BCB 130 - The Byrds

[Guy E]

It's worth noting that so many around here consider themselves to be Gene Clark nuts and think the band was never the same without him yet very few actually choose either of the first two Byrds LPs as their favorite.

That's true in every Byrds poll and magazine career summary. I think the first two albums sound "dated" to a lot of listeners; people who didn't grow up with those albums find them too narrow/focused.

In an ideal world, Gene never would've left the band - adapting a Brian Wilson-like role of stay-at-home songwriter while the others toured the globe. The band (and McGuinn, especially - though Crosby comes to mind too) could've been more supportive of Gene's idiocyncrasies thus allowing him to remain a Byrd. Imagine how good Younger Than Yesterday would've been with about four Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers songs on it. Or Notorious Byrd Bros with some Fantasic Expedition Of... cuts. Hell, those songs would've benefited Sweetheart as well.

Agreed. The fact that he came back into the fold for a few weeks during the Notorious sessions is interesting. He appeared with the Crosbyless group on TV during that short reunion and did a few concerts too.

[WG Kaspar]

I had heard of them, but not actually heard anything by them. In Greece they are virtually unknown, which is strange considering the sound matches the weather perfectly. Anyway I didn't know what to expect when I first got the first 3 albums, but boy did I find the near perfect band. Especially Mr Tambourine Man, just the perfect summer album. I'm not gonna stand too much on the harmonies although they are absolutely key in their sound, nor even in Clarke's songwritting ability, it's McGuinn's Rickenbauer that is the absolute key for me, and why even after Clarke departed they kept on producing brilliant stuff. I'm not gonna hide that Younger Than Yesterday is my favorite and since recently I started coming round to liking My Mind Gardens that makes it a near perfect album for me. And Lady Friend eh? And Jesus is Just Alright? Fuckin' 'ell they were amazing.

[The Modernist]

Re The Croz:

I hate that fucking poncho of his, or whatever it is.

I love his cape. I've been searching for similar one for myself for absolutely years!

[Mike Boom]

Re The Croz:

I hate that fucking poncho of his, or whatever it is.

I love his cape. I've been searching for similar one for myself for absolutely years!

He apparently had a little pocket sewn into it on the inside where he kept his weed.

[Goat Boy]

I've wanted a cape for years

[Snarfyguy]

You guys disgust me.

[Guy E]

Re The Croz:

I hate that fucking poncho of his, or whatever it is.

I love his cape. I've been searching for similar one for myself for absolutely years!

The poncho/cape doesn't make my Top Ten list of Crosby The Douche factoids, but it was a pompous hipster uniform.

In recent years, Crosby has been contrite about some of his excesses and arrogance; I try to accept that at face value. I was happy to see that the first Graham Nash David Crosby duo album was tipped as a 5-star LP in the recent CSN&Y issue of MOJO. It's a very good album.

[Bent Fabric]

Um..has anyone seen my cape?

[BARON CORNY DOG]

A full length cape? Fine.
A "cape" that is readily mistaken for a poncho? Fuck off, Crosby.

[Quaco]

That cape is on display presently at the Grammy Museum in L.A. as part of a Laurel Canyon exhibition. I can't wait to see the thing!

[clive gash]

And smell it!

[Guy E]

Um..has anyone seen my cape?

Do you think Croz inspired Van? I think he was going for the "OUCH-oh" look.

[Quaco]

And smell it!

And rifle through the pockets!

[Matt Wilson]

You guys talkin' shit about ponchos?

[pcqgod]

Their first five albums are among the best by any rock artist.

I like 'Sweetheart' but it lacks something that Gram was better able to capture with the FBB's. I guess I think it just sounds a bit too clean and polite.

[fange]

I saw this bio by the Cros on a bookshelf today, but was wasn't sure whether to splash on it.


'Since Then'

Anybody read it, or heard whether it's worth grabbing?

[pcqgod]

preservation bump.

[Graham Murakami]

I saw this bio by the Cros on a bookshelf today, but was wasn't sure whether to splash on it.


'Since Then'

Anybody read it, or heard whether it's worth grabbing?

Did anybody read it? I presume it is covers his recent history in jail and turkey basting KD Lang.

I read Long Time Gone by the Crosby and Gottlieb about twenty years ago and it was tremendous. It made the Laurel Canyon days seem idyllic and I have used his explanation of the difference between crack and cocaine in my A level Chemistry classes many times as it can teach them a lot about amines, structure and bonding.

[Ranking Ted]

Drug Store Truck Drivin Man flipped up on shuffle earlier today. not a song I’d given too much time to - and I dug the hell out of it. As WGK says, it’s the sound, isn’t it? Every two or three years, I just go on a mammoth Byrds session, where only they will do - that crystalline, plangent Rickenbacker thing with the glorious harmonising and the stacks of great songs. Really, they were utterly ace.

[Charlie O.]

I saw this bio by the Cros on a bookshelf today, but was wasn't sure whether to splash on it.


'Since Then'

Anybody read it, or heard whether it's worth grabbing?

Did anybody read it? I presume it is covers his recent history in jail and turkey basting KD Lang.

I read Long Time Gone by the Crosby and Gottlieb about twenty years ago and it was tremendous.

Yeah. I wouldn't recommend Since Then to anyone who hasn't already read the first book, and I wouldn't call it a "must read" even for those who have, but it's reasonably enjoyable.