The Byrds: The Byrds (1973 Reunion Album) CD Track Listing

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The Byrds The Byrds (1973 Reunion Album) (1973)
Originally Released February 1973\nCD Edition Released September 21, 2004 (Wounded Bird)\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: In 1972, Roger McGuinn's final version of the Byrds unceremoniously broke up, but the following year the group briefly reunited -- surprisingly enough, with the classic original lineup of McGuinn, Gene Clark, Michael Clarke, David Crosby, and Chris Hillman. However, if most of the participants meant for this to be anything more than a one-shot get-together, you couldn't tell from listening to the resulting album; Byrds never sounds much like a Byrds album, with McGuinn's chiming 12-string guitar and the group's striking harmonies (The Byrds' twin aural calling cards) largely absent, and much of the original material (especially David Crosby's) sounding like cast-offs from their other projects. And what sort of a Byrds album features two Neil Young covers and not a single Bob Dylan tune? In all fairness, Byrds has its moments: Gene Clark's "Full Circle" and "Changing Heart" are great songs from the group's least-appreciated member, and McGuinn's "Born to Rock 'n' Roll" is a top-notch rock anthem. But for the most part, Byrds sounds like a competent but unexciting country-rock band going through their paces, rather than the work of one of the best and most innovative American bands of the 1960s. -- Mark Deming\n\nAmazon.com Product Description\nThe original five members of the Byrds reunited in 1972 for this one time album. Those original members were David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman & Michael Clarke. This album actually became the Byrds fourth highest charting album hitting #20 on the Billboard charts. It features unique versions of some classic tunes such as Neil Young's "Cowgirls In The Sand" and Crosby's "Laughling". \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe Original Byrds Were Very Influenced By the 1969-72 Byrds, December 15, 2004\nReviewer: Bud Sturguess (Seminole, Texas, USA)\nFrom 1969 to 1972, Roger McGuinn was the only original member of the Byrds, taking charge and letting himself and the new members steer the group to a much more country-rock direction. The country-rock period produced several critically hailed classic songs, not to mention the legendary "Untitled" album (praised as the last great Byrds record), and most importantly, this lineup remained a highly important live touring consideration. But, for reasons known and unknown, McGuinn got rid of this version to join the idea for a 1973 "reunion" of the original Byrds lineup of himself, David Crosby, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke. The resulting self-titled album did great on the charts, beating some of the country-rock lineup's positions by far, but it was critically shot down in most corners. Not only that, any Byrd fan expecting the 12-string folk-rock or moog synthesizer space-rock that the original quintet had innovated was in for a disappointment; 1973's "The Byrds" showed the original lineup almost immitating the same country-rock that had been perfected by the previous version of the Byrds. Where is McGuinn's 12-string Rickenbacker that defined the sound of "Turn! Turn! Turn!"? And where is the spacey studio experimentation of "The Notorious Byrd Brothers?" The last time four of these five Byrds were together in the studio they were making the psychedelic 'Space Odyssey' and sound-effect heavy 'Draft Morning.' Even with David Crosby's assertiveness over McGuinn, it sounds like Clarence White, Gene (and even Gram) Parsons are lingering somewhere in the studio and the songwriting. Of course they weren't, and that means that this album actually does more for the country-rock Byrds than for the original Byrds who made it. \nThat's not to say the Reunited Five didn't make a great album; their songwriting and performances are top-notch, even if they prove over and over that McGuinn's previous stint was more powerful than it seemed. There are some catchy, flavory songs like Gene Clark's 'Full Circle' and the Chris Hillman/Joe Lala song 'Borrowing Time.' Roger McGuinn's 'Born To Rock and Roll' is featured in a mood and tempo true to the title; it may not compare to the more somber version that was recorded by the previous Byrds (featured as a bonus track on the remastered "Farther Along" CD), but it is still a rollicking joy. But the songs that make this album great are those more melancholy moments, which the album is surprisingly full of. 'Sweet Mary,' co-written by McGuinn, is full of heartbreak and great mandolin work from Hillman, Crosby's languid 'Laughing' is just as stirring, while the three covers are performed with every ounce of emotion you could get from these five men--Joni Mitchell's 'For Free,' and Neil Young's 'Cowgirl in the Sand' and 'See the Sky About To Rain.' \n"The Byrds" proved to be a one-time get-together, and the reunion dissolved soon after; it goes without saying that McGuinn chose not to revive the country-rock lineup. While this album may not have done anything for anyone's career, it is still a vivid gem of an album, filled with great songs and great renditions. Finally reissued on the Wounded Bird label after years of being unavailable in the US, this lost album has finally been given a suitable treatment. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nFine country-rock album from the original line up, April 30, 2005\nReviewer: Wayne Klein "Wayne Klein" (Fairfield, CA United States) \nDavid Crosby visited Roger McGuinn one day. Crosby boldly and bluntly assessed the current line up of The Byrds by saying, "you've done some OK stuff but you've also done stuff that is pretty bad. Please stop doing it under the Byrds name". He offered a compromise of sorts. Gather up the original line up and record an album showing where they were today. Such was the genesis of "Byrds" the original quintet's swan song. of the original members only Crosby was experiencing success and that informed this record; he produced it and generally created his version of the band that McGuinn had led. Songwriter/singer Gene Clark was once the band's original front man and most prolific songwriter. This album doesn't capture the grandeur of that original line up. All four songwriters/singers in the original line up contributed two songs with the rest being remakes of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell tunes. \n\nGene Clark's material is the best on the album. "Full Circle" and "Changing Heart" are among the best original songs on the album. Only "Sweet Mary" by McGuinn and Jacques Levy measures up along with Crosby's "Laughing". While Hillman has admitted that the two songs he contributed were second rate material, they're melodic and well written. Clark sings the two Neil Young cover songs "Cowgirl in the Sand" doesn't add anything to the Byrds mythos but his rousing cover of "(See the Sky) About to Rain" with its unusually loud coda pulls it together at the end. \n\nWounded Bird Records has put out the original album exactly as it appeared in 1973 (albeit adapted for the CD format). I'm happy they licensed this overlooked gem but wish that Rhino (which owns the rights through Warner)had allowed them to dig through the vault for demos, unfinished alternate takes and other material that the group may have tried out in rehearsal for the album only to reject later. \n\nWhile this isn't the finest album The Byrds ever made, it's a fine country-rock album and a snapshot of the individual members along with the music they were making solo. Although Crosby dominated the sessions (his picture is dead center and the largest on the cover)because of his success with Crosby, Stills and Nash, he doesn't completely dominate the album giving a fair shake to the other songwriter's material. \n\nI'd give it 3 1/2 stars. The solo albums by McGuinn and Clark recorded after this are superior to this album ("Roger McGuinn" and the controversial "No Other" respectively). In fact, the band would reassemble one more time for a track on McGuinn's solo album (that track really belonged on this album)but for that this was the last hurrah for the original Byrds. After this their career as a group would be grounded by lawsuits and drugs. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nDavid Crosby, you've got to be kidding, May 25, 2005\nReviewer: Gee Clef (Arlington, VA)\nI really got a good laugh about the remark about David Crosby getting in McGuinn's face. There are 4 tracks on this album worth owning -- all 3 of the ones featuring Gene Clark -- Full Circle, Changing Heart, and See the Sky About to Rain -- and one of the McGuinn tracks, Sweet Mary. The rest of it is warmed over cream of wheat. Of the 3 Crosby tracks, the "best" is the dull and drawn out song "Laughing." The only one laughing was Crosby, since he'd just done it on his awful solo album. The other 2, the horrid Long Live the King and his horrendous version of For Free, which sucks the life out of a good Joni Mitchell song, compete for the bottom feeder prize. The Hillman songs are eminently forgettable and the other McGuinn song, Born to Rock and Roll, is a decent song with an awful performance. Now if the faux-Byrds (as Crosby saw them), guys with serious instrumental skill such as Clarence White, Skip Battin, and Gene Parsons had been on that track with McGuinn, it probably would've been worth hearing. The Ballad of Easy Rider and the Untitled/Unissued albums are far superior to this stuff. David Crosby is one of the luckiest people in the world. A guy whose talent never ran far beyond being a good harmony singer, first he fell in with McGuinn and Hillman, then he got pulled along by Stills and Young, and he would have the guts to tell McGuinn that he was disgracing the Byrds' name? I can't stop laughing about that one. Clarence White was 100 times the musician that David Crosby ever was and Gene Parsons was at least 10 times the musician Crosby was. Don't waste your money on this. The extra money spent on Untitled/Unissued is well worth it.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nByrds Reunion Album Not A Bust..., November 12, 2004\nReviewer: Brian E. Burgess (Oneonta, NY... United States)\nThis album received alot of negative press. I assume the critics were thinking that by reuniting the original Byrds would create a masterpiece of Byrds sounding songs. Instead they got an album of good country rock songs from five very influential musicians. Obviously Crosby,Hillman,McGuinn,Clark and Clarke were at a different stage musically in their careers when this album came out. They had moved on from the more pop oriented sound of the Byrds. Some very solid song writing("Long Live The King","For Free" some good covers(Neil Young's "See The Sky(About To Rain)" and "Cowgirl In The Sand" and most of all some quality musicianship(love the mandolin fills throughout the album) lead to an underappreciated effort. I think most people would be pleasantly surprised by this cd.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nPretty Good, September 22, 2004\nReviewer: M. Brust (Denton, TX United States)\nThis album has caught a lot of bad press over the years because most critics have voiced the opinion that none of the participants were fully engaged in this project. This can safely be called THE David Crosby Byrds album. He's all over the music. Chris Hillman and Roger McGuinn back up and audibly let David have his way. Gene Clark and David are in fine voice and the cover songs are great. "See The Sky About To Rain" is awesome and McGuinn's "Rock-n-Roll" is very ragged but very right. Crosby got a great sound on this record. The instruments and vocals are crystal clear. It is one of my all-time favorite Byrds Albums. It's better,in its way, than anything after "Notorious".\n\nHalf.com Album Notes\nThis 1973 Recording Saw The Original 5 Members (David Crosby, Roger Mcguinn, Gene Clark, Michael Clarke and Chris Hillman) Get Back Together For One Last official Studio Album Before Disbanding. Features 'full Circle', 'sweet Mary', '(see The Sky) About To Rain' and Eight More\n
This rock cd contains 11 tracks and runs 34min 57sec.
Freedb: 88082f0b
Buy: from Amazon.com

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