

On early albums, the Byrds covered Dylan, Pete Seeger, Porter Wagoner, and Stephen Foster with a jangly clarity that reflected young America’s changing mood and its fantasies of a Pacific Coast utopia.įormer folkies converted by Beatlemania, McGuinn (who was called Jim before changing his name to Roger later in his career), Clark, and Crosby founded the Byrds-initially as the Jet Set and the Beefeaters-in 1964.

The Byrds’ trademark sound-a luminous blend of 12-string electric guitar and madrigal-flavoured vocal harmonies-spiked the Appalachian folk music tradition with the rhythmic vitality of the Beatles and the sunny hedonism of southern California. They introduced Dylan’s songwriting to a new, commercially empowered, teenage pop audience and, in the process, established Los Angeles as the creative hotbed of a new, “mod,” distinctly American style of rock. Tambourine Man,” went to number one in 1965, breaking the British Invasion’s year-long dominance of Top 40 airplay and record sales in the United States. The Byrds’ debut single, a version of Dylan’s “ Mr. September 19, 1973, Yucca Valley, California), and Clarence White (b. November 5, 1946, Winter Haven, Florida-d. 19, 1993, Treasure Island, Florida), Gram Parsons (original name Ingram Cecil Connor III b. December 4, 1942, Los Angeles), Michael Clarke (b. August 14, 1941, Los Angeles, California), Chris Hillman (b. May 24, 1991, Sherman Oaks, California), David Crosby (original name David Van Cortland b.
#Songs by the byrds full
July 13, 1942, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.), Gene Clark (in full Harold Eugene Clark b. The principal members were Roger McGuinn (original name James Joseph McGuinn III b. The Byrds, American band of the 1960s who popularized folk rock, particularly the songs of Bob Dylan, and whose changes in personnel created an extensive family tree of major country rock bands and pop supergroups.
#Songs by the byrds how to

Eight Miles Highĭescribed by Uncut as a “daring ascent into raga-rock, fusing modal jazz, Indian music, and nascent psychedelia,” Eight Miles High is as adventurous as the Byrds ever got.

It wasn’t a major hit when it was released, but with its chewy hook and angelic vocals, it deserved to be. He wrote it, he sang it, and he bought a ton of attention to its door thanks to his subsequent solo success. Originally released as the B Side to All I Really Want to Do, I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better is all about Gene Clark.
