The Byrds: A Retrospective (1964-1990)

The Byrds A Retrospective: 1964-1990

Overview: Formed: 1964 Where: Los Angeles, California Disbanded: 1973 Reunited: 1990 History “As Roger McGuinn once said of the Byrds, ‘It was Dylan meets the Beatles.’ The Byrds combined the upbeat, melodic pop of the Beatles with the message-oriented lyrics of Bob Dylan into a wholly original amalgam that would be branded folk-rock.” RH “The Byrds in turn influenced Dylan and the Beatles almost as much as Bob and the Fab Four had influenced the Byrds. The Byrds' innovations have echoed nearly as strongly through subsequent generations, in the work of Tom Petty, R.E.M., and innumerable alternative bands of the post-punk era that feature those jangling guitars and dense harmonies.” AM “They only attained the huge success of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys for a short time in the mid-‘60s, but time has judged the Byrds to be nearly as influential as those groups in the long run.” AM They “would have earned their place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” RH just on the strength of “their harmony-rich versions of Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man and Pete Seeger’s Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season), drenched in the 12-string jangle of McGuinn's Rickenbacker guitar.” RH “The Byrds built their sound upon the three-part harmonies of McGuinn, Clark and Crosby. Vocal harmonies were a feature of the L.A. pop scene, which also boasted the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, the Mamas and the Papas, and the Turtles. The Byrds were unique among them in their chameleonic capacity for reinvention with each new single and album.” RH “The group continually broke ground,” RH “particularly during the peak years of 1965-1967, when the Byrds broke the Top Forty seven times while” RH “creating revelatory syntheses of sound” RH that only began with folk-rock. The Byrds “were not solely responsible for devising folk-rock, but they were certainly more responsible than any other single act (Dylan included) for melding the innovations and energy of the British Invasion with the best lyrical and musical elements of contemporary folk music. The jangling, 12-string guitar sound of leader Roger McGuinn's Rickenbacker was permanently absorbed into the vocabulary of rock.” AM The Byrds influence stretched to more than just folk-rock to other forms “that were given such hyphenated names as space-rock (5D [Fifth Dimension]), psychedelic-rock (Eight Miles High) and country-rock (their Sweethearts of the Rodeo album). At a time when rock and roll was exploding in all fronts, the Byrds led the way with an insatiable curiosity about the forms and directions pop music could take. In so doing, they became peers and equals of their mentors, Dylan and the Beatles.” RH The Beginning “It was something of a miracle that the group had managed to coalesce in the first place. Not a single member of the original quintet had extensive experience on electric instruments.” AM “Jim McGuinn (he'd change his first name to Roger a few years later), David Crosby, and Gene Clark were all young veterans of both commercial folk-pop troupes and the acoustic coffeehouse scene.” AM “McGuinn had been a folk-music accompanist for such acts as the Limelighters, the Chad Mitchell Trio and Judy Collins, among others” RH and “had already been playing Beatles songs acoustically in Los Angeles folk clubs when Clark approached him to form an act, according to subsequent recollections, in the Peter & Gordon style.” AM “Crosby soon joined to make them a trio and they made a primitive demo as the Jet Set that was nonetheless bursting with promise. With the help of session musicians, they released a single on Elektra as the Beefeaters that, while a flop, showed them getting quite close to the folk-rock sound that would electrify the pop scene in a few months.” AM “The Beefeaters, soon renamed the Byrds, were fleshed out to a quintet with the addition of drummer Michael Clarke and bluegrass mandolinist Chris Hillman, who was enlisted to play electric bass, although he had never played the instrument before. The band was so lacking in equipment in their early stages that Clarke played on cardboard boxes during their first rehearsals, but they determined to master their instruments and become a full-fledged rock band (many demos from this period would later surface for official release).” AM Mr. Tambourine Man “They managed to procure a demo of a new Dylan song, Mr. Tambourine Man; by eliminating some verses and adding instantly memorable 12-string guitar leads and Beatlesque harmonies, they came up with the first big folk-rock smash (though the Beau Brummels and others had begun exploring similar territory as well).” AM As their debut single, the Byrds’ couldn’t have hoped for better – the song was a #1 hit in mid-’65. “The band's vocals and McGuinn's inimitable Rickenbacker were backed by session musicians, although the band themselves (contrary to some widely circulated rumors) performed on their subsequent recordings.” AM The American Beatles “The first long-haired American group to compete with the British Invasion bands visually as well as musically, the Byrds were soon anointed as the American counterpart to the Beatles by the press, legions of fans, and George Harrison himself. Their 1965 debut LP, Mr. Tambourine Man, was a fabulous album that mixed stellar interpretations of Dylan and Pete Seeger tunes with strong, more romantic and pop-based originals, usually written by Gene Clark in the band's early days. A few months later, their version of Seeger's Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) became another number-one hit and instant classic, featuring more great chiming guitar lines and ethereal, interweaving harmonies. While their second LP (Turn! Turn! Turn!) wasn't as strong as their debut full-length, the band continued to move forward at a dizzying pace.” AM Psychedelic Era “In early 1966, the Eight Miles High single heralded the birth of psychedelia, with its drug-like (intentionally or otherwise) lyrical imagery, rumbling bass line, and a frenzied McGuinn.” AM “12-string [guitar] solo [that] bore elements of both John Coltrane’s modal jazz innovations and the drone of an Indian raga.” RH The song was “about the group’s flight to England for a tour – though it also tapped into the mysterious ether into which the larger counterculture had been piloting itself, politically and philosophically no less than pharmacologically.” RH “‘Eight Miles High,’ amazingly, would be their last Top 20 single; many radio stations banned the record for its alleged drug references, halting its progress at number 14. This ended the Byrds’ brief period as commercial challengers to the Beatles, but they regrouped impressively in the face of the setbacks.” AM Gene Clark Departs “The Byrds suffered a major loss right after ‘Eight Miles High’ with the departure of Gene Clark, their primary songwriter and, along with McGuinn, chief lead vocalist. The reason for his resignation, ironically, was fear of flying, although other pressures were at work as well…Continuing as a quartet, McGuinn, Crosby, and Hillman would assume…the songwriting responsibilities. The third album, Fifth Dimension, contained more groundbreaking folk-rock and psychedelia…although it (like several of their classic early albums) mixed sheer brilliance with tracks that were oddly half-baked or carelessly executed.” AM Crosby and Clarke Also Take Flight 1967’s Younger Than Yesterday, (1967) produced the hits So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star and My Back Pages (another Dylan cover). It “was another high point, Hillman and Crosby in particular taking their writing to a new level. In 1967, Crosby would assert a much more prominent role in the band, singing and writing some of his best material. He wasn't getting along so well with McGuinn and Hillman, though, and was jettisoned from the Byrds partway into the recording of The Notorious Byrd Brothers. Gene Clark, drafted back into the band as a replacement, left after only a few weeks, and by the end of 1967, Michael Clarke was also gone. Remarkably, in the midst of this chaos (not to mention diminishing record sales), they continued to sound as good as ever on Notorious. This was another effort that mixed electronic experimentation and folk-rock mastery with aplomb, with hints of a growing interest in country music.” AM Gram Parsons and the Birth of Country Rock “As McGuinn and Hillman rebuilt the group one more time in early 1968, McGuinn mused upon the exciting possibility of a double album that would play as nothing less than a history of contemporary music, evolving from traditional folk and country to jazz and electronic music. Toward this end, he hired Gram Parsons, he has since said, to play keyboards. Under Parsons’ influence, however, the Byrds were soon going full blast into country music, with Parsons taking a large share of the guitar and vocal chores. In 1968, McGuinn, Hillman, Parsons, and drummer Kevin Kelly recorded Sweetheart of the Rodeo, which was probably the first album to be widely labeled as country-rock.” AM “Opinions as to the merits of Rodeo remain sharply divided among Byrds fans. Some see it as a natural continuation of the group's innovations; other bewail the loss of the band’s trademark crystalline guitar jangle, and the short-circuited potential of McGuinn’s most ambitious experiments. However one feels, there's no doubt that it marked the end, or at least a drastic revamping, of the ‘classic’ Byrds sound of the 1965-1968 period (bookended by the Tambourine Man and Notorious albums). Parsons, the main catalyst for the metamorphosis, left the band after about six months, partially in objection to a 1968 Byrds tour of South Africa. It couldn't have helped, though, that McGuinn replaced several of Parsons’ lead vocals on Rodeo with his own at the last minute, ostensibly due to contractual obstacles that prevented Parsons from singing on Columbia releases. (Some tracks with Parsons' lead vocals snuck on anyway, and a few others surfaced in the 1990s on the Byrds box set).” AM McGuinn, the Last Original Byrd “Chris Hillman left the Byrds by the end of 1968 to form the Flying Burrito Brothers with Parsons” AM which meant “McGuinn was the only original member of the four-man lineup that lasted from 1969-72.” RH This lineup included “bassist Skip Battin and drummer Gene Parsons” RH and, “most notably, former country picker Clarence White.” AM “Essentially the Byrds name was a front for Roger McGuinn and backing band. Opinions, again, remain sharply divided about the merits of latter-day Byrds albums. McGuinn was (and is) such an idiosyncratic and pleasurable talent that fans and critics are inclined to give him some slack; no one else plays the 12-string as well, he's a fine arranger, and his Lennon-meets-Dylan vocals are immediately distinctive. Yet aside from some good echoes of vintage Byrds like Chestnut Mare, Jesus Is Just Alright, and Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man, nothing from the post-1968 Byrds albums resonates with nearly the same effervescent quality and authority of their classic 1965-1968 period. This is partly because McGuinn is an erratic (though occasionally fine) songwriter; it's also because the Byrds at their peak were very much a unit of diverse and considerable talents, not just a front for their leader's ideas.” AM “This version of the Byrds recorded several albums…and evolved into a tightly knit performing group, outstripping the original lineup on that count. Sadly, guitarist White was killed when he stepped in front of a truck in 1973.” RH “The Byrds’ diminishing importance must have stung McGuinn doubly in light of the rising profiles of several Byrds alumni as the '60s turned into the '70s. David Crosby was a superstar with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Hillman, Parsons, and (for a while) Michael Clarke were taking country-rock further with the Flying Burrito Brothers; even Gene Clark, though he'd dropped out of sight commercially, was recording some respected country-rock albums on his own.” AM A Brief Reunion “The five original Byrds convened for an ill-fated reunion album in 1973.” RH; “Though it made the Top 20, it was the first, and one of the most flagrant, examples of the futility of a great band reuniting in an attempt to recapture the lightning one last time.” AM Beyond the Byrds “The original Byrds continued to pursue solo careers and outside projects throughout the 1970s and 1980s.” AM McGuinn, Clark and Hillman had solo careers and, as a trio, “had some success at the end of the 1970s with an adult contemporary variation on the Byrds’ sound.” AM Hillman was also a “member of Souther, Hillman and Furay” RH and “enjoyed mainstream country success with the Desert Rose Band.” AM Crosby had the greatest commercial success in his continued involvement “as part of the harmony-based supergroup Crosby, Stills and Nash” RH and battled “substance abuse and related health problems in the late Eighties;” RH Clarke was the drummer for Firefall. “The Byrds’ legend was tarnished by squabbles over which members of the original lineup had the rights to use the Byrds name; for quite a while, …Clarke even toured with a ‘Byrds’ that featured no other original members.” RH “McGuinn, Hillman and Crosby reunited to perform as the Byrds in 1989, in order to legally reclaim the name, and recorded four songs for The Byrds box set, released in 1990.” RH “The Byrds were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991; Gene Clark died several months later, and Michael Clarke died in 1993, permanently scotching prospects of a reunion involving the original quintet.” AM The Players Gene Clark (v/percussion: 1964-66, 73) Roger “Jim” McGuinn (v/g – 1964-73, 89-90) Chris Hillman (b/v/ mandolin: 1964-68, 73, 89-90) David Crosby (v/g: 1964-67,73, 89-90) Michael Clarke (d: 1964-67, 73) Jim Gordon (d: 1967) Gram Parsons (v/g/k: 1967-68) Kevin Kelly (d: 1967-68) Doug Dillard (v/banjo/g – touring band: Spring ‘68) Clarence White (g: 1969-71) John York (b: 1969-71) Glen Parsons (d: 1969-71) Skip Battin (b: 1970-73) John Jorgenson (g: 1989-90) Steve Duncan (d: 1989-90) v = vocals, g = guitar, b = bass, k = keyboards; d = drums Hillman, Gram Parsons, and Clarke were also in Flying Burrito Brothers together; Battin was later a member. Hillman, Jorgenson, and Duncan were in the Desert Rose Band together. Links DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Byrds Dave’s Music Database: The Byrds: Song Discography TheByrds.com (fan site) Byrd Watcher (excellent site for detailed discographies of the Byrds, their members, and off-shoots) Facebook Wikipedia

Awards

Studio Albums

Compilations G1 Greatest Hits (covers 1965-67, released 1967) BD The Byrds Play Dylan (covers 1965-70, released 1979) VB The Very Best of (covers 1965-70, released 1997) G2 Greatest Hits Volume II (covers 1965-71, released 1971) B2 The Best of, Volume II (covers 1965-71, released 1972) HB History of the Byrds (covers 1965-71, released 1973) ES The Essential (covers 1965-71, released 2003) BB The Byrds (box set: 1965-90, released 1990) 20 20 Essential Tracks from the Boxed Set (covers 1965-1990, released 1992) TS There Is a Season (box set: 1964-1990, released 2006) Spotify Playlist Here’s my Greatest Hits 1965-1990 playlist at Spotify that includes all songs in chronological order from Greatest Hits, Greatest Hits Volume II, The Best of, Volume II, and 20 Essential Tracks from the Boxed Set. Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to charts.

Preflyte/In the Beginning/The Preflyte Sessions (archives) The Byrds

Recorded: 1964-1965 Released: July 29, 1969 (Preflyte) Peak: 84 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 3.011 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings)

Tracks (Preflyte): You Showed Me P, B, S, TS Here without You P, B, S, M She Has a Way P, B, S, BB, TS The Reason Why P, B, S For Me Again P, B, S Boston P, B, S You Movin’ P, B, S, TS The Airport Song P, B, S, TS You Won’t Have to Cry P, B, S, M I Knew I’d Want You P, B, S, M Mr. Tambourine Man P, B, S, M Other Songs from This Era: Tomorrow Is a Long Ways Away B, S The Only Girl I Adore B, S, TS Please Let Me Love You B, S, TS It’s No Use B, S, M Don’t Be Long S, TS The Times They Are A-Changin’ (instrumental) S Willie Jean S Come Back Baby S Jack of Diamonds S Get Together S P Preflyte B In the Beginning S The Preflyte Sessions M later appeared on 1965’s Mr. Tambourine Man About the Album: These were three different collections which gathered archival material released before the Byrds’ official debut album, Mr. Tambourine Man, in 1965. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Mr. Tambourine Man The Byrds

Released: June 21, 1965 Peak: 6 US, 7 UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 4.372 out of 5.00 (average of 32 ratings)

Tracks: Mr. Tambourine Man G1, BD, VB, HB, ES, BB, 20, TS I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better G1, VB, ES, BB, 20, TS Spanish Harlem Incident BD, BB You Won’t Have to Cry TS Here without You TS The Bells of Rhymney G1, BB, TS All I Really Want to Do G1, BD, VB, ES, BB, 20, TS I Knew I’d Want You TS It’s No Use Don’t Doubt Yourself, Babe Chimes of Freedom G1, BD, VB, ES, BB, TS We’ll Meet Again About the Album: The Byrds’ debut album, which featured the ground-breaking, chart-topping Dylan cover of “Mr. Tambourine Man,” as well as their covers of his songs “All I Really Want to Do” and “Chimes of Freedom” alongside their original song “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better.” Go to the DMDB page for more about this album, including awards and chart performances of songs.

Turn! Turn! Turn! The Byrds

Released: December 12, 1965 Peak: 17 US, 11 UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 3.978 out of 5.00 (average of 32 ratings)

Tracks: Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) G1, VB, HB, ES, BB, 20, TS It Won’t Be Wrong VB, ES, BB, TS Set You Free This Time ES, TS Lay Down Your Weary Tune BD, BB He Was a Friend of Mine VB, B2, ES, BB, 20, TS The World Turns All Around Her VB, BB, TS Satisfied Mind If You’re Gone TS The Times They Are A-Changin’ BD, VB, G2, BB, TS Wait and See Oh, Susannah She Don’t Care About Time * HB, ES, BB, TS It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue * BD, VB, BB, TS The Day Walk (Never Before) * BB, TS Stranger in a Strange Land (instrumental) * TS bonus track added to 1996 CD reissue About the Album: The Byrds’ second album wasn’t as celebrated as their debut, but it did produce another #1 hit in the U.S. with the title cut and featured great covers of Bob Dylan’s “Lay Down Your Weary Tune” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” Go to the DMDB page for more about this album, including awards and chart performances of songs.

Fifth Dimension The Byrds

Released: July 18, 1966 Peak: 24 US, 27 UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 3.881 out of 5.00 (average of 31 ratings)

Tracks: 5D (Fifth Dimension) G1, VB, HB, ES, BB, 20, TS Wild Mountain Thyme HB, TS Mr. Spaceman G1, VB, HB, ES, BB, 20, TS I See You BB, TS What’s Happening?!?! TS I Come and Stand at Every Door Eight Miles High G1, VB, HB, ES, BB, 20, TS Hey Joe BB Captain Soul John Riley BB 2-4-2 Fox Trot (The Lear Jet Song) I Know My Rider * BB, TS Psychodrama City * BB * added to CD reissue About the Album: The same lineup that created folk-rock masterpieces like “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn! Turn! Turn!” returned with a third album that established the Byrds as a pivotal group in another genre – psychedelic rock – thanks to gems such as “Eight Miles High” and “Mr. Spaceman.” Go to the DMDB page for more about this album, including awards and chart performances of songs.

Younger Than Yesterday The Byrds

Released: February 6, 1967 Peak: 24 US, 37 UK, 5 CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 4.209 out of 5.00 (average of 33 ratings)

Tracks: So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star G1, VB, HB, ES, BB, 20, TS Have You Seen Her Face ES, BB, 20, TS C.T.A. – 102 Renaissance Fair VB, ES, BB, TS Time Between HB, BB, TS Everybody’s Been Burned BB, TS Thoughts and Words Mind Gardens My Back Pages G1, BD, VB, HB, ES, BB, 20, TS The Girl with No Name BB Why BB, TS Lady Friend * HB, ES, BB, 20, TS It Happens Each Day * BB, TS added to CD reissue About the Album: The Byrds’ third album, Fifth Dimension, was a dramatic change from the folk-rock of their first two albums to a psychedelic sound. The next album, Younger Than Yesterday, was even more successful as a representation of psychedelic rock. The album also marked the departure of founding member Gene Clark. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album, including awards and chart performances of songs.

Greatest Hits (compilation) The Byrds

Recorded: 1964-67 Released: August 7, 1967 Peak: 6 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 1.0 US Genre: folk rock Rating: 4.387 out of 5.00 (average of 24 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: (1) Mr. Tambourine Man (2) I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better (3) The Bells of Rhymney (4) Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) (5) All I Really Want to Do (6) Chimes of Freedom (7) Eight Miles High (8) Mr. Spaceman (9) 5D (Fifth Dimension) (10) So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (11) My Back Pages Total Running Time: 31:31 About the Album: “Without question, the Byrds were one of the great bands of the ‘60s and one of the few American bands of their time to continually turn out inventive, compelling albums. As they were recording a series of fine records, they released a number of classic singles that defined their era. The Byrds' Greatest Hits does an excellent job of chronicling the peak years of their popularity before they went country-rock on 1968’s Sweetheart of the Rodeo…Yes, some great songs were left behind on the albums, but important cuts like I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better, The Bells of Rhymney, and Chimes of Freedom are included, making this pretty close to a definitive single-disc summary of the Byrds' prime.” AM-G1 Minor hits “It Won’t Be Wrong,” “Set You Free This Time,” and “Have You Seen Her Face” were added to the 1999 CD reissue.

The Notorious Byrd Brothers The Byrds

Released: January 3, 1968 Peak: 47 US, 12 UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 4.219 out of 5.00 (average of 29 ratings)

Tracks: Artificial Energy Goin’ Back VB, G2, HB, ES, BB, 20, TS Natural Harmony ES Draft Morning BB, TS Wasn’t Born to Follow VB, G2, B2, HB, ES, BB, TS Get to You G2 Change Is Now Old John Robertson HB, ES, BB, TS Tribal Gathering TS Dolphins’ Smile VB, BB, TS Space Odyssey Triad * BB, TS Universal Mind Decoder * TS * added to CD reissue About the Album: This was the last Byrds’ album to feature David Crosby and Michael Clarke (until the 1973 reunion album). Go to the DMDB page for more about this album, including awards and chart performances of songs.

Sweetheart of the Rodeo The Byrds

Released: August 1968 Peak: 77 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 4.316 out of 5.00 (average of 38 ratings)

Tracks: You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere BD, VB, G2, B2, HB, ES, BB, TS I Am a Pilgrim G2, BB, TS The Christian Life BB, TS You Don’t Miss Your Water BB, TS You’re Still on My Mind VB Pretty Boy Floyd BB, TS Hickory Wind VB, HB, ES, BB, TS One Hundred Years from Now VB, BB, TS Blue Canadian Rockies Life in Prison Nothing Was Delivered BD, BB Reputation * BB Pretty Polly * BB, TS Lazy Days * BB, TS * added to CD reissue About the Album: While it wasn’t a commercial success, this has become the Byrds’ most celebrated album. It is recognized as a pivotal release in the development of country rock, thanks in large part to the arrival of Gram Parsons – sometimes called The Father of Country Rock. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album, including awards and chart performances of songs.

Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde The Byrds

Released: February 3, 1969 Peak: 153 US, 15 UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 2.904 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)

Tracks: This Wheel’s on Fire (Bob Dylan, Rick Danko) [4:44] BD, ES, BB, TS Old Blue (traditional, arranged by Roger McGuinn) [3:21] BB, TS Your Gentle Way of Loving Me (Gib Guilbeau, Gary Paxton) [2:35] Child of the Universe (Dave Grusin, Roger McGuinn) [3:15] TS Nashville West (Gene Parsons, Clarence White) [2:29] HB, BB, TS Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man [3:53] G2, HB, ES, BB, TS King Apathy III (McGuinn) [3:00] Candy (McGuinn, John York) [3:01] TS Bad Night at the Whiskey [3:23] BB Medley: My Back Pages / B.J. Blues / Baby What You Want Me to Do (Dylan, McGuinn, York, Gene Parsons, White, Jimmy Reed) [4:08] Lay Lady Lay * BD, VB, G2, BB, TS * bonus track not on original release Total Running Time: 34:25 About the Album: After the pioneering country-rock album Sweetheart of the Rodeo, original Byrds member Chris Hillman left the band to form Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons (who’d been with the Byrds for Sweetheart of the Rodeo. This effectively left Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde as a vehicle for Roger McGuinn (the only original Byrds member left). He formed a new lineup with guitarist Clarence White, bassist John York, and drummer Gen Parsons.

Ballad of Easy Rider The Byrds

Released: November 10, 1969 Peak: 36 US, -- UK, 40 CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 3.395 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)

Tracks: Ballad of Easy Rider VB, G2, B2, HB, ES, BB, 20, TS Fido Oil in My Lamp BB, TS Tulsa County Blue BB, TS Jack Tarr the Sailor Jesus Is Just Alright VB, G2, B2, HB, ES, BB, 20, TS It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue BD, VB, BB, TS There Must Be Someone Gunga Dun HB Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) BB Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins Total Running Time: 33:55 About the Album: This was the same lineup as previous album Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde but with only Roger McGuinn left as an original Byrds member, this didn’t quite feel like the Byrds anymore.

The Byrds (“Untitled”) The Byrds

Released: September 16, 1970 Peak: 40 US, 11 UK, 15 CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 3.610 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings)

Tracks: Lover of the Bayou (live) ES, BB, TS Positively 4th Street (live) (33 DF) BD, BB, TS Nashville West (live) So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (live) Mr. Tambourine Man (live) Mr. Spaceman (live) Eight Miles High (live) Chestnut Mare VB, G2, B2, HB, ES, BB, 20, TS Truck Stop Girl BB All the Things TS Yesterday’s Train HB Hungry Planet Just a Season HB, BB, TS Take a Whiff on Me TS You All Look Alike TS Well Come Back Home It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding * TS * on CD reissue About the Album: This album was a mix of live cuts and studio recordings. It was the third album to feature the lineup of singer/guitarist Roger McGuinn, guitarist Clarence White, bassist John York, and drummer Gene Parsons.

The Byrds Play Dylan (compilation) The Byrds

Recorded: 1965-1970 Released: November 1979 Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 3.830 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)

Tracks: (1) The Times They Are A-Changin’ (2) Mr. Tambourine Man (3) All I Really Want to Do (4) Chimes of Freedom (5) Spanish Harlem Incident (6) My Back Pages (7) Lay Down Your Weary Tune (8) It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (9) You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (10) This Wheel’s on Fire (11) Nothing Was Delivered (12) Lay Lady Lay (13) Positively 4th Street Total Running Time: 41:39 About the Album: No one was a better interpreter of Bob Dylan songs than the Byrds. This collection gathered up more than a dozen of the songs they recorded from their debut album through their 1970 self-titled album.

The Very Best of The Byrds

Recorded: 1965-1970 Released: June 23, 1997 Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.10 UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Genre: folk rock Rating: 3.968 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)

Tracks: (1) Mr. Tambourine Man (2) All I Really Want to Do (3) Chimes of Freedom (4) I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better (5) Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) (6) The Times They Are A-Changin’ (7) The World Turns All Around Her (8) It Won’t Be Wrong (9) He Was a Friend of Mine (10) Eight Miles High (11) 5D (Fifth Dimension) (12) Mr. Spaceman (13) So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (14) My Back Pages (15) Renaissance Fair (16) Goin’ Back (17) Wasn’t Born to Follow (18) Dolphin’s Smile (19) You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (20) One Hundred Years from Now (21) You’re Still on My Mind (22) Hickory Wind (23) Ballad of Easy Rider (24) Jesus Is Just Alright (25) It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (26) Lay Lady Lay (27) Chestnut Mare About the Album: As single disc retrospectives go, this is a nice sampling of most of the Byrds’ career. It does, however, overlook their last three albums released from 1971 to 1973.

Byrdmaniax The Byrds

Released: June 23, 1971 Peak: 46 US, -- UK, 23 CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 2.810 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings)

Tracks: Glory, Glory ES, BB, TS Pale Blue TS I Trust Everything Is Gonna Work Out Alright G2, BB, TS Tunnel of Love Citizen Kane B2, HB I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician B2, ES, BB, 20, TS Absolute Happiness Green Apple Quick Step BB My Destiny Kathleen’s Song BB, TS Jamaica Say You Will HB Just Like a Woman * (recorded 6/11/70, 29 DF) BB Pale Blue (alternate version) * Think I’m Gonna Feel Better * Byrdgrass (instrumental) * TS * 2000 CD reissue bonus tracks About the Album: This was the fourth album to feature the lineup of singer/guitarist Roger McGuinn, guitarist Clarence White, and drummer Gene Parsons. Skip Battin replaced John York on bass.

Greatest Hits Volume II (compilation) The Byrds

Recorded: 1968-1971 Released: May 15, 1971 Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 3.279 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)

Tracks: (1) Ballad of Easy Rider (2) Jesus Is Just Alright (3) Chestnut Mare (4) You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (5) I Am a Pilgrim (6) Goin’ Back (7) I Trust Everything Is Gonna Work Out Alright (8) Lay Lady Lay (9) Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man (10) Wasn’t Born to Follow (11) The Times They Are A-Changin’ (12) Get to You Total Running Time: 36:30 About the Album: This was a European-only release that picks up where the 1967 Greatest Hits collection left off, although it does include one song from 1965 – their cover of Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” which was originally released on the Turn! Turn! Turn! album.

Farther Along The Byrds

Released: November 17, 1971 Peak: 152 US, -- UK, 41 CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 2.721 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings)

Tracks: Tiffany Queen B2, HB, ES, BB, TS Get Down Your Line Farther Along ES, BB, TS B.B. Class Road Bugler BB, TS America’s Great National Pastime B2, HB Antique Sandy Precious Kate So Fine Lazy Waters BB Bristol Steam Convention Blues About the Album: This album featured the same lineup as previous album Byrdmaniax: singer/guitarist Roger McGuinn, guitarist Clarence White, drummer Gene Parsons, and bassist Skip Battin.

The Best of the Byrds: Greatest Hits Volume II (compilation) The Byrds

Recorded: 1965-1971 Released: November 10, 1972 Peak: 114 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 2.950 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)

Tracks: (1) Ballad of Easy Rider (2) Wasn’t Born to Follow (3) Jesus Is Just Alright (4) He Was a Friend of Mine (5) Chestnut Mare (6) Tiffany Queen (7) Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man (8) You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (9) Citizen Kane (10) I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician (11) America’s Great National Pastime Total Running Time: 31:11 About the Album: This confusingly titled compilation was the second greatest hits collection released in the U.S., but followed a European-only release of Greatest Hits Volume II in 1971. The two collections share only five songs. This collection pulls songs from 1968 to 1971, although it also adds “He Was a Friend of Mine” which was first released in 1965 on the Turn! Turn! Turn! album.

History of the Byrds The Byrds

Recorded: 1965-1971 Released: May 18, 1973 Peak: -- US, 47 UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 4.015 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Tracks: (1) Mr. Tambourine Man (2) Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) (3) She Don’t Care About Time (4) Wild Mountain Thyme (5) Eight Miles High (6) Mr. Spaceman (7) 5D (Fifth Dimension) (8) So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (9) Time Between (10) My Back Pages (11) Lady Friend (12) Goin’ Back (13) Old John Robertson (14) Wasn’t Born to Follow (15) You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (16) Hickory Wind (17) Nashville West (18) Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man (19) Gunga Din (20) Jesus Is Just Alright (21) Ballad of Easy Rider (22) Chestnut Mare (23) Yesterday’s Train (24) Just a Season (25) Citizen Kane (26) Jamaica (Say You Will) (27) Tiffany Queen (28) America’s Great National Pastime Total Running Time: 80:24 About the Album: This was the most complete anthology yet of the Byrds, covering all but their last album, the 1973 reunion album.

The Essential The Byrds

Recorded: 1965-1971 Released: April 22, 2003 Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 3.934 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)

Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Mr. Tambourine Man (2) I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better (3) All I Really Want to Do (4) Chimes of Freedom (5) Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) (6) She Don’t Care About Time (7) It Won’t Be Wrong (8) Set You Free This Time (9) He Was a Friend of Mine (10) Eight Miles High (11) 5D (Fifth Dimension) (12) Mr. Spaceman (13) So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (14) Have You Seen Her Face (15) Renaissance Fair (16) My Back Pages Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Lady Friend (2) Old John Robertson (3) Goin’ Back (4) Natural Harmony (5) Wasn’t Born to Follow (6) You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (7) Hickory Wind (8) This Wheel’s on Fire (9) Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man (10) Ballad of Easy Rider (11) Jesus Is Just Alright (12) Lover of the Bayou (live) (13) Chestnut Mare (14) Glory, Glory (15) I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician (16) Tiffany Queen (17) Farther Along Total Running Time: 94:40 About the Album: This two-disc retrospective isn’t completely comprehensive as it doesn’t cover the 1973 reunion album but it does feature cuts from every album before that.

The Byrds (“Reunion Album”) The Byrds

Released: March 7, 1973 Peak: 20 US, 31 UK, 19 CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 2.824 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)

Tracks: Full Circle TS Sweet Mary Changing Heart TS For Free Born to Rock ‘n’ Roll Things Will Be Better Cowgirl in the Sand Long Live the King Borrowing Time Laughing See the Sky About to Rain Total Running Time: 34:54 About the Album: The final album from the Byrds saw the revival of the original lineup of Roger McGuinn (vocals, guitar), Gene Clark (percussion, harmonica, guitar, vocals), David Crosby (guitar, vocals), Chris Hillman (bass), and Michael Clarke (drums, percussion). While the album reached the top 20 in the U.S. it didn’t achieve the acclaim of the band’s work from the ‘60s.

The Byrds (box set) The Byrds

Recorded: 1965-1990 Released: October 19, 1990 Peak: 151 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 4.428 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Mr. Tambourine Man (2) I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better (3) Chimes of Freedom (4) She Has a Way (5) All I Really Want to Do (6) Spanish Harlem Incident (7) The Bells of Rhymney (8) It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (9) She Don’t Care About Time (10) Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) (11) It Won’t Be Wrong (12) Lay Down Your Weary Tune (13) He Was a Friend of Mine (14) The World Turns All Around Her (15) The Day Walk (Never Before) (16) The Times They Are A-Changin’ (17) 5D (Fifth Dimension) (18) I Know My Rider (19) Eight Miles High (20) Why (21) Psychodrama City (22) I See You (23) Hey Joe Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Mr. Spaceman (2) John Riley (3) Roll Over Beethoven (live) (4) So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (5) Have You Seen Her Face (6) My Back Pages (7) Time Between (8) It Happens Each Day (9) Renaissance Fair (10) Everybody’s Been Burned (11) The Girl with No Name (12) Triad (13) Lady Friend (14) Old John Robertson (15) Goin’ Back (16) Draft Morning (17) Wasn’t Born to Follow (18) Dolphin’s Smile (19) Reputation (20) You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (21) The Christian Life (22) I Am a Pilgrim (23) Pretty Boy Floyd (24) You Don’t Miss Your Water Tracks, Disc 3: (1) Hickory Wind (2) Nothing Was Delivered (3) One Hundred Years from Now (4) Pretty Polly (5) Lazy Days (6) This Wheel’s on Fire (7) Nashville West (8) Old Blue (9) Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man (10) Bad Night at the Whiskey (11) Lay Lady Lay (12) Mae Jean Goes to Hollywood (13) Ballad of Easy Rider (14) Oil in My Lamp (15) Jesus Is Just Alright (16) Way Beyond the Sun (17) Tulsa County Blue (18) Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) (19) Lover of the Bayou (live) (20) Willin’ (live) (21) Black Mountain Rag (live) (22) Positively 4th Street (live) Tracks, Disc 4: (1) Chestnut Mare (2) Just a Season (3) Kathleen’s Song (4) Truck Stop Girl (5) Just Like a Woman (6) Stanley’s Song (7) Glory, Glory (8) I Trust Everything Is Gonna Work Out Alright (9) I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician (10) Green Apple Quick Step (11) Tiffany Queen (12) Bugler (13) Lazy Waters (14) Farther Along (15) White’s Lightning (16) Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) (17) Mr. Tambourine Man (live) (18) He Was a Friend of Mine (new version) (19) Paths of Victory (20) From a Distance (21) Love That Never Dies About the Album: This 1990 box set from the Byrds covered material from the first album, 1965’s Mr. Tambourine Man, through 1971’s Farther Along plus a few new tracks recorded by a reunited Byrds in 1990. Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums: Roll Over Beethoven (live) BB, TS Mae Jean Goes to Hollywood (Jackson Browne) [2:43] BB Way Beyond the Sun (traditional) [2:56] BB Willin’ (live) (Lowell George) [3:13] BB, TS Black Mountain Rag (live) Byro Berline, arranged by Clarence White & Roger McGuinn) [1:12] BB, TS Stanley’s Song (Roger McGuinn, Roger J. Hippard) [3:11] BB White’s Lightning (Roger McGuinn, Clarence White) [2:36] BB Paths of Victory * (Bob Dylan) [3:09] BB, 20, TS From a Distance * (Julie Gold) [3:14] BB, 20 Love That Never Dies * (Roger McGuinn, Stan Lynch) [3:54] (11/3/90, 14 AR) BB, 20 * Recorded by a reunited lineup of the Byrds at Treasure Isle Recorders in Nashville, Tennessee, between August 6-8, 1980.

20 Essential Tracks from the Boxed Set (compilation) The Byrds

Recorded: 1965-1990 Released: January 14, 1992 Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 3.867 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings)

Tracks: (1) Mr. Tambourine Man (2) I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better (3) All I Really Want to Do (4) Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) (5) 5D (Fifth Dimension) (6) Eight Miles High (7) Mr. Spaceman (8) So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (9) Have You Seen Her Face (10) Lady Friend (11) My Back Pages (12) Goin’ Back (13) Ballad of Easy Rider (14) Jesus Is Just Alright (15) Chestnut Mare (16) I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician (17) He Was a Friend of Mine (18) Paths of Victory (19) From a Distance (20) Love That Never Dies About the Album: “Roger McGuinn and company were once called ‘America’s answer to the Beatles,’ and in terms of influence, it’s easy to see why. This distillation of their [1990] boxed set has all the early hits plus four new cuts. Even though it inexplicably skips over Sweetheart of the Rodeo, it’s still a good place to begin listening to a band without whom folk-rock and country-rock wouldn’t exist.” EW’93

There Is a Season The Byrds

Recorded: 1964-1990 Released: September 26, 2006 Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock Rating: 3.921 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings)

Tracks, Disc 1: (1) The Only Girl I Adore (2) Please Let Me Love You (3) Don’t Be Long (4) The Airport Song (5) You Lovin’ (6) You Showed Me (7) Mr. Tambourine Man (8) I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better (9) You Won’t Have to Cry (10) Here Without You (11) The Bells of Rhymney (12) All I Really Want to Do (13) I Knew I’d Want You (14) Chimes of Freedom (15) She Has a Way (16) It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (17) Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) (18) It Won’t Be Wrong (19) Set You Free This Time (20) The World Turns All Around Her (21) The Day Walk (Never Before) (22) If You’re Gone (23) The Times They Are A-Changin’ (24) She Don’t Care About Time (25) Stranger in a Strange Land (instrumental) Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Eight Miles High (2) Why (3) 5D (Fifth Dimension) (4) Wild Mountain Thyme (5) Mr. Spaceman (6) I See You (7) What’s Happening?!?! (8) I Know You Rider (9) So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (10) Have You Seen Her Face (11) Renaissance Fair (12) Time Between (13) Everybody’s Been Burned (14) My Back Pages (15) It Happens Each Day (16) He Was a Friend of Mine (17) Lady Friend (18) Old John Robertson (19) Goin’ Back (20) Draft Morning (21) Wasn’t Born to Follow (22) Tribal Gathering (23) Dolphin’s Smile (24) Triad (25) Universal Mind Decoder (instrumental) Tracks, Disc 3: (1) You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (2) I Am a Pilgrim (3) The Christian Life (4) You Don’t Miss Your Water (5) Hickory Wind (6) One Hundred Years from Now (7) Lazy Days (8) Pretty Polly (9) This Wheel’s on Fire (10) Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man (11) Candy (12) Child of the Universe (13) Pretty Boy Floyd (live) (14) Buckaroo (live) (15) King Apathy III (live) (16) Sing Me Back Home (live) (17) Lay Lady Lay (alternate version) (18) Oil in My Lamp (alternate) (19) Tulsa County (20) Jesus Is Just Alright (21) Chestnut Mare (22) Just a Season (23) Kathleen’s Song (alternate version) (24) All the Things (alternate version) Tracks, Disc 4: (1) Lover of the Bayou (live) (2) Positively 4th Street (live) (3) Old Blue (live) (4) It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) (5) Ballad of Easy Rider (live) (6) You All Look Alike (live) (7) Nashville West (live instrumental) (8) Willin’ (live) (9) Black Mountain Rag (live instrumental) (10) Baby What You Want Me to Do (live) (11) I Trust Everything Is Gonna Work Out Alright (live) (12) Take a Whiff on Me (live) (13) Glory, Glory (14) Byrdgrass (instrumental) (15) Pale Blue (16) I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician (17) Nothin’ to It (instrumental) (18) Tiffany Queen (19) Farther Along (20) Bugler (21) Mr. Tambourine Man (Banjoman soundtrack version) (22) Roll Over Beethoven (Banjoman soundtrack version) (23) Full Circle (24) Changing Heart (25) Paths of Victory Total Running Time: 4:40:20 About the Album: The second box set from the Byrds covers the same ground, but with another 10 cuts. There are, however, many differences between the sets and the 1990 set is actually the superior collection. Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums: Buckaroo (from Live at the Fillmore, 2/8/69) TS Sing Me Back Home (from Live at the Fillmore, 2/8/69) TS Baby What You Do Want to Do (from Live at Royal Albert Hall, 5/13/71) TS Nothin’ to It (instrumental, recorded Oct. 1971) TS

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com bio by Richie Unterberger AM-G1 AllMusic.com review of Greatest Hits by Stephen Thomas Erlewine EW’93 Entertainment Weekly (10/29/1993). “100 Greatest CDs: A Love-It-Or-Loathe It Guide to the Essential Disc Library” RH Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Related DMDB Links: First posted 2/23/2008; last updated 10/27/2026.