What do we think of: 'The Notorious Byrd Brothers'?

[Quaco]

Because of the previously stated idea that it's obvious Crosby means two girls and him -- it's hard to see it as anything more than ego-gratification. If Crosby had a filament of androgyny anywhere in him, it would be different. With Slick, who knows what she means? She could be talking about any combination of man, woman, and space alien. She's just more out there in all ways. And more grounded, interestingly enough. She can be very earthy. "Either go away or go all the way in..."

I also think, as I said before, the way Cros sings it on The Byrds version sounds a bit too young and full of himself.

[Sneelock]

I think Crosby being full of himself is like Dean Martin holding a drink while he sang - it's what he did.
I like his stuff. sure, it's of it's time but I like that time!

[Quaco]

True true. Generally I like that about him. This one song, I prefer the other version of. The Four Way Street version actually convinced me that the relationship was a good, sincere idea.

[Quaco]

Grace Slick: When David came over to RCA studios and played it for us, we loved it. Because, you know, I had seen him have successful relationships with two women at the same time, and it worked. The two women liked each other just fine. Most of my best female friends, to this day, I've gotten to know because we had the same boyfriends. So that ethic David was singing about holds true for me too.

Paul Kantner: David was not only surrounded by nubile girls, but by intelligent nubile girls. Anybody could get average nubile girls, with a gram of cocaine. But intelligent nubile girls were another matter. David always had a lot of intelligent friends who happened to be girls. It wasn't that sort of L.A. cocksman approach.

Grace Slick: It seemed like David's house was completely made out of this fantastic wood. And everything inside was either wood or leather -- no plastic. There were a couple ladies running around with hardly any clothes on, all tan and blonde, with perfect figures, serving sliced oranges and stuff. David was talking about this perfect weed he'd just gotten. And he and Paul were playing on these perfect wooden guitars this perfectly wonderful new song David had written.

[Muskrat]

I realize you just moved to Laurel Canyon, Quaco, but I hope you realize that Crosby hasn't lived there in years.

[toomanyhatz]

Hey, anybody want to talk about MUSIC?

[naughty boy]

YEAH!


just not this

[toomanyhatz]

Fair enough. But this is great:

Because of the previously stated idea that it's obvious Crosby means two girls and him -- it's hard to see it as anything more than ego-gratification. If Crosby had a filament of androgyny anywhere in him, it would be different. With Slick, who knows what she means? She could be talking about any combination of man, woman, and space alien. She's just more out there in all ways. And more grounded, interestingly enough. She can be very earthy. "Either go away or go all the way in..."

I also think, as I said before, the way Cros sings it on The Byrds version sounds a bit too young and full of himself.

[toomanyhatz]

I've always thought that song was bullshit when performed by its composer. Mind if I bring my friend Steve?

[Quaco]

I also love/hate that line of the girls pleading with the Cros "What can we do now that we both love you??" Well, he loves 'em too, their minds still growing and all.

[Sneelock]

Nice little thread, actually.
I'd give it a three and a half out of five possible nubile blondes.

[pcqgod]

First and last tracks suck. Everything in between is musical perfection.

[naughty boy]

'Artificial Energy' sucks?!?!

[Matt Wilson]

I've always thought so.

[Quaco]

Wrong then, wrong now.

[Matt Wilson]

Everything is good Jim, there are no bad songs!

Seriously, that album would be vastly improved if you swap out "Artificial Energy" for "Lady Friend" and "Space Odyssey" for "Triad." Of course, McGuinn and co would never have allowed such a Crosby-heavy LP to be released...

[The Modernist]

artificial energy is great, The Byrds go punk, full of compressed, snarly energy. Not just one of The Byrds great tracks, but one of 60s US music's great tracks.

[Quaco]

Agree about "Lady Friend" -- not a great fan of "Triad" -- but then again, the album was great as it was. Anyway, we've had this one before. I think those Byrds albums are great with all their faults. "Mind Gardens" is an insane and great moment on YTY, "The Lear Jet Song" is the perfect way to end FD, and so on.

"Artificial Energy" is not my favorite and I do tend to skip it, but it's good and it allows the album to pick up speed. It's not necessarily worse than "Old John Robertson" in my view. Imagine if they were switched: I think it'd be "OJR" that I skip and not "AE".

"Space Odyssey" is actually a favorite of mine, and I don't skip it unless I'm in a lighter mood. Such a weird amalgam, only in R. McGuinn's brain ...

[Matt Wilson]

artificial energy is great, The Byrds go punk, full of compressed, snarly energy. Not just one of The Byrds great tracks, but one of 60s US music's great tracks.

Punk, really? With all those horns? And the lyric sucks too. A guy is in jail for "killing a queen." He's probably on acid...

[The Modernist]

I love the whole album, but if I had to drop one "Old John Robertson" is the obvious candidate.