Difference between revisions of "Byrds, The"

Revision as of 08:44, 25 September 2018

The Byrds are mostly remembered for being the definitive folk rock band of the folk rock craze of 1965-66, and that's pretty much true. But they less remembered for being one of the pioneering psychedelic and jazz rock bands. Though they spent not even two years making psychedelic music, their contributions were essential to the development of psychedelia in particular and art rock in general, even those contributions are basically forgotten by everyone except Byrds fans.

The Byrds

• Lead Vocals:
  • Gene Clark (1964-66, 1967, 1972-73),
  • David Crosby (1964-67, 1972-73),
  • Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman (1965-68, 1972-73),
  • Gram Parsons (1968),
  • Clarence White (1968-73, rarely),
  • Gene Parsons (1968-72),
  • John York (1968-69, rarely),
  • Skip Battin (1969-73, rarely)
• Guitars:
  • Gene Clark (1964, 1967),
  • David Crosby (1964-67, 1972-73),
  • Roger McGuinn,
  • Chris Hillman (1966-68, studio only),
  • Gram Parsons (1968),
  • Clarence White (1968-73, and earlier as a session musician),
  • Gene Parsons (1968-72, studio only)
• Keyboards:
  • Gram Parsons (1968),
  • Skip Battin (1969-73, studio only)
• Bass Guitar:
  • Chris Hillman (1965-68, 1972-73),
  • John York (1968-69),
  • Skip Battin (1969-73)
• Drums:
  • Michael Clarke (1964-67, 1972-73),
  • Kevin Kelley (1968),
  • Gene Parsons (1968-72)
• Percussion: Gene Clark (1964-66, 1972-73)
• Mandolin/Banjo:
  • Chris Hillman (1965-68, 1972-73, studio only),
  • Clarence White (1968-73),
  • Gene Parsons (1968-72, studio only)
• Synthesizer: Roger McGuinn (1966-73, studio only)

Folk Rock Origins

The Byrds began as a folk trio called The Jet Set, made up of Gene Clark, David Crosby and Roger McGuinn. According the Crosby, the seminal moment in their evolution from a folk group to a rock band came when the group saw ''A Hart Day's Night'', which showed that a rock band could play folk music. The band soon expanded to a five piece and adopted the Beatles' instruments from the film, guitar, 12-string guitar, bass and drums. (Crosby infamously appropriated Clark's guitar after a time.) Released on April 12, 1965, the Byrds' cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" effectively launched the folk rock craze. Though most of the Byrds didn't actually perform on this record - the Wrecking Crew played all instruments aside from McGuinn's guitar part - the song became the sound of folk rock; jangly guitars and folk harmonies. This sound became the dominant sound in the rock world for the next 2-3 years, even finding its way into pop arrangements.

Psychedelic/Jazz Rock Innovators

However, The Byrds were not just enamoured with Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger. They had begun listening to John Coltrane and other American jazz musicians, who were experimenting with Indian music and other music which departed from traditional, Western ideas of tonality.

Psychedelic/Jazz Rock Recordings

March 14, 1966: "Eight Miles High" backed with "Why"

The music of "Eight Miles High" was originally written as a folk song with an Indian influence in the vocals, but McGuinn suggested it be re-arranged to incorporate the John Coltrane music they were listening to on their tour. The lyrics of "Eight Miles High" concern a plane ride, though there's been lots of insinuation over the years, some of it confirmed, that it was really about drug use. Clark wrote the lyrics with a line or two from Crosby. McGuinn has claimed he had the initial idea and wrote some of the lyrics but it is believed he has made this up. Like "Eight Miles High," "Why" is notably influenced by Indian music. Unlike "Eight Miles High" there is no influence of Coltrane.

June 13, 1966: "5D (Fifth Dimension)" backed with "Captain Soul"

"5D"

Music and Lyrics by Roger McGuinn

• Gene Clark: Vocal
• Michael Clarke: Drums
• David Crosby: Electric Guitar, Vocal
• Chris Hillman: Electric Bass Guitar, Vocal?
• Roger McGuinn: Eletric 12-String Guitar, Vocal

With

• Van Dyke Parks: Organ, Electric Piano

The Byrds' second psychedelic single is significantly less path-breaking than their first, but is still radical compared to the vast majority of pop rock being released in June of 1966.

Though there's a drone on "5D" it's more the lyrics, which contain references to the Theory of Relativity, that are so "psychedelic."

"Captain Soul"

Music attributed to Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, Michael Clarke, David Crosby

• Gene Clark: Harmonica
• Michael Clarke: Drums
• David Crosby: Electric Guitar
• Chris Hillman: Electric Bass Guitar
• Roger McGuinn: Eletric 12-String Guitar

"Captain Soul" is bluesy instrumental featuring atonal lead guitar from McGuinn, but which is otherwise pretty conventional for the era.

July 18, 1966: Fifth Dimension

Like so many early psychedelic albums, the Byrds' third record has a foot in the future and a foot in the past.

September 6, 1966: "Mr. Spaceman" backed with "What's Happening?!?!"

A-side Music and lyrics by Roger McGuinn; B-Side Music and lyrics by David Crosby.

An early country rock song about aliens, "Mr. Spaceman is not exactly the most psychedelic sounding track. Crosby's B-side is considerably more typical of the era though it introduces what has been called Crosby's "disagreeable hippie paranoia."

February 6, 1967: Younger Than Yesterday

March 13, 1967: "My Back Pages" backed with "Renaissance Fair"

Music and Lyrics by Bob Dylan

• Michael Clarke: Drums
• David Crosby: Electric Guitar, Vocal
• Chris Hillman: Electric Bass Guitar, Vocal
• Roger McGuinn: Electric 12-String Guitar, Vocal
• Organ player unknown

This single is a perfect example of the push-pull within the Byrds between the past and the present. A Dylan cover performed mostly as if it was 1965, it's only McGuinn's solo that gives the faintest hint if things have changed.

"Renaissance Fair"

Music and Lyrics by David Crosby and Roger McGuinn

• Michael Clarke: Drums
• David Crosby: Electric Guitar, Vocal
• Chris Hillman: Electric Bass Guitar, Vocal
• Roger McGuinn: Electric 12-String Guitar, Vocal

Though the subject of "Renaissance Fair" might make it seem as though the song is looking back to the past, the b-side is, as Bruce Eder has called it, "a perfect synthesis of the group's original electric-folk sound evolved into a new, more contemporary form of music and songwriting, almost hippie-folk music."

May 22, 1967: "Have You Seen Her Face" backed with "Don't Make Waves"

July 13, 1967: "Lady Friend" backed with "Old John Robertson"

October 20, 1967: "Goin' Back" backed with "Change Is Now"

January 15, 1968: ''The Notorious Byrd Brothers

Popularization of Country Rock

Reunion

Influenced by

Folk Rock Influences

Bob Dylan

Pete Seeger

The Beatles

Psychedelic Influences

Folk rock influences plus

John Coltrane

Country Rock Influences

The Louvin Brothers

Influenced within Art Rock