Byrds [Wounded Bird]

Performer: The Byrds
Engineer: Raghu Markus; Doc Storch
Producer: Crosby, David & Graham Nash; David Crosby
Distributor: Bayside Record Dist.

Notes: The Byrds: David Crosby (vocals, acoustic guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar, electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar); Chris Hillman (bass guitar); Gene Clark, Michael Clarke, Roger McGuinn. Personnel: Chris Hillman, Crosby, David & Graham Nash, Roger McGuinn (vocals, acoustic guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar, electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar, mandolin); Gene Clark (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, tambourine); Michael Clarke (drums, congas, percussion). Recording information: Wally Reider Recording Studio #4. Photographer: Henry Diltz. The Byrds emerged in 1965 with one of the most identifiable sounds of the 1960s, and proceeded to evolve from folk-rock to psychedelia to country-rock. The Byrds were defunct by 1972, but re-grouped briefly in 1973, with all of its original members, to record one last album. BYRDS is in the country-steeped vein of the 1968 classic SWEETHEARTS OF THE RODEO, shimmering with chiming 12-string guitars and lush, multi-part harmonies. But while the signature sound is there, the album isn't on par with the band's classic material, namely because the songwriting is inconsistent (save Gene Clark's winning originals). Even so, the album belongs in any Byrds fanatic's collection, and is a suitable swan song from one of the era's most important bands. In retrospect, the album the Byrds delivered in 1973 after reuniting the original members wasn't as bad as critics of the day thought it was, it just didn't have much jangle, sounding instead like a fairly typical California country rock outing. In truth, The Byrds was more like a sampler for the individual members, with Gene Clark, David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, and Chris Hillman each getting their two songs, with covers of songs by Joni Mitchell and Neil Young tossed in to balance things. It's all fairly pleasant, if hardly inspired, and at no point do the Byrds actually sound like a band. The highlight has to be the lead track, "Full Circle," which is one of Clark's finest songs. ~ Steve Leggett

Adding ringing electric guitars to Bob Dylan songs, the Byrds helped invent folk-rock, as well as becoming early proponents of psychedelia and popularizing country-rock with the help of alt-country saint Gram Parsons. Led by Roger McGuinn and his distinctive Rickenbacker guitar sound, the mid-1960s lineup--also featuring David Crosby, Gene Clark, and Chris Hillman--achieved fame with their unique take on Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." Personnel changes resulted in a core band of only McGuinn and Hillman, but the short-lived addition of Parsons allowed for the creation of the landmark SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO album. Ultimately, McGuinn assumed full control of the Byrds legacy, and their harmonies and jangly guitars have influenced countless younger bands.

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