The Byrds Album: “The Very Best Of”

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Sandy

This must be among the "Big 3" of mid-late 1960's USA Rock bands (along with the Jefferson Airplane and the Beach Boys). And this album is close to perfect. It includes all their best-known "hits"; like Tambourine Man, Turn Turn Turn, Eight Miles High; 5-D; and the others..Plus it extends into the later years/albums with some country rock tunes, and less known songs from less known later albums. "Chestnut Mare", with its other-worldly lyrics interspersed with talk and singing, for a total of about 25 songs, about 20 of which are timeless keepers. Plus, the sound (at least in my car stereo) is great a well; finally the enclosed notes tell a great story!

This is my favorite Byrds compilation and probably the best introduction for new fans. The sound quality is dazzling. The selections are impeccable and include some personal favorites that almost never appear on compilations -- "I See You" and "Change Is Now." The program very nicely traces this band's fantastic journey from folk rock beginnings [Mr. Tamourine Man/Turn! Turn! Turn!] to experiments with jazz/raga rock [Eight Miles High/I See You], psychedelic [5D, Change Is Now], to what Gram Parsons called "Cosmic American Music" [You Ain't Goin' Nowhere/Hickory Wind/Chestnut Mare].

I like that the programming is "approximately" but not strictly chronological. Johnny Rogan, my favorite Byrds writer, uses the liner notes to share memories of how he first discovered the group.

"Baby Blue" is the "Easy Rider" version. "Goin' Back" is the alternate take with David Crosby that appears as a bonus track on "Notorious Byrd Brothers," but beautifully remixed.

Anyone new to the Byrds can take a crash course here. It is also a very good listening album and beautiful retrospective.

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Others:

The 2-CD set "The Essential Byrds" is also excellent.

And you won't go wrong with the other compilation with the same title as this.

http://www.amazon.com/Preflyte-Sessions-Byrds/dp/B00005UCG5/ref=sr_1_29?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1346255563&sr=1-29&keywords=the+byrds