Preflyte

Performer: The Byrds
Producer: Jim Dickson; Keith Olsen
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: The Byrds: Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn , Michael Clarke. This two-disc session is bound to be the final word in the recordings made by The Byrds prior to their signing (and even before adopting that moniker). Earlier collections, PREFLYTE and IN THE BEGINNING, are encompassed here and expanded with still more newly unearthed recordings (16 are previously unissued). The band's folk roots are very much in evidence, as their sound slowly evolves into its familiar form. Gene Clark's songwriting powers almost the whole set, including a few co-writes. Only six of the 40 songs are by writers outside the band, three not surprisingly by Bob Dylan. The set mixes finished recordings with what are clearly demos. However, whatever some of those recordings are missing in terms of production values, is more than made up for by the opportunity to hear this quintet full of creative gusto smack dab in the middle of the 1960s. A prime example is "You Movin'," in which they sound like they're definitely on the verge of something big, tripping over themselves on their path down the runway.

Q (4/02, p.131) - 4 out of 5 stars - "...Archive heaven for anyone interested in the formation of one of rock's most influential sounds..." Uncut (11/01, p.114) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...One of the gems in the latest batch of Poptones reissues..." Mojo (Publisher) (3/02, p.126) - "...The epitome of West Coast Beatles-meets-Dylan cool....Most breathtaking for newcomers is the depth of the early Gene Clark material..."

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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