantly, IN STUDIO.
The advances they made, incorprating technology into the their music, in no small part due to Gary Usher's production leaves no doubt in my mind that 12 to 15 years on, songs like Eight Iles High, Artificial Energy heavily influence a whole new generation of great (again) British musicians totaly reinvigorate rock music, with new wave/post punk generated by technology.
Be glad to discuss further with you. We seem to be talking about very different issues. You are making a case for an ultra elite bar band. I'd be glad to discuss why , in the context of THE BYRDS, that the losses of Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons even, are far, far more important than the showcasing of one great guitar player, which by the ay The Byrds were never about. They were at their best, five parts equal, a band.
Excellant observations my friend. I too have great respect for those early LPs and what they accomplished. I do dismiss how many feel that that later records were dismal. My age probably has a lot to do with my selections as Sweetheart just hit me at the right time like a ton of bricks. Appreciate the comment.
1. Younger Than Yesterday
2. Mr Tambourine Man
3. Turn Turn Turn
My listing: 12. Byrdmaniax 11. Byrds 10. Father Along 9. Untitled 8. Ballad Of Easy Rider 7. Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde 6. 5D 5. Turn Turn Turn 4. Mr Tambourine Man 3. Sweetheart Of The Rodeo 2. Notorious Byrds Brothers 1. Younger Than Yesterday So, the winner is actually GARY USHER who produced and contributed a lot to the top 3.
Younger than Yesterday is also my #1.
Lots of great records and innovations through their career
They're all pretty good.
Great Byrds history discussion. Their influence is massive - those alt country groups you mentioned plus Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, REM.
The original Byrds with Mc Guinn , Crosby and Clark 🙏🏼 were Groovy Baby 🤩
Shout out to Live At The Fillmore February 1969. That album kicks ass.
The Byrds did a death spiral after Notorious. Untitled, to a true Byrds' fan, is an unspeakable nightmare, wonting in lyrical and vocal skills, once their trademark.
Live performance? A bunch of players trying to be America's Ten Years After and having me thinking they were more about making a living than creating great music, lasting, influential music.
No as the cat says 'Sweetheart of the rodeo' was their most influential record and it is a great record, hardly a death spiral it launched a whole genre !Untitled isn't a great album but to by implication to compare Clarence with Alvin Lee, strongly disagree. I wouldn't have crossed the road to see Lee but Clarence was a genius and that final band were a great live band, something the original band were not. Their performance in the rain at the Bath Festival UK was brilliant
All due respect to you Mr. Phil, but the ushering in of a brand new genre of music?? The darker side of that coin says that this group of musicians, (I'll never refer to them as The Byrds) ushred into existence two of the most wretched strains on the ears in all of popular music: The Eagles and radio friendly modern country music. The gravest of double felonies, musically speaking, that I could've ever imagined. Have a pleasant day, sir.
@@rogermurray8553 No they influenced considerably a number of musicians like myself as to the possibilities of country rock , the Byrds themselves as their later records showed i would accept were not the best exponents of the genre, and the Eagles i wouldn't even include. Their recorded output post Sweetheart was patchy and downright bad on occasion, but Clarence White was an incredible musician and the latter band were a great live act , something the original band were not. They also did country music a great service . Its nice to chat with Byrds fans , but i do question whether you ever were one, they were innovative prior to Sweetheart but to dismiss the later band as a group of musicians unworthy of the name is , well how can i put it politely? I'll say unkind .
A nice video, Mike.To me , anything after Notorious is a different band : different guys, should have had a different name. Personally not a fan of McGuinn's "New Byrds ". Your comments on Gene Clark are spot on : wrote the best songs, including the classic Eight Miles High ( which he is on ).. All 5 lps are great, as well as are The Reunion and the Preflyte lps. Gary Usher stated in an interview the reason that the Parsons vocals weren't used had nothing to do with contracts. They felt there was too much of Parsons, so they had McGuinn redo some of the vocals. Bad move, as McGuinn can't sing country, and the Parsons vocals were much better. Not a fan of Gene Parsons' drumming; much prefer Mike Clarke. Personal opinion, of course. Check out the Sundazed issues of the Sanctuary series, as well as their other Byrds issues. Some great stuff.
Thanks for the video.
Thanks David. I connect wholeheartedly with every word you said. McGuinn, brillant guitarist but likely most enjoyed featuring himself. Where would he have been without the words of Dylan and Gene Clark? Look no further than Untitled to see how bereft of songwriting talent he was. Great arranger though, let it be said. Really enjoyed your comments. We seem to both share minority views on the group.
TOTAL agreement , i hate Parson's drumming
Enjoyed your very informative video about the Byrds.
I was a fan of all the earlier folk, folk rock and psychedelia first five albums.
I am not really a country or country rock music fan though.
After the fifth album though it seemed that is more of the genre they were getting into. I grew up loving folk and folk/rock music.
Could you please tell me (when you have time), what tracks starting with the 6th album and later releases, what tracks on these later albums have any folk or folk/rock songs and NOT country influenced or jazz or rock genres. Thank you.
The "Ballad of Easy Rider" LP is one you should definitely check out. On "Farther Along" there are the title track and "Bugler."
Much respect for you, Mike though I strain for understanding Phil's POV. The approach he took to assessing the group and their body of work was narrowed down to one guitarist's talent, and he wasn't even part of "The Group." May as well ask the anonymous piano player to assess at length The life and legacy of The Rolling Stones and he begins and ends with Nicky Hopkins.
12. Byrds 11. Byrdmaniax 10. Farther Along 9. Turn Turn Turn 8. Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde 7. Ballad of Easy Rider 6. Mr. Tambourine Man 5. Sweetheart of the Rodeo 4. 5D 3. Untitled 2. Younger Than Yesterday 1. Notorious Byrd Brothers
Interesting
Not sure you actually ranked them but it’s tough to do for a Byrds lover.
The Byrds are the Greatest American band!!.... Notorious Byrd Brothers is arguably the best album to come out of America in the 1960's! ... sorry but Sweetheart of the Rodeo is a massive step back from Notorious Byrd Brothers. Listen to thoes records back to back.....Notorious had Pop, country, Psych, Jazz, electronic, rock, space and amazing songs. Sweetheart was a good country record (Fantastic Expedition of Dillard and Clark beats it hands down)!
5D was really a blueprint for Notorious Byrd Bros. so I'd give the former the nod as their "greatest". Plus I think Crosby was so right about things occasionally. "Going Back" was unByrd-like" and wimpy. They were pointed towards a technological future. Best example Gene Clark writing and McGuinn creating the very sophisticated Eight Miles High. Loss of Gene, then Crosby took them , or specifcallyMcGuinn, to a lower, less challenging flight path, barely skimming the treetops with jaunty cowpoke music. Otherwise I couldn't agree with you more.
SERIOUSLY? 'notorious' not in top 5???? wtf?
Byrds after Sweetheart are not the Byrds! Just Roger and 3 hired hands keeping the name for business reasons