

The Byrds were a band defined by more then their singles. Perhaps even shine some sunlight on those valuable records that don’t get the attention they deserve. This is our not-so-humble attempt to refocus the appreciation of the Byrds music onto the totality of their output. So let’s jump into the Vinyl Dreamscape’s Top 10 Byrds Albums.

Every thoughtful collection of Byrds music should include this is special live document. Fillmore 69 finds a band moving beyond the limitation of their hit-machine years. Gone is the jingle-jangle of their signature sound. Focusing on material mostly from the later-half of their career. Here the Byrds demonstrate their later country-influenced sound with guitar legend Clarance White.

Nothing demonstrates this fact better than the officially released, Live At The Filmore – February 1969 performance. While that’s somewhat helpful when viewing the music through a certain fan lens, it’s more important to listen to the Byrds discography as a singluar unit a twisting and turning creative juggernaut that continuously produced great music right up until their final collaborations.Īnd one final, often forgotten, point about the Byrds in addition to their studio work, The Byrds remained a potent live force throughout their many changing members and journeys. 3) And the atmospheric country-rock vibes of Sweetheart of the Rodeo. It’s tempting to segment a band with such a vast tenture into distinct periods to investigate and study 1) The early jangle pop of Mr. The Byrds musical influence is undeniable. Defining the jangle-guitar sound that would soon be adopted by many individual bands, as well as entire genres and sub-genres of music from 80s & 90s power-pop like the Posies or Jellyfish to less obvious groups like Blue Oyster Cult and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. And the range of their influence went deep into popular music in the decades ahead. As important as any band to emerge from the turbulence of the late 60s. Many of their albums are complete artistic statements. But what truly set the band apart was the great songs and detailed production that the band executed in the studio. Other bands may have rocked harder or played with greater intensity but few were able to touch the Byrds voyage into greatness. For better or worse, that’s the only proper way to say it. The Byrds music and their sound is completely unique and indeed, uniquely American. Mingling the raw guitar-jangle of a proper garage-rock with a flaux-cosmic country. The music of Roger McGuinn and Company is a highlight of 1960s rock music. So we have endeavored to create a more thoughtful list for your consideration. Their talents, creativity and art deserve at least as much consideration as any experimental music or the vast catalog of Funkadelic. But a proper study of the Byrds discography shouldn’t be approached with such a lighthearted or off-handed approach. Reducing the complexities of a bands catalog to a quick catch-phrase that everyone can just parrot. And why not? They simplify the thinking process significantly. America’s answer to the Rolling Stones? Most important rock music of the 1960s? Music writers seem to enjoy these type of clichés.
