THE BYRDS, Younger Than Yesterday (alt.) / GENE CLARK

THE BYRDS

Younger Than Yesterday (1967)

So You Want to Be a Rock N' Roll Star

Have You Seen Her Face

CTA-102

Renaissance Fair

Time Between

Everybody's Been Burned

Thoughts and Words

Psychodrama City  [Cancelled Flytes]

My Back Pages

The Girl With No Name

It Happens Each Day

Don't Make Waves  [YTY CD reissue]

BONUS 

                                   Mind Gardens (alt.)   [YTY CD re-issue]

Why

                                                My Back Pages (reject 45 mix)  [Cancelled Flytes]

Mind Gardens

                                   Don't Make Waves*   [Don't Make Waves soundtrack]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Byrds' 4th album was just one in a year full of classic albums released that year. With bassist Chris Hillman helming four songs alone; the songwriting on this album was full of ambition and inspiration that was a veritable living thing wafting through these times that produced them. Another Dylan cover, "My Back Pages", was tastefully done and added to their ever growing repertoire, as well. David Crosby took things to the point of not even having a melody for experimentation's sake!  That's why I'll replace "Mind Gardens" with the then still unreleased "Psychodrama City" from the last LP's leftover heap. Yet, the band re-recorded "Why" instead of finishing "It Happens Each Day"?  A real misstep, I'd say! The missing vocal bits and Hillman's acoustic leads were subsequently added to 1987's Never Before compilation. Let's add "Don't Make Waves"--if for no other reason-- just to keep in the pattern of ending their albums with 'joke' songs (i.e. "We'll Meet Again" on Mr. Tambourine Man, "Oh! Susannah" and "The Lear Jet Song" on the last two albums). I think it's a catchy ass song and that's my reason. Completists should check out the alternate take that went on the MGM soundtrack to the film of the same name it was written for. 

GENE CLARK

Harold Eugene Clark  (1967)

Tried So Hard  

Think I'm Gonna Feel Better  

Is Yours Is Mine 

Keep on Pushin' 

I Found You  

That's What You Want*   [Back Street Mirror  E.P.]

So You Say Lost Your Baby  

Elevator Operator    

The Same One 

Couldn't Believe Her

Needing Someone  

If I Hang Around*    [Byrd Parts, vol. 2]

------------------------------------------------

Gene Clark's 1967 debut LP for Columbia Records, Gene Clark with The Gosdin Brothers, had the misfortune of being released on the same day as his former bandmates' new LP, Younger Than Yesterday. My re-think of this underrated album first off removes the previously released single, "Echoes"--because it will be saved for my next Gene Clark LP (check back on that). I don't really care for the stereo mixes used on the Echoes compilation; let's use mono mixes from With The Gosdin Bros. and let's throw in the 1966 demo "If I Hang Around" even though overdubbed bass and harmonies from Chip Douglas (he WAS in The Gene Clark Group) were added decades later. Let's also remind 'em this is a GENE CLARK album. Having to share the actual title credit with The Gosdins was surely not an idea Gene himself came up with. Just the same, the Gosdins provide excellent backing harmonies and I'm sure the live performances with this line-up were a treat.  This is a great record by a legendary talent...backed by The Byrds' rhythm section of Clarke and Hilllman, guitar hero Clarence White, and the keyboards and string arrangements of one Mr. Leon Russell. This LP can stand up to Younger Than Yesterday on its own merits!