THE BYRDS, The Notorious Byrd Brothers (alt.)

THE BYRDS

 The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968)

Lady Friend   [YTY CD reissue]
Goin' Back
Natural Harmony
Draft Morning
Triad   [NBB CD re-issue]
Wasn't Born to Follow
Get to You
Change is Now
Old John Robertson
Tribal Gathering
Dolphin's Smile
Space Odyssey

BONUS

                                                                               Artificial Energy

                                                                       Moog Raga   [NBB CD re-issue]

                                                                Old John Robertson  (single mix)  [YTY CD re-issue]

                                  Goin' Back (version one)   [NBB CD re-issue]

                                    Universal Mind Decoder (instrumental)  [The Byrds boxed set]

                                      Draft Morning (alt. ending)    [NBB CD re-issue]

                                      Bound to Fall (instrumental)   [NBB CD re-issue]

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Easily my favourite Byrds LP depending on what day of the week it is. "Lady Friend" and "Triad" are rightfully placed in the album's running order, with the future b-side "Artificial Energy" being the only casualty. No worries, I'm saving it for my next Byrds LP construction!

Special thanks to ernestmannerisms. and AlbumFixer for somehow grafting Crosby's mug onto the NBB album cover!  He then grafted Stills, Nash, and Young in place of the other Byrds and made his Frozen Noses CSNY album. I'm a big follower of his blog and my Spotify list will attest to it :) .

THE BYRDS' Greatest Hits (alt.)

THE BYRDS

 Byrds' Greatest Hits (1967)

My Back Pages

Renaissance Fair

Why   [YTY CD re-issue]

Mr. Spaceman

Eight Miles High

Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)

Chimes of Freedom

So You Want to Be a Rock n' Roll Star

Time Between     [Younger Than Yesterday]

5D (Fifth Dimension)

She Don't Care About Time  (alt. version)*   [TTT CD re-issue]

The Times They are A-Changin'   [TTT CD re-issue]

I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better

Mr. Tambourine Man   (stereo mix)*    [Never Before]

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This is a much more interesting listen than the original 1967 comp Columbia did. As was custom, I included the most recent single at the top of the running order. We move chronologically backward; starting over to kick off side B with "Rock N' Roll Star". Little differences aside from the tracklist, include the Younger Than Yesterday remake of "Why" and a  (then) previously unreleased version of "She Don't Care About Time" with producer Terry Melcher adding some 'Satisfaction' sounding licks on the piano and drummer Michael Clarke adding a harmonica solo behind McGuinn's Bach-ian guitar break. I made my attempt at a duo-phonic fix of "Tambourine Man"---but you can use the stereo mix from wherever, really!  

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]

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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]

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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!

THE BYRDS, Fifth Dimension (alt.)

THE BYRDS

Fifth Dimension (1966)

5D (Fifth Dimension)
I Know My Rider    [Cancelled Flytes]
Wild Mountain Thyme
Mr. Spaceman
I See You
The Day Walk (Never Before)    [TTT CD re-issue]
Eight Miles High
Hey Joe (Where You Gonna Go)
Why   [Mono Singles 1965-67]
She Don't Care About Time    [TTT CD re-issue]
John Riley
What's Happening?

BONUS 

   Captain Soul 

2-4-2 Fox Trot (The Lear Jet Song)

I Come and Stand at Every Door 

Another Dimension  (2xLP)

Eight Miles High (RCA version)   [Never Before]

Why (RCA version)   [Never Before]

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The Byrds' 1966 LP was prefaced by two significant events---the release of the groundbreaking single "Eight Miles High"  and the subsequent departure of the band's most consistent singer-songwriter (at the time). Overwhelmed by the anxieties of travelling by plane to meet the demands of the Byrds' touring and promotional needs coupled with increasing alienation among his bandmates due in part to jealousies over his profitable songwriting royalties, Gene Clark was on his way to going solo. His last track completed with the band was "The Day Walk (Never Before)"; a Dylan worshipping lyric paired with a 12-string riff that suspiciously sounds copped from another hit-of-the-day (a similar pattern found in the alternate mix of "She Don't Care About Time"). Guess Clark loved the Stones, too!

Jim (later 'Roger') McGuinn took the songwriting reins with a pair of hits to follow in "5D" and "Mr. Spaceman" .; while Crosby also got in on the action with "What's Happening?!!"  No Dylan covers this time. A couple old folk ditties saw new life breathed into them with string laden arrangements; well sung by McGuinn ("John RIley" and "WIld Mountain Thyme"). 

However, the overall LP isn't as strong as it could be!  Let's lose the downbeat "I Come and Stand at Every Door" and the instrumental b-side "Captain Soul" (which contrary to popular 'belief' features drummer Michael Clarke on harmonica--NOT Gene Clark as one Wikipedia nazi likes to fight me over, lol). The latter song is credited to all four current members at the time; thus, explaining its presence here (not on musical merit). Two songs recorded for a planned single: "I Know My Rider" (another folk tune; the band regrettably decided it'd been done to death) and the jazzy psych jam "Psychodrama City" (written and sung by Crosby) were tragically left unreleased until 1987's 'Never Before' compilation.

My solution? Add the sides from the cancelled single  and replace the two aforementioned tracks with "Why" and "The Day Walk". This gives Gene Clark a fitting farewell in addition to filling out the LP with quality material. Completists should look to the Another Dimension compilation for some groovy ass instrumental takes from the 5D sessions. In particular, "The Lear Jet Song" holds up a lot better than you'd think!

Spotify link: Fifth Dimension (alt.)

THE BYRDS: Mr. Tambourine Man / TURN! TURN! TURN!

THE BYRDS

 Mr. Tambourine Man  (alt.)

                                 

Mr. Tambourine Man

I'll Feel a Whole Better

The Reason Why   [Preflyte Sessions]

You Won't Have to Cry

Here Without You

The Bells of Rhymney

All I Really Want to Do   [The Complete A's and B's 1965-71]

For Me Again     [Echoes]

It's No Use

Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe

You Showed Me    [Preflyte Sessions]
Chimes of Freedom

BONUS 

I Knew I'd Want You

Spanish Harlem Incident

We'll Meet Again

                                 You and Me (instrumental)    [MTM CD re-issue]

All I Really Want to Do  

                               She Has a Way   [MTM CD re-issue]

                                            (w/ Jackie DeShannon)  Splendor in the Grass*   [Where The Action Is]

      

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The Byrds' 1965 debut LP, Mr. Tambourine Man, is a classic. Many would say the album needs "She Has a Way" (outtake) as a 13th track (which is now available on the Columbia Records' CD re-issue). My aim is to re-do the entire discography including best-of collections and some 'imagined' LPs along the way. Having said that, I would remove "I Knew I'd Want You" (already released as the b-side to "Tambourine Man") and use another of the late great Gene Clark's songs that was left unused--"For Me Again". It's a great tune, and its placement after the 45 version of "All I Really Want to Do" really helps the flow of both LP sides. Special thanks to ernestmannerisms for the updated covers and this mix I've decided to use for the Mr. Tambourine Man LP.

Spotify link: Mr. Tambourine Man (alt.)

                                              TURN! TURN! TURN!  (alt.)

                               The Times They are A-Changin'*   [Cancelled Flytes]

It Won't Be Wrong

Set You Free this Time

He Was a Friend of Mine

Lay Down Your Weary Tune

The World Turns All Around Her

                                    It's All Over Now, Baby Blue   [TTT CD reissue]

                                She Has a Way*  [Cancelled Flytes]

                   The Airport Song     [Preflyte]

    If You're Gone     

Satisfied Mind   

                        Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)

BONUS 

Wait and See

The Times They are A-Changin'

Oh! Susannah

                         Stranger in a Strange Land  (instrumental)    [TTT  CD reissue]

The Times They are A-Changin'**  [Shindig! TV performance]

Flower Bomb Song (instrumental)*   [bootleg]  

(with Hamilton Camp)  The Times They are A-Changin'*   [60's Transition compilation]

(with Smash Addams)  Stranger in a Strange Land**   [FOAP --bonus disc]

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This LP has been criticized by none other than McGuinn himself for the pacing on side B (otherwise, it's a great listen). Considering the fact superior compositions like "She Don't Care About Time" (seemingly already relegated to b-side status), "She Has a Way"--and curiously--the Crosby sung "The Airport Song" (released years later on Preflyte) were left in outtake limbo for the likes of "Wait and See" and "Oh! Susannah" (an 'in-joke' between McGuinn and Dylan which the former admits wasn't executed properly), I think I'm not the only fan to agree this could've been better for LP #2. The rejected 45 versions of "The Times They are A-Changin'" and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" were already in the can; the group also cut three songs sung by Crosby including his first two original compositions ("Flower Bomb Song" and "Stranger in a Strange Land") and a song by his friend Dino Valenti ("I Don't Ever Want to Spoil Your Party", subsequently released by Quicksilver Messenger Service).  Crosby's tunes didn't make the cut--so, it's only fair to include the underrated "Airport Song" with its laid back air and Clark's plaintive harmonica in the background. In the interest of making things flow better---or just cos I tire of hearing it start the LP--the title cut, "Turn, Turn, Turn", is moved to the end of side B while the band's first and best version of "Times are A-Changin'" kicks things off on side A. 

Spotify link: Turn! Turn! Turn! (alt.)