The Byrds
Farther Along - CBS 1972 Comments:This was the last Byrds album before the original Byrds briefly reunited in 1973. It is one of the more overlooked Byrds albums, perhaps because it is also one of the most uneven. The band covers many genres, some of which are probably a bit too far from what most people associate with the group.
The highlights of the album for me are the melodic folk/country inspired ballads; not least the two where Clarence White has the lead vocals - "Buglar" and "Farther Along". Also McGuinn's "Antique Sandy" and "Precious Kate" belong to this fine category.
I'm usually not very excited about Skip Battin's tracks, but his delivery of Bob Rifkin's “Lazy Waters” is actually pretty good – but not very Byrds-esque.
2-3 songs I feel like pure filler: “So Fine”, “Get Down Your Love” and “B.B. Class” – the latter quite funny, though.
"Tiffany Queen" is a solid opening track - a fine rocker in Chuck Berry style.
As on several of the previous albums, there is a fine instrumental, "Bristol Steam Convention Blues", on which the group members get to demonstrate their virtuosity on their instruments - not least Clarence White and Gene Parsons.
There are three fine bonus tracks, which could have been the backbone of a possible sequel, which, however, never materialized.
"Lost my Drivin' Wheel" written by David Wiffen is a fine recording that McGuinn later used on a solo album. The same applies to "Bag Full of Money", which can easily bring to mind "Sweetheart of the Rodeo". "Born to Rock'n Roll" was re-recorded for the original Byrds' 1973 album - this earlier version is clearly better.
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