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GOT YOUR UMBRELLA HANDY? |
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 As the opening guitar riff on The Byrds 1965 debut single "Mr. Tambourine Man"; within two minutes and sixteen seconds, folk-rock a bouncy brazen marriage of earthy lyric romanticism and BRITISH INVASION electricity. (The Beatles)-wasborn. the vocal trinity of McGuinn, Gene Clark and David Crosby then galvanized the hopeful adolescent wanderlust in Bob Dylan's lyrics with a stunning harmonic blend of steely church-choir precision and sunny California vigor. In two weeks on its release on April 12th, 1965 it rocketed to number one. The song Tambourine Man had originally been recorded January 20, 1965 during a recording three hour session. The members of THE BYRDS embarked on a long prolific and prosperous career unlike any other in Rock and Roll. The Originally Band members are Roger McQuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke.
In March 1965, The Byrds returned to the studio to work on followup material to Mr. Tambourine Man. At this time they were recording all the material for Mr. Tambourine Man and Turn Turn Turn! as well as treasured B-sides and outakes from the recording session.
With Bob Dylan as their poet lauerete their followup release "All I Really Want to Do" did not please Dylan and was copped by Sonny and Cher from a wholesale event and skyrocketed. Eventhough Bob Dylan is the major influence of THE BYRDS, and the "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" became Gene Clarke best loved and most covered song. As Gene Clarke was the decades best original singer-songwriter. Eventhough they were famous for revamping Dylan and traditional folk songs.
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Gene Clark often referred to
Bob Dylan as his mentor. His inventive blend of romantic yearning, abstract lyricism and
spell bounding melodies. Dylan would give his permission for the rerelease and style
interpretation to The Byrds to keep this new style music alive.
Yet, The Byrds repertoire was rich with Gene Clark's writings and Byrds disciple bands today continue to mine Clark's songbook for material just as The Byrds once ravenously scoured the Dylan catalog.
Clark's songbook generated such songs as: "Set you Free This Time", "Here Without You", "She Don't Care About Time", "Eight Miles High" written by McQuinn, Crosby and Clark recorded in Jan 1966 this song officially ushered in the ACID ROCK ERA. The Beatles and The Beach Boys in nailing the psychedlic conscious of the younger generation. The Byrds did have their bout with drugs and that Eight Miles High was written during a trip on Speed not Acid.
The Byrds were a pinnacle band during the sixites, having creative ambitions and goals only marred by the involvement of drugs. The Byrds zigzagged across the pop landscape scaling the dizzy heights of high pop-art country's down home charm with rebel yell on "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" and started the 70's with the electric back porch kick of "Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde". None of their contemporaries with the possible exception of The Beatles, captured the kaledidoscopic gestalt of late 60's rock with the clarity and consistency of The Byrds.
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