The Byrds

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C
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The Byrds

Postby C » 01 Jul 2022, 12:28

I was always wanted to love The Byrds - some great tracks full of music.

However, to my cloths-ears the albums are either too poppy, too sugary, too prissy, too bland or too country and I struggle.

The bottom line is they only made one truly seminally robust studio album - didn't they?



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The Fish
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Re: The Byrds

Postby The Fish » 01 Jul 2022, 12:40

No. Just about every album is great.
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Re: The Byrds

Postby ChrisB » 01 Jul 2022, 13:07

Mr. Tambourine Man
1965
Turn! Turn! Turn!
1965
Fifth Dimension
1966
Younger Than Yesterday
1967
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
1968
Sweetheart of the Rodeo
1968
Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde
1969
Ballad of Easy Rider
1969
Untitled
1970

A run of nine, yes, nine, absolute beauties
Last edited by ChrisB on 01 Jul 2022, 13:10, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: The Byrds

Postby fange » 01 Jul 2022, 13:07

No, for me they made at least a handful of really great albums in the '60s. The 70s ones i am less familiar with, but remember liking them in parts.
If the problem for you is 'poppy' and 'country' elements, then yeah, you are likely to have some issues with many of their classic albums. Not quite sure what u mean by prissy though.
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Re: The Byrds

Postby Limpin' Jez McKenzie » 01 Jul 2022, 13:12

5th Dimension, Youngerthe yesterday and NotoriousByrd Brothers are all excellent, fascinating records. If you ask me the others, even the first two, are much more patchy. I find Sweetheart quite difficult to get into.
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Re: The Byrds

Postby naughty boy » 01 Jul 2022, 14:30

No they're not really all that great, to my ears. They fall a long way short of other 60s 'legacy bands' such as the VU, the Doors, the Beach Boys, Love. The tunes aren't there.

Great sound tho'.
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Re: The Byrds

Postby The Modernist » 01 Jul 2022, 15:40

Positive passion wrote:5th Dimension, Youngerthe yesterday and NotoriousByrd Brothers are all excellent, fascinating records. If you ask me the others, even the first two, are much more patchy. I find Sweetheart quite difficult to get into.


I'd agree with this. NBB is their classic.

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Re: The Byrds

Postby Matt Wilson » 01 Jul 2022, 15:53

The first album is as good as any American rock LP in 1965 without "Bob Dylan" in the title. 5th Dimension can lay claim as the first psychedelic record, though it's patchy. Younger Than Yesterday and Notorious Byrd Bros are as close to five-star as they got, and as long as country isn't a deal-breaker (like it seems to be with so many here), Sweetheart is another classic.

After that your mileage varies.

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Re: The Byrds

Postby The Fish » 01 Jul 2022, 15:55

The Modernist wrote: NBB is their classic.


With possibly the best ever Carole KIng covers, and there's not exactly a shortage of competiton for that honour.
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Re: The Byrds

Postby Walk In My Shadow » 01 Jul 2022, 16:56

I sort of agree with those first nine albums being good but each have their weak(er) tracks.
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Re: The Byrds

Postby Limpin' Jez McKenzie » 01 Jul 2022, 17:07

The Modernist wrote:
Positive passion wrote:5th Dimension, Youngerthe yesterday and NotoriousByrd Brothers are all excellent, fascinating records. If you ask me the others, even the first two, are much more patchy. I find Sweetheart quite difficult to get into.


I'd agree with this. NBB is their classic.


Yes I think I think that too.
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Re: The Byrds

Postby C » 01 Jul 2022, 17:35

Positive passion wrote:
The Modernist wrote:
Positive passion wrote:5th Dimension, Youngerthe yesterday and NotoriousByrd Brothers are all excellent, fascinating records. If you ask me the others, even the first two, are much more patchy. I find Sweetheart quite difficult to get into.


I'd agree with this. NBB is their classic.


Yes I think I think that too.


Agreed re: NBB

Head and shoulders above the others to my goon-ears




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Re: The Byrds

Postby Hightea » 01 Jul 2022, 18:06

There are gems on all their 60's albums with the most complete albums being
Fifth Dimension
Younger Than Yesterday
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
Sweetheart of the Rodeo (wasn't a fan back in the day but now I love this album) -


In 2018 saw some of the members do Sweetheart of the Rodeo album- great show
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Re: The Byrds

Postby WG Kaspar » 01 Jul 2022, 18:26

I guess dear Stephen, you don't really like American bands from that era. I struggle to think of one that can be claimed to be better than them outright.
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Re: The Byrds

Postby Rayge » 01 Jul 2022, 18:27

They were a singles band.
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Re: The Byrds

Postby BARON CORNY DOG » 01 Jul 2022, 18:37

Of all the BCB Blind Spots, this is the most persistently depressing.

Tambourine Man
Younger Than Yesterday
Notorious Byrd Brothers
Sweetheart of the Rodeo

Seminally Robust.

5D and Turn Turn Turn?

Inconsistent, but with remarkable moments.
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Re: The Byrds

Postby Charlie O. » 01 Jul 2022, 18:47

der Freiherr wrote:Of all the BCB Blind Spots, this is the most persistently depressing.

Tambourine Man
Younger Than Yesterday
Notorious Byrd Brothers
Sweetheart of the Rodeo

Seminally Robust.

5D and Turn Turn Turn?

Inconsistent, but with remarkable moments.

What he said, except I'd put Sweetheart in the second category. And there are some delectable cherries to be picked from the Clarence White era (actually, I reckon Ballad Of Easy Rider is as strong as Sweetheart).
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Re: The Byrds

Postby C » 01 Jul 2022, 18:49

Not wanting to put The Byrds in competition, I'd take Buffalo Springfield any day




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Re: The Byrds

Postby C » 01 Jul 2022, 18:51

Charlie O. wrote:delectable cherries to be picked


That's my point in general Chas.

Virtually all The Byrds albums, to me, require cherry picking

Except NBB




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Re: The Byrds

Postby BARON CORNY DOG » 01 Jul 2022, 18:59

Charlie O. wrote:
der Freiherr wrote:Of all the BCB Blind Spots, this is the most persistently depressing.

Tambourine Man
Younger Than Yesterday
Notorious Byrd Brothers
Sweetheart of the Rodeo

Seminally Robust.

5D and Turn Turn Turn?

Inconsistent, but with remarkable moments.

What he said, except I'd put Sweetheart in the second category. And there are some delectable cherries to be picked from the Clarence White era (actually, I reckon Ballad Of Easy Rider is as strong as Sweetheart).


I’ve never fully reckoned with that era. I suppose it’s time.
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