The Byrds Album: “Farther Along”

Critical tradition consigns the post-UNTITLED Byrds' albums to the garbage bins, but there's some fine music on this CD. After disowning their previous LP (BYRDMANIAX), the group hastily recorded this follow-up in London to try and salvage their reputations. Trouble was, McGuinn had by-and-large lost interest (the "original Byrds" reunion was looming) and quality control was slipping ("BB Class Road" and "So Fine" are possibly the worst tracks recorded under The Byrds moniker, but the rest of the album ranged from pleasant to very good).

Clarence White, sensing the rush the band were in, botched his London vocal on "Bugler" on purpose so that he could re-do it in LA, overdub some mandolin and sweeten the production at the same time. The results were well worth it - it's the highlight of the CD. Also of note are "Get Down your Line", "Lazy Waters", "Tiffany Queen" and "Precious Kate". I even like the much-savaged "America's Great National Pastime", though you may not!

Bonus tracks are 3 of the 5 songs recorded in '72 by a group on its last legs - McGuinn had started firing everybody and he later re-recorded these tracks for the reunion LP and his first solo album. Pity they couldn't have included all 5, if only to tie up all the loose ends.

This album featured Roger McGuinn, Clarence White, Skip Battin and Gene Clark. It was the last original Byrds album to feature this quartet. The Byrds produced it themselves and recorded it mostly in London, though it was finished in Hollywood. The overall feel of the album is country-rock in its truest sense, though some tracks have more of a country flavor than others.

I particularly like America's great national pastime, a catchy song that pokes fun at consumer materialism. The Byrds also do an excellent cover of the gospel classic Farther along. The opening track, Tiffany queen, shows a Chuck Berry influence. Bugler, a song about ... a road accident, is considered by many to be the highlight of the album. Antique Sandy is an interesting hippie love song.

The three bonus tracks were recorded after the album was completed. Lost my driving wheel was actually a Roger McGuinn solo track intended for an eventual solo album. The other two bonus tracks were recorded by the Byrds - they are Born to rock and roll and Bag full of money.

While this album may not be the best Byrds album, it has much to commend it and should not be overlooked.

While many fans dismass the latter day Byrds, the last recognizable version of the band (McGuinn, White, Gene Parsons, and Battin) were certainly the musically most proficient. Of course, it takes more than musical prowess to make good records, and I have always believed that the early Byrds with Gene Clark had the songs; Gene Clark, now deceased, remains an unfortunately unsung writer. Nonetheless, the Byrds never had cohesiveness until this grouping, which endured longer than the original Byrds could've hoped to. FARTHER ALONG is an enjoyable album, highlighted by Clarence White & Gene Parsons. If only to gain more insight on White's genius as a guitarist, this is worth owning.

Released at the end of 1971 and greeted with critical derision and poor sales, "Farther Along" would be the final all-new Byrds album (unless you count the boring 1973 reunion lp of the original lineup which most people tend to overlook). But it was a wonderful way to go out; this is, in my opinion, easily the greatest Byrds album, with not one dud track. The lineup is the McGuinn-Skip Battin-Gene Parsons-Clarence White powerhouse, and each contribute excellent new songs while turning covers into their own. The great tracks-'Bugler', 'Antique Sandy', 'America's Great National Pastime', 'Get Down Your Line' and 'Tiffany Queen' are all- time Byrds classics, and have generally received little attention. The very finest track, however, is 'Lazy Waters', one of the most beautiful country- rock songs ever made, period. This is one import cd that is more than worth the steep price tag. I would recommend "Farther Along" very highly.

A beautiful album to take down a country road, on a long drive, with the top down, wind in your hair, sun shining, tunes playing. If only the great Byrdsters had stopped with this one, instead of releasing the lamentable reunion album The Byrds (1973). Oh well. Everyone makes mistakes, and Ole Roger made plenty after this last great album by a great American band.