''The Byrds Created Many, Many Pieces of Art· - High Art
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REVIEWER: Mike Delaney ''The Byrds created many, many pieces of art· - high art. Approximately perfect" - says Michael Delaney. · · Basically, the Byrds have been two: '(McGuinn, Clarke, Crosby, Clark and Hillman; McGuinn, Parsons, White, Battin. The original line-up (a quintet to a quartet to a trio) cut five albums up to '.anil "Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Next, just before "The Notorious Byrd including "The Notorious Byrd Brothers". Roger McGuinn, Michael Clarke". - The Brothers'', David Crosby got fired for being Six, if you include "Greatest Hits Vol. I:"; Byrds; E.M.I. Stereo. SYLAA.8754. tOO' politieal; Michael Clarke split before seven, ,if you include "Preflyte" - a "Greatest .Hits Vol. l." - The Byrds. C.B.S. ''Sweetheart .. or The Rodeo" and Chris collector's piece made from old demo tapes. Stereo. SBP.233440. Hillman followed straight after. Clarence "Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde" /"Ballad Of Easy "Greatest Hits Vol. 2." - The ByrdS: C.B.S. White, John York, Kevin Kelly, Gram Rider!' albums sort of bridged the gap . Stereo. SBP.234256. Parsons, Gene Parson, came in, saw the band between Byrds Phase One And Two. A bit through "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" and shaky in places. well into Byrds Phase Two, then, with the · ,Now, the 'Byrds are gone. McGuinn split , "There are only a few groups with value, exception of White and Gene Parsons, split. Byrds phase two in order to get the originals who relate to values beyond the sound of · Gram Parsons ('I'm your toy ... I'm your .back: ·Also, in between band sessions music. There are only a handful of those old boy') went over to Hillman and formed (roughly two albums a year), he intends to with th'e power to reach to the edge .of ~he the Flying Burrito Brothers; John York work solo. world and touch, just touch a human spirit wrote "Fido", played bass on the "Ballad ··But everything's fine anyway: Battin has and leave that touch ·to work and activate Of Easy Rider" set and then split; Kevih his first solo album coming out through what it may. The Byrds are one of these Kelly (Hillman's cousin) gave up drums and W.E.A.; Clarence White has reformed his groups and one cannot say why, because if started playing piano for folks like Tim pre-Byrd band, the New Kentucky Colonels it isn't felt, then it isn't to be explained in Buckley; Michael Clarke eventually with ex-Dillard Herb Pedersen and two words." Derek Taylor said that. resurfaced with the Burritos circa "Burrito brothers, .Roland and Eric; Gene Parsons has . " ... What distinguishes the Byrds from all Deluxe" - album No. 2.; Crosby wrote love his first solo on the way, too. Then, of imitators, however, is the purity of their songs for Jefferson Airplane, discovered and ·course, there's news about McGuinn cutting style. More than anyone, they demonstrated produced Joni Mitchell through her "Songs a set with Crosby; Hillman making a solo that traditional white American music ~ · '.For A Seagull" album, formed Crosby, Stills with help from various Byrds, ex-Burritos folk and country/western - can be infu8ed & Nash. and· Stephen Stills/Manassas; Gene Clark With rock without significant alteration. The · Skip Battin ~ame in on bass and the Byrds ·trying another one; ·a new Crosby, Stills & Byrds have never left rock's forefront. Byrd (McGuinn, Clarence· White, Gene Parsons, Nash; a new Crosby, Stills; Nash & Young; bars are scattered throughout any .number Battin) continued thr9ugh three more: the another Crosby/Graham Nash set; a new of rock songs as the group continues three · double "Untitled", "Byrdmaniax" and ·Crosby solo; McGuinn's first ever solo paces ahead of where music's at today; The . "Farther Along" •. album. Keep that circle turning. Byrds plant musical roots. But it's anyone's "And whoever. the Byrds are is just fair game to make them grow." Allee Willis Perspective is the thing with the Byrds. alright". Peter Fonda said that a couple of Perspective, temporal. and perceptual, said that. years ago. ·" ... In their emergence, they signalled the because with the Byrds and, say, the Beatles first beginnings of a thus-far stillborn and Dylan, it is important~ It is very morning. They endure, thank goodness, and important because they are/were beautiful it's actua:lly beginning to look like they and heavy and gentle and lasting. And might see the real dawn. Hopefully, you and because we were all part of what happened I will be as lucky." Jim Bickhart said that. and what is still happening as a result, they ·Anyway, time rea:lly does fly. And it was will be revered. just a short eight years. ago that the Byrds With the Stones, it's always been the came up with "Mr. Tambourine Man"; a spectacle, the circus; with the Moody Blues, short seven years since "Turn, Turn, Turn"; it's been the myth; with T. Rex and Bowie a short six years since "Eight Miles and Cooper, it's been ego. With the Byrds, High" ... Dylan and the Beatles, it's been the music. After that, the Byrds went this way and And music lasts. this way and that way. Evolving, Lasting. Dylan provoked · and made it multiplying; dividili.g and sub-dividing. They obvious that he thought, but the Byrds were cross-bred and bred again: Gene Clark left articulate. They took things and did things, fust and formed Dillard & Clark with made songs, melodies, images from this new Douglas Dillard, cut a couple of fine albums set of values. They made songs go through there and two beautiful solo jobs - one strangely epic changes - epic as in "Ben before Dillard & Clark and one after. Hur"; almost heroic. But with majesty and Nobody heard any of them. stature. With incredible depth and 120 ELECTRONICS TODAY INTERNATIONAL-JULY 1973 .