The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man

Byrds in the Belfry - Metamorpho Uses Every Trick!

As all my fans probably know by now, the campaign trail has been very hard on your beloved Seer. First of all, it was that interview on nationwide T.V., you know the one, where I was debating at a townhall and they tried (purposely) to trip me up with my own words. I tell you people, the press in this country is so slanted. And definitely not Metamorpho friendly. I chuckled, I gaffawed, and smiled at the cameras in any given opportunity. You see, it doesn't matter what I say- as long as I look good. I didn't take a course in the advertising industry for nothing you know! Look where it's gotten me thus far. A reknown reviewer on Amazon for free! Hmmmmmmm..... I must see if I can change that soon.

In any event, the press said I had birds in the belfry, which is partially correct. Actually it's Byrds (don't forget the y for the i - most important!). Yes. They flew into my mind with folk-rock harmonies, a 12 string Rickenbacker and, thank God, no other substance which would stress me out! Believe me folks, we must be grateful for small favors.

In any event, now that I have some short time from the campaign, I can finally relate to you this excellent first attempt by the Byrds called "Mr. Tambourine Man". In order to appreciate it fully, you have to tune your mind back to 1965. It was then that Bob Dylan really made his appearance known in the pop-folk-rock arena with the astounding "Like a Rolling Stone". Yes. Everything was changing at this point. America finally had an artist with credibility enough to stand equal to The Beatles. In some ways, even moreso.

So what happens? The Byrds get enamored with the Dylan songs and decide to give a lot of his previous efforts a folk-rock appeal - electric guitars and all, and what we wind up with is a quite considerable classic debut album. What really set it apart was the 12 string guitar sound and those great harmonies. Somehow, it was a different sound and totally unique for the time. Sort of like my bid for President. which, believe me, this country needs now!

Included herein, are generous amount of Dylan's compositions done in only the way the Byrds could do them. A new look. Incredibly pop friendly. Not only do you get "Mr. Tambourine Man" but more new looks at his music such as "Spanish Harlem Incident", "The Bells of Rymney", "All I Really Want to Do" and "Chimes of Freedom". A revelation and all so accessible.

But, added to this, is the incredible artistry of Gene Clark. So many good songs penned by this amazing artist. Listen to "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" (covered by other artists such as Tom Petty), "You Won't Have to Cry", "She Has a Way" and "I Knew I'd Want You". This is very different mid-sixties pop - pleasing and a joy to listen to then, as well as now.

As with anything in the sixties, we were examining more emotions in a love relationship. Yes, those themes are here (along with important Dylan messages), but the thing that stands out, to me, is a magikal energy that runs like a thread throughout all these songs. It is a miraculous debut album, and one that is essential to the pop enthusiast. Lush harmonies, folk-pop chord changes, and relevent, youth oriented concerns in musical form. You just can't get a mid-sixties sound better than this. Take my word. I am Metamorpho, and I have spoken! I expect you all now to flock to the nearest download. You won't be disappointed.

Now, let me get back to the campaign trail. Current polls have your beloved Seer coming in a distant third! This will not do. I will be in Pennsylvania and then hopping over to Ohio tomorrow. Come out and meet me. (And vote for me- even more important!). I need these States to fly into the White House, sort of like a Byrd, you know?

Vote for Me- I'll set you free --

Metamorpho ;)


October 2, 2008

Mr. Tambourine Man -- What A Debut!

What a debut! The Byrds only released two albums and a handful of singles with Gene Clark--until a rather abysmal reunion in the early 1970's--but what a couple of albums they are! "Mr. Tambourine Man," their first release, would of course be hailed as one of the penultimate folk-rock records, with the group so aptly adapting the songs of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger to a radio-friendly audience. Yet, for me, it's not how the group performs the title track, "The Bells of Rhymney," "Spanish Harlem Incident" or even "Chimes of Freedom," but the quality of their original material, the bulk of which was penned by Gene Clark! Clark's amazing "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" has become a rock and roll classic, and "Here Without You" beautifully exemplifies its composer's darker, poetic side. Clark and McGuinn, the team that penned The Turtles' "You Showed Me," would co-write "You Won't Have to Cry" (not to be confused with "You Don't Have to Cry" by Crosby, Stills and Nash) and the lesser known "It's No Use." With the success of their first LP under their belts, the group would appear to offer more of the same with "Turn! Turn! Turn!" but Clark would emerge as an even more powerful force with compositions "Set You Free This Time," "She Don't Care About Time" and the hauntingly brilliant "The World Turns All Around Her!" Lesser known track "If You're Gone" would precede Clark's last songwriting credit on a Byrds recording with "Eight Miles High" on their "Fifth Dimension" LP. With Clark's departure, group members David Crosby and Roger McGuinn would be allowed to spread their wings and soar as celebrities and songwriters in their own right, and Crosby's ultimate departure would likewise permit bassist Chris Hillman to step forward before leaving to form The Flying Burrito Brothers, Souther, Hillman and Furay and the Desert Rose Band, then completing a musical full-circle by again reuniting with Clark and McGuinn for two releases and a brief tour. It having been common practice in the early to mid 1960's for session musicians to play on the company predicted hits, such would be the case with much of "Mr. Tambourine Man," but The Byrds would prove themselves to be competent enough musicians and capable performers that this would not be the case with subsequent releases. I love every line-up that's existed of The Byrds, from Gene Clark to Gram Parsons and John York to Clarence White and Skip Battin, with drummer Gene Parsons himself providing exceptional all-around musicianship and serving as a steadying force while the group forged its way into country-rock after a brief dalliance with psychedlic music. But again coming full-circle, it would be this cornerstone from the folk-rock years and the group's debut that holds the dearest place in my heart and serves as the best starting point for future Byrds fans. May 8, 2008

Must Have

I can't add to what has already been said other than to say that any fan of 60's rock or music must have this one. When I hear this album, I realize just how magical this time period was and how these guys were truly a special gathering of genius much like the Beatles were. The sound just was so unique and new. If just for the song "Feel a Whole Lot Better" you should pick this up. Gene Clark was writing songs way ahead of his time and unfortunately always was a step ahead and misunderstood. I miss these guys. A real Byrds fan can never tire of this music. January 31, 2008

The Byrds sold their songs without even trying--and that's no small feat !!!

Other reviewers note that The Byrds were one of the greatest bands of all time--and they are right. This fine CD gives us a great compilation of twelve of their hits with a generous set of six bonus tracks--awesome!

The track set begins with "Mr. Tambourine Man." The numbers opens with great guitar and percussion; when The Byrds come in this number shines like gold! They sing to perfection and they make this folk ballad an instant hit. Sweet! I predict that you will like "Mr. Tambourine Man" very, very much. "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" continues using the guitars and percussion to bolster the melody; and the band sings this to perfection! "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" features the band's vocals squarely front and center even though the melody remains quite powerful. Moreover, "Spanish Harlem Incident" lets the band sing of a woman their character wants to make his girlfriend. The musical arrangement stuns me with its beauty.

"Here Without You" begins with an awesome musical flourish; and The Byrds deliver this love song with panache, heart and soul. This is truly beautiful music. "All I Really Want To Do" is a song also performed by Bob Dylan; but The Byrds make this number their very own with a sublime musical arrangement. The Byrds sing "All I Want To Do" with such sensitivity they render this ballad a true masterpiece. Wow.

"Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe" has great guitar and tambourine playing as the band harmonizes to perfection; and "We'll Meet Again" sports a folk rock melody that charms me with its beauty. "We'll Meet Again" is an optimistic ballad about a man who reassures his one true love that they will see each other again. Great!

The six bonus tracks give us even more wonderful tunes. "She Has A Way" features The Byrds harmonizing perfectly as they make good use of the guitars and percussion to bolster the number. The alternate version of "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" places the melody a bit further into the background while the vocals are highlighted even more than they are in the released version. Excellent! The single version of "All I Really Want To Do" stands just as strong as the version released by The Byrds--you should like this just as much as the released version.

Finally, the last bonus track, "You And Me," gives us a terrific instrumental number by this wonderful group. They use some great electric guitar to really rock hard and the percussion bolsters the tune as well.

The liner notes contain the original record album liner notes; and we get great photos of the band as well. We even get brief comments about every one of the first twelve songs as well as the recording dates for all the tracks on this CD. Impressive!

The Byrds remain one of the greatest bands of the entire twentieth century. Long after most bands are gone and forgotten, people will remember The Byrds. Their artistry was so ingenious it could never be left to gather dust on a warehouse shelf.

I highly recommend this CD for fans of The Byrds as it contains rarely heard alternate versions of several of their songs; and people who want to hear a great folk rock band would do well to get this CD.

Enjoy!
September 13, 2007

"All I Really Want To Do" is convince you!

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.

"Mr. Tambourine Man" saw its release on June 21, 1965 and in accelerated fashion the rock and roll and folk worlds took note.

The debut from the Byrds may also possess their strongest studio effort. As the title track opens (The first of four Dylan covers), we are treated to the tremendous arrangement that would become an instant classic. Roger McGuinn's twelve-string guitar becomes a calling card for the band. The lyrics sung with passion and beauty become engrained in our minds to this day. "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" (Penned by group member Gene Clark) gave the band an immediate buzz in the blossoming California folk-rock scene. How so? The Jefferson Airplane would actually cover this tune a couple of times in early 66 when playing Vancouver. Dylan reappears (Or at least his song does) for "Spanish Harlem Incident." The composition blends the perfect vocal with the instrumentation that would become recognizable worldwide. The Clark and McGuinn tune "You Won't Have To Cry" pays nice homage to their friends across the ocean. With some Beatlesque sounds the band is already showing their musical diversity. "The Bells Of Rhymney" (Pete Seeger) is so intense I can distinctly remembering playing the song a plethora of times that my first vinyl copy seemed to come with the clicks and pops embedded in the grooves. "All I Really Want To Do" (Dylan once again) is not only superlative for the rendition but believable if the Byrds tried to pass this off as an original. Track ten shows the Byrds had their ears open in all musical circles. Jackie DeShannon wrote the song "Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe." The band does a stellar cover. When you get to the final Dylan tune "Chimes Of Freedom" it is easy to be in awe of the brilliance. Clocking in a shade less than four minutes it is better to be listed as timeless.

Make sure to get the remastered version with six bonus tracks because it will escalate the genius even further.


Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

July 30, 2007

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