The Byrds
Byrdmaniax - Columbia 1971 Comments:This was actually the first album I bought with the Byrds, when it was brand new in 1971. I knew from the radio the group's singles,”Mr. Tambourine Man", "Turn Turn Turn", "Goin' Back" and others, so, of course, I had hoped to find something similar to these earlier favourites. I didn't find that. The song that most resembled the old Byrds was probably McGuinn's "I Wanna Grow Up to be a Politician" which also became my first favourite. At the time, when the record collection was very modest, the individual albums were played a lot, and when you had spent your savings on an album, you naturally listened with extra determination to find songs that justified the purchase.
As mentioned, this was something completely different from the Byrds I thought I knew, but as I got to know the songs better I discovered that there was a new Byrds voice, which was really nice. I later found out that it belonged to Clarence White, and soon the songs with his lead vocals became new favourites; especially "Jamaica Say You Will", which is probably the album's strongest cut, but also the slightly gospel-like "My Destiny". There is also a gospel atmosphere on the opening number "Glory, Glory", which is actually quite nice, but which also may appear a bit repetitive and monotonous.
The album is generally somewhat overproduced, and it moves across several quite different genres. McGuinn has written four songs (some with Jacques Levy), and they're all quite good; a bit folkish but unfortunately a bit weighed down by strings. Favorites among these are "Kathleen's Song" and "I Trust".
Bassist Skip Battin wrote three of the tracks, but while they may be quite good in their own way, I don't think they really fit the Byrds, either in style or with his vocals.
The instrumental number, the raucous "Green Apple Quickstep" written by Clarence White and Gene Parsons, is a delight; somewhat in the style of "Nashville West" from "Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde”.
The bonus tracks are pretty good, but unfortunately seem a bit unfinished. Both "Just Like a Woman" and Gene Clark's ""Think I'm Gonna Feel Better" could in finished form have embellished the original album, which must be a strong candidate for the designation "The Byrds' weakest"
I still have a weak spot for it, though, and I believe most Byrds fans will agree that "Jamaica Say You Will" is worth the whole album.
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