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Byrds

The Byrds (Artist) Format: Audio CD
4.4 out of 5 stars 19 ratings
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Audio CD, 10 Nov. 2014
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Track Listings

1 Full Circle
2 Sweet Mary
3 Changing Heart
4 For Free
5 Born to Rock ‘n Roll
6 Things Will Be Better
7 Cowgirl in the Sand
8 Long Live the King
9 Borrowing Time
10 Laughing
11 (See the Sky) About to Rain
12 She’s the Kind of Girl
13 One in a Hundred

Product description

The original Byrds reunion album re-presented with superb audio. In late 1972, the classic, original line-up of THE BYRDS - Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Roger McGuinn and Michael Clarke - reunited to record their first album together since 1965. Signed to David Geffen's Asylum label, the album Byrds (1973) brought the band's mix of folk rock and country rock to a fresh audience. Musically The Byrds were in fine form with trademark harmony vocals on the likes of Clark's breezy 'Full Circle' and 'Changing Heart', Crosby's acerbic 'Long Live the King', McGuinn's anthemic rocker 'Born to Rock 'n Roll', Hillman's gloriously up-tempo 'Things will be Better' plus exceptional covers of Joni Mitchell's 'For Free' and Neil Young's 'Cowgirl in the Sand' and '(See the Sky) About to Rain'. The album was a Top 20 hit and it remains an overlooked classic that continues to improve with age. "The band's direction is no-nonsense, straight-ahead music... The Byrds make it on the strength of the music alone" (NME, 1973). With two bonus tracks from Gene Clark's 1972 Roadmaster album - 'She's the Kind of Girl' and 'One in a Hundred' - also featuring the full Byrds complement of Clark, Hillman, Crosby, McGuinn and Clarke.

Product details

  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.4 x 14.3 x 1.19 cm; 87.88 g
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Raven
  • Manufacturer reference ‏ : ‎ CDRV381
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Raven
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00MNYP5E2
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • enzomemmo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 April 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I bought the LP when it was released, I knew it very well... ☺
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  • CJ Williams
    4.0 out of 5 stars A great album for Sunday afternoons, or laid-back summer days
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I purchased this CD copy in order to round out my collection of The Byrds' studio albums in the "Complete Columbia Albums Collection". I owned an original, copy of the vinyl LP for years, but gave it away as a gift to a friend years ago when I moved overseas.

    The copy I received this morning is a re-issue on a small, Australian re-issue label called Raven Records. The sticker on the jewel case promises "superb audio", and let me tell you, that is exactly what this CD delivers. I've just finished listening to it, and the dynamics of the audio are brilliant. The vocals and harmonies clear and to the front (which, let's face it, is what you want in a Byrds record), the guitars and mandolins sparkling and distinct, and the bass punchy and solid. The overall sound quality of this re-master is excellent, without the annoying compression that sacrifices dynamics for volume. The folks at Raven clearly know what they're doing.

    As for the music, it's superb. Though this album got slagged off horribly by the majority of critics when it was released in 1973 (even the All Music Guide gives it a 2.5/5 star rating, compared to users' 3.5/5 rating), it's a fine addition to The Byrds' legacy, showcasing the unique strengths and combined talents of the original line-up, now far more experienced and mature than they were when they first formed in 1965. In my opinion, what the music lacks in adventure or edginess, it more than compensates for in depth. All four of the songwriting and singing Byrds deliver stand-out tracks: Gene Clark's songs "Full Circle" and "Changing Heart"; David Crosby's reading of Joni Mitchell's "For Free"; Roger McGuinn's gentle "Sweet Mary" and Chris Hillman's catchy "Borrowing Time". Additionally, Gene Clark absolutely knocks it out of the park with two Neil Young covers, "Cowgirl In The Sand" and "(See The Sky) About To Rain".

    As a bonus, this re-issued edition also contains two Gene Clark tracks from his 1973 solo album "Roadmaster", which was an odds-an-ends assortment of loose songs recorded at different times over the previous two years, and only ever officially issued in Europe by A&M Records: "She's The Kind of Girl" and "One In A Hundred". These songs, despite being released as Gene Clark tracks, actually feature all five of the original Byrds and were produced by Jim Dickson, the group's original manager. As such, they paved the way to this reunion album, and their inclusion here is both logical and welcomed.

    This is not an album for completists only, and it's much better than the critics say. "Byrds" is a fine album with outstanding musicianship that sits comfortably alongside the rest of the albums in the band's catalogue.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • DAVID GILL
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 February 2017
    UNDER RATED REUNION ALBUM
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  • Sid Griffin
    3.0 out of 5 stars Now with two more Gene Clark songs added.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Okay, this was such a disappointing album when it was released back in 1973 but it is remastered here and sounds better for it. Whoever did the remastering is a sharp cookie. This Raven Records version has Gene Clark's two 1970 single sides on it, One In A Hundred and She's The Kind Of Girl, so you get these two extra killer Gene tracks and if you do not know by now the backing band on them is Clark-Clarke-McGuinn-Crosby-Hillman so in effect they were a Byrds reunion before the Byrds reunion two and a half years later. Meaning you buy this disc and you get FOUR topnotch Gene Clark songs and not two. The rest is pretty average, sad to say, but Crosby does a nice reading of Joni Mitchell's For Free.
    For an overview of Gene Clark's career buy the two-CD release Flying High, you will be amazed. And I put it together...I even found some unreleased material of Gene's, mixed if for the first time, and put that on the collection. He is missed. As are the Byrds!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • D. Jackson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 November 2014
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    This album has never been loved the way some of the other Byrds albums are. The expectations were ludicrously high and although this is a decent album it is nothing exceptional. Having said that there are no really bad songs, rather there are no great songs. Indeed two of the best are the extras. Nevertheless this is a worthy addition to the Byrds canon.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Ses
    4.0 out of 5 stars A chance missed, but still good by today's standards
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 January 2017
    I like this album, some of the criticism it received shows what high standards critics and fans had at the time. Clark's songs shine the brightest, but some of the moodier atmospheric numbers (Crosby's style and production coming through?) are pretty good as well. None of the original songs really sound like the Byrds, and maybe that was part of the disappointment at the time. The very pleasant bonus track One in a Hundred actually sounds more like the old Byrds, with the delightful chiming guitar and melodies. If only they had taken their time, this could have been a better album, perhaps picking up where the Byrds greatest moment, the Notorious Byrd Brothers, left off.

    My main gripe is that Hillman and McGuinn's contributions are really average, and Hillman admitted they were probably holding tracks back for their next solo albums. Sad that a great chance was missed for the Byrds to get going again, and the later McGuinn Clark Hillman reunions were at best uninspired and at worst dreadful attempts by the remaining members to sound hip in the disco era. They never recorded again and, sadly, never will. Some things just aren't meant to be.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Alden
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Byrds
    Reviewed in Canada on 25 November 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Arrived on time. Product as described.
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  • C. Denny
    5.0 out of 5 stars My Vote for the Most Unfairly Maligned Album in Rock History
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 May 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I've read for a long time that this reunion album was a misfire, a failed attempt a a reunion and that the songs were throwaways and was missing the signature Byrds sound. Then I purchased the CD.....utter nonsense! This album is excellent by any standard. Were there better Byrd albums? Yes. Were there worst Byrds albums. Yes as well. But the Byrds were such an excellent and influential group that just about anything they produced was enjoyable. As far as the overall sound goes, its true the the signature Rickenbacher 12 string guitar was subdued here but not any more so than on "The Notorious Byrds Brothers" which is considered by many their best recorded effort. Besides, too much of that electric 12 string sound as wonderful as it is can become a bit tiring, lacking in variety. The sound here is beautifully acoustic with Chris Hillman's mandolin playing providing a signature sound for the album. What makes this album special is the return of Gene Clark. All four of his contributions are no less than stellar and worth the price of the album alone. If the Byrds were an unknown group and this was their first album it would have been universally praised. What a pity this was to be their last album. I give this album 5 stars because the stated criterion for 5 stars here is "loved it" and yes, I do love this album. Comparing all their albums to each other it would not rate 5 stars, Younger Than Yesterday, Notorious, Sweetheart of the Rodeo are the true 5 star to me. They don't have "half star" ratings here so I'll give it 5 to encourage others to buy this and to compensate for all of the undeserved negativity from the so called "critics".
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  • ZIK
    5.0 out of 5 stars IL CANTO DEL CIGNO DEI BYRDS
    Reviewed in Italy on 20 June 2016
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    I Byrds sono stati,per la musica americana quello che ì Beatles sono stati per la musica inglese. Con tutto il dovuto rispetto per i Beatles.
    Ma a livello di fama, notorietà e seguito popolare i Byrds, negli Stati Uniti sono stati realmente un mito.
    Un mito che ha prodotto ottimi album, soprattutto i primi 5, prima della, discutibile, svolta country.
    Poi sono arrivati i rimaneggiamenti di formazione, gli scioglimenti e i ricongiungimenti.
    E alla fine questo splendido disco, l'ultimo ma unicamente per ragioni cronologiche.
    Personalmente, al di la dell'opinione della maggior parte della critica, lo reputo tra le cose migliori, se non la migliore, del gruppo.
    Se li avete amati questo disco vi commuoverà. Ottima la rimasterizzazione, così come spedizione e packaging.
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  • Thomas M. Coxworth
    4.0 out of 5 stars Expectaions to High at the Time - But Still a Classic
    Reviewed in Canada on 11 March 2015
    Verified Purchase
    At the time of the reunionThe Byrds had not continued the success from Turn Turn Turn. After major departures of Clark, Crosby & even Hillman their creative ventures were applauded but the commercial success had long gone. McGuinn(and the individuals original members) were all looking to see if they could capture the magic again - all the harmonies are here, some excellent songs, and pretty good arrangements. With unattainable expectations they managed to put it out but ego's and lack of collective leadership tore them apart. While it's not a masterpiece it does still stand today. If it was released under any other name(s) it would be one of the great influencers...but alas it was not to be. Ego's aside this is a thoroughly enjoyable and one to put on repeat.

    Tom Coxworth
    Producer/Folk Routes
    The CKUA Radio Network
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  • LOU GONZALES
    4.0 out of 5 stars But i love it
    Reviewed in the United States on 9 September 2015
    Verified Purchase
    sound quality is superb ...and the bonus cuts are gene clark with the Bryds .....a shame they didnt put more effort into the lp/cd at the time ...it could have been a landmark for the band. they needed a producer as stated in the notes...Geffen should have kicked their asses. But i love it
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