“‘Eight Miles High’ has been called the first psychedelic record. It’s true we’d been experimenting with LSD, and the title does contain the word ‘high’, so if people want to say that, that’s great. But ‘Eight Miles High’ actually came about as a tribute to John Coltrane. It was our attempt to play jazz.”
– Roger McGuinn
For better or worse by 1965 rock music was maturing and becoming more complex. Lyrically the first two Byrds albums are nothing special although the “love songs” Clark and McGuinn were writing back then seem darker and more realistic than what had come earlier with the Beatles or even the Rolling Stones. But for me it’s always their music that makes the Byrds special: the harmonies, the guitars, and that mysterious element that one can’t put into words- but you can feel it. Then came the Byrds’ third album- Fifth Dimension- and all rock rules went out the window.
Although blessed with a beautiful singing voice, David Crosby had a reputation for being difficult, self-indulgent, and unpredictable and in 1968 the Byrds fired him- just as the band was about to enter their country rock phase. The disgruntled Crosby went on to find great success with Crosby, Stills & Nash but his resentment toward McGuinn would reportedly last decades.
The Byrds recorded music at a time when rock records were thought to be disposable but now it’s 50 years later and their songs still sound great to me. If there were contemporary bands who sounded this good then I would listen to them but until then here are some more of my favorite Byrds songs. Enjoy!
01. The Byrds – “Wasn’t Born to Follow” (1968)
02. The Byrds – “Draft Morning” (1968)
03. The Byrds – “Time Between” (1967)
04. The Byrds – “The World Turns All Around Her” (1965)
05. The Byrds – “My Back Pages” (1967)
06. The Byrds – “Have You Seen Her Face” (1967)
07. The Byrds – “So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star” (1967)
08. The Byrds – “It Won’t Be Wrong” (1965)
09. The Byrds – “I Know My Rider (I Know You)” (1966)
10. The Byrds – “Eight Miles High” (1966)
Listen to the playlist on Spotify...
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