Another great track by The Byrds is "Eight Miles High". The late David Crosby wrote it and sings the lead. Very trippy. One of the best psychedelic rock songs ever written.
@jamesdignanmusic2765 You are missing the often forgotten and now dismissed Peter, Paul , and Mary. They were active participants in the equal rights movement and were probably only #2 overall to Dylan, although they actually preceeded him in popularity
The beautiful sound of the guitar is the Rickenbacker 12 string played so well by Roger McGuinn. In my opinion this is one of the finest singles of the entire 60s decade.
A Byrds song that doesn't get much play, but has a great upbeat sound for an unpleasant theme, is ""I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better". Tom Petty covered it on "Full Moon Fever''.
The interesting thing about the harmonies is that Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark are both singing the melody line, while David Crosby is all over the place with his harmonies, making it sound more like three-part harmony than two-part. On the chorus, all three are mostly singing in unison. The Byrds were ex-folkies, so they took their inspiration from Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, as well as from The Beatles.
What a mad time it was, 1965, with bands all listening to each other and bouncing their innovations around. Creation was never so joyous. I was 17 then when I saw them at the Fairfield Hall in Croydon.
That was Jim (Roger) McGuinn on 12-string lead guitar and lead vocals. David Crosby who is the best known by the general public today, because of CSN and CSN&Y, plays rhythm guitar and does harmonies. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on December 4, 1965 (assuming Wikipedia is accurate).
They were also hugely influenced by The Beatles. By early 1964, McGuinn had become enamored with the music of the Beatles, and had begun to intersperse his solo folk repertoire with acoustic versions of Beatles' songs. While performing at the Troubadour folk club in Los Angeles, McGuinn was approached by fellow Beatles fan Gene Clark, and the pair soon formed a Peter and Gordon-style duo, playing Beatles' covers, Beatlesque renditions of traditional folk songs. Inspired by the Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night, the band decided to equip themselves with similar instruments to the Fab Four: a Rickenbacker twelve-string guitar for McGuinn, a Ludwig drum kit for Clarke, and a Gretsch Tennessean guitar for Clark
Should be noted that David Crosby was in this band, singing backup on this track. He later went on to form the super group Crosby Stills Nash (Young). He recently passed away
Deep, profound wisdom in the Bible! Appreciate you pointing out that this was an anti war song. There is a proper time for war, but Vietnam didn’t seem to be a wise one at the time. Grateful there’s been a lot of healing between Vietnam & the U.S. Haven’t enjoyed this one, this much, since the 70’s. Thank you!
Oh wow, The Byrds! Ringing guitars weaving around melodies, soaring vocal harmonies, rich rhythms...soooo good on the ears. "Bells of Rhymney" is a beautiful song with weaponized harmonies, and their "Chimes of Freedom" is one of the best Dylan covers ever. I can't wait for you to react to more Byrds.
People rarely mention the Bells of Rhymney and I adore it. I remember as a little girl of about 5 begging my Dad to play it over and over on the record player.
Jim McGuinn's twelve string Rik hit me like a sledgehammer when I first heard it,beautiful sound,amazing vocals,stunning song. My favourite band from Mr Tambourine Man to Farther Along,a privilege to have grown up with them,superb!😎😎
I appreciate how you break down the lyrics and interpret them without constantly pausing. You pause just enough to make sense of what's being heard, still letting us enjoy the music.😊
Really, Syed, if you want a band closely associated with Dylan, you need to check out The Band. They were the backup band for Bob Dylan when he went electric. They are one of the most talented bands and compelling songwriters
Roger Mcguinn was a genius guitar player, composer, and arranger. You can her how much influence he had on Tom Petty and others that came after the Byrds. The song "Feel A Whole Lot Better" is the greatest break-up song ever written, simply because of the genius juxtaposition between the happy music and cutting lyris. You should check it out. Cheers!
This song somewhat helped me through a hard time in late 2022. I'm not sure it _really_ helped, but I listened to it a lot during that time. The guitar on quite a few Byrds songs (or all of them from what I've heard) is a 12 string, which has the strings in courses of 2, 1 an octave higher than the other. When playing lead, it gives the guitar a "jangly" sound. The top 2 courses are tuned in unison, rather than octaves, so playing 1 course plays the same note twice at once, but since the strings are plucked at very slightly different times, they're slightly out of phase, making for a ringing effect.
The great lead guitar work is Roger McGuinn on a twelve string Rickenbacker. The harmonies are impeccable. They did 78 takes over five days at Columbia Studios in NYC and finally settled on this one. Bob Dylan was quite a fan of the Byrds. In the liner notes on the back of one of their first albums he wrote "The Byrds can do things even The Byrds don't know they can do". That's pretty high praise in my book!
It was The Byrds who started the Folk Rock movement. They were all from folk backgrounds/groups, this being the first foray into rock music for each. The falsetto you hear is that of David Crosby, who just passed away weeks ago.
Not. To mention Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, universally recognized as the first coming of Country Rock..... that was due to Hillman’s influence for the most part, beginning with the first, & despite a long storied career afterwards, still his best in my book, recorded country song, Time Between, with Clarence White making his first appearance on a Byrds record.
@@raymeedc Time Between was 2 albums before Sweetheart. It was on "Younger Than Yesterday," followed by "The Notorious Byrd Brothers," then came "Sweetheart of the Rodeo."
More Byrds please. Known as the American Beatles. Too much to say about this band. "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better", "Eight Miles High", "Mr Spaceman", "Wasn't Born To Follow", "My Back Pages" (a Dylan song), among many.
The Byrds' music has always featured that delightfully jangly 12 string guitar sound. Their (Untitled) double LP from 1970 is one of my all time favorites. 1 live disc, 1 studio (with the haunting Chestnut Mare,) both give many opportunities for the late, great Clarence White to shine on lead guitar. I cannot recommend it too highly.
@@marymargaretmoore9034 Yes, I've loved that sound since the first time I heard Mr. Tambourine Man on my little transistor radio, many, many moons ago.
The Byrds' two trademarks were the 12-string guitar and the harmonies. The 12-string is responsible for that opening and has a lovely chiming sound (my "weapon of choice" is the 12-string, largely because of the Byrds). You should also check out some of their original songs (maybe "She Don't Care About Time" or "The World Turns All Around Her"). The Byrds were pioneers not just with this sound, but later on they included country music in their sound, more or less inventing what would later become known as alt country.
Pete Seeger is an extremely influential artist. A social activist and Folk singer, he performed well into his nineties, and marched with both Occupy Wall Street at 92 and the Young Communist League in 1936 (at 17). He was a classic liberal activist in the best tradition. His influence goes way beyond music, but he was sure a big one there as well. A legend. THANK YOU!!!
P.S. - They were also rightly credited with starting the Country Rick movement a couple of years down the road..... in other words, a very important/influential group. ✅
The guitar line and the twang of that unique guitar is a 12 string Rickenbacker, that Roger McGuinn was influenced to buy, by hearing George Harrison’s 12 string Rickenbacker he used with The Beatles. This song is on my playlist forever. Great tune. You should also listen to “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better” by The Byrds.
The Book of Ecclesiastes has historically been attributed to King Solomon, David's son. He was considered one of the wisest men who ever lived, so your observation that the song is imparting wisdom is spot on. He wrote the book during a turbulent time in his life. Ecclesiastes opens with Solomon calling everything he had ever accomplished, including the building of a great temple, "vanity". He said he hated his life because he felt that he hadn't really accomplished much. By the third chapter, Solomon has come back to himself a bit and, after the chapters that make up this song, he writes (Chapter 3 verse 11) "He has made every thing beautiful in its time." This is one of the most encouraging passages of Scripture I've ever read. It's telling us to trust God's timing. Thank you for your reaction to this great song!
The Byrds are credited for writing the first psychedelic song, "Eight Miles High" and is referenced in a number of songs. The biggest being American Pie.
The "hopeful" sound comes from the jangle and the jangle comes from the 12-string Rickenbacker guitar and works perfect with these harmonies -- the Byrds signature sound. My favorite of their Dylan covers is "My Back Pages" --- I highly recommend it.
I love how the music just stops after "A time for peace, I swear it's not too late." That small pause adds so much emphasis to that line and gives you a brief second to ponder it before they go back into the chorus. I love the way that you interpret music. I've been listening to these songs for 50+ years and you often offer a completely fresh interpretation to the lyrics or the music that I hadn't considered before.
I think you nailed what the guitar sound was meant to conveyed. It's so crisp and memorable. I think you'll like the Byrd's more psychedelic music too as well as their many Dylan covers. Two folkish songs by them are "Goin Back" and "Chestnut Mare".
The Byrds have a very deep catalog of excellent, first-rate music...including, but not limited to 5D, Chimes of Freedom, The Bells of Rhymney, Lay Down Your Weary Tune, Nothing Was Delivered, Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man, From A Distance, My Back Pages, Goin' Back, Wasn't Born to Follow, You Ain't Going Nowhere.
I was a teenager, 15 in 1968, when we were swamped in so many great pop songs, this being one of the best. We were so lucky being blessed with so many varied classic songs by comparison, from what I occasionally hear, to this period.
@@richardjacobs7632 Yes, I know each generation have their own period of their own music, however, that 1960s period was where so many musicians were building upon what came before them from the mid 1950s into the early 1960s, and were experimenting with various combinations of musicians and ways to write and record songs, of which many have lasted the test of time and so many young people enjoy hearing them. We were so lucky to experience that at our young impressionable age. 👍😁
lol, I learned the cha-cha (dance) to this in 1968 in 6th grade...lol....as you said right away, the music was uplifting, and during that time what with the Viet Nam conflict going on, it was much needed...so glad you reacted to this!
Early Byrds, McGuinn, Crosby et al, watched The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, and decided that was what they wanted to be. McGuinn was already very accomplished session quality guitar player from a very young age. Went out and got a 12-string like Harrison's. Crosby described going out of the cinema and spinning around a street lamp and knowing what they wanted to be and do. Byrds, in turn, influenced Beatles and the Rubber Soul LP. You're right about Dylan and the Bible: he has said that all his music draws on Bible, not just the Christian period from Slow Train Coming. Years ago, I learned New Testament Greek and Hebrew to get behind what I thought was, and proved to be, superficial bad thinking by so many Christians who seemed so sure in their unexamined ignorance. Realised the Bible was, actually, wider, deeper, far more interesting than what they had indicated!
It's funny, I have known this song since childhood and I do remember actually reading these Bible verses as a kid, but as an older musician now listening to this, I think what significantly adds to the impact of that chorus is them playing around with the time signature. It's not cutting-edge prog-rock but it is a tiny step in that direction for sure. The sequence of bars in the chorus goes like this: 4/4 6/4 4/4 6/4 4/4 4/4 4/4 4/4 And then it's back to straight beat for everything else. Also, I definitely noticed how much you love Bob Dylan, and if that is the case, you really need to check out Pete Seeger and in particular Woody Guthrie, whom Bob Dylan absolutely idolized.
A jangle/psychedelia/folk classic. Picked up again by the post punk generation 20 years later. Jangle pop, Paisley Underground, a lot of indie: So many bands were inspired by the Byrds. Kind of saved the decade for me!
The sound you're talking about is a 12-string guitar which they were famous for another song that they covered that was written by Dylan was The Times They are changing you should react to!
When I was a kid I always heard this song on the radio request concert along with BD's Mr. Tambourine Man. The next and last US hit was the fantastic slightly psychedelic Eight Miles Hight 3:35 1966(!), which they played on Fillmore East 9/23/1970 in a 9:53-version. The official video shows what influence they had on later (Westcost) bands - a must! I know a more rocking 10'-version of the NL band Golden Earring from their live album 1977. They had two big world hits in the USA too: Radar Love 1973 (the trucker anthem) and Twilight Zone;✌once not a US or Uk group.
Great video Syed, the by rds are great. Gene clark's album No Other, is something that is definetely worth checking out, his solo work is great and really different from the work with the byrds. It would be really fun if you did a tier list but including all the artists you have heard. Maybe narrow it down or just mention/rank the artists that you have enjoyed the most through all suggestions.
Love you sussing the Byrds! Have you learned about Laurel Canyon and it's influence on music and the industry. Many artists lived there, sharing, blending.
For Whom the Bell Tolls was a poem by John Donne in 17th century England. Hemingway used the phrase as a book title. check out John Donne - that poem, and Newfoundland (while the island off Canada was newly known to England, it's a metaphor), among others
Dylan spoke about his time with Rodger McGuinn on Rolling Thunder Review. Mcquinn was a techie even then. Musicians accused him of bugging their rooms - Dylan said "I can't say he did but then I can't say he didn't". Haha, typical Dylan...gotta love him. (Dylan & McGuinn must have had a spat at one time, Bob makes a negative lyric referencing Byrd's song The Chestnut Mare, can't recall it atm tho :)
Great song I remember it like yesterday. You will really like this..... This song should be played at every wedding, HS graduation dedications, valentines day.....John Zov - "I Care About You" Live.... My friend since 1976. He plays any instrument. Most talented musician I know. On my channel.
That guitar sound?......My Mother Dorothy Jean Tandle…“Dotty” worked at Electro-Strings Rickenbacker Guitars “RIC” in early 1964. She did the work on the Beatles guitars. George’s 360-12... John's 325 -6 string (first with five knobs) John’s 325-12 (first ever)…. Paul’s Left handed 4001.…Ten years later…..In the 1974, I worked for “Fender Musical Instruments” in Fullerton California. I made two Fender Rhodes Electric Pianos for John Lennon/Apple Studios. The one used on “Walls and Bridges” “Well if they’re gonna send one, send two cause I’d like one as well” John Lennon ordering a Fender Rhodes Electric Piano at the Apple studios. (Elton John recorded “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” with the same piano) My mother and myself are the only mother/son that both built an instrument for John Lennon. My mother made guitars for many famous Rockers, including the red guitar that was smashed by Peter Townsend of the WHO and is in the Rock HOF. Chris Squire, Roger Waters, Paul McCartney (left-handed 1964 4001S FG Rickenbacker bass) , John Entwistle, George Harrison’s 12 String. Roger McGuinn 12 string and many others. I have built pianos for “You name it” just about everyone IE: “Pink Floyd” on “Dark Side Of The Moon” It is our little contribution to Classic Rock. I’m very proud of that fact.
Great comments and feelling by you for this song. I always loved the bass and drums on this one - I'm pretty sure that they were played by the Wrecking Crew's Carol Kaye and Hal Blaine.
the Rickenbacker 12 string electric guitar, first became prominent when George Harrison bought one in the states and started using it on Beatles tracks...the Roger McGuin and the Byrds noticed it before they became "the Byrds" and started using it prominently in their music, as well as long hair lol, this creating the Byrds trademark sound. Credit to George Harrison for accidentally influencing the sound of the Byrds. And probably their name...Beatles were first, everyone else started naming their band after animals and insects hahhaha. except the Rollng Stones...
The Mount Rushmore of American folk music, or music period for that matter, starts with Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan and I'll throw in the Carter family collectively as the fourth head on the mountain.
Good to hear how much you like the Byrds, I thought you maybe wouldn't be keen, given your lukewarm reaction to the early Beatles, but yeah, they have a lovely upbeat jangly sound, that grabbed me the first time I heard the Byrds too.
those jangly, chiming 12-string guitars served this song well, besides being part of the byrds' signature sound. it would influence many other bands, especially tom petty & the heartbreakers (my favourite and check out "american girl" and "the waiting" paticularly). your musical analysis is quite insightful and i appreciate that. the byrds were a bit before my time but their ethereal sound is timeless to me.
For more 12-string virtuosity try the Byrds "It Won't Be Wrong." It opens with unforgettable guitar hook. It's probably a coincidence but your channel name seems to be a phonetic shuffling of "sidewinder", a small American southwestern rattlesnake (with a distinction sideways gait) that punches above its weight as a predator.
Don't forget that in the 60s, the US had the Viet-Nam war, civil rights, the threat of total nuclear war, were going full throttle at this time. Plenty of social unrest. The times were a changing, hence Dylan, The Beatles etc. People were looking for answers.
Bob Dylan is a great songwriter and poet but he never sung his songs better than almost anyone. He’s a terrible singer. I say that as a fan who has seen him play live.
@fayesouthall6604 I wouldn't say he's a terrible singer, he just sings the way he sings. He has a unique voice and doesn't always try to sound good, but he can sound good when he wants to.
Now you need to listen to some Pete Seeger! Check out "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" and "If I Had a Hammer." Pete was a pillar of the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War. Another song with a biblical theme is "Morning Has Broken," which was written in 1931 as a Christian hymn but popularized when Cat Stevens covered it in 1971. Ironically, Stevens is now a Muslim and calls himself Yusuf.
Pete Seeger should be featured. He was a brilliant singer/ folk ethnologist/ banjo player/ social Justice activist. He refused to rat out his pals to the fascist Committee on Unamerican Activities in the 50’s. He got blacklisted for decades. Then he and the Smothers Brothers got shut down for singing an anti Vietnam War protest song on their show. These lyrics are directly from The Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible.
Yeah, as good a cover as you will ever hear, they made that song their own. Try Eight Miles High next, a psychedelic classic. When you do, I'll be watching. :-) Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎸🎶
Here's another fantastic tune from The Byrds, featured in the Counter Culture classic film, EASY RIDER, called "Wasn't Born to Follow. ruclips.net/video/_hftlEpHYh0/видео.html
Another great track by The Byrds is "Eight Miles High". The late David Crosby wrote it and sings the lead. Very trippy. One of the best psychedelic rock songs ever written.
Fantastic song
Eight Miles High was primarily written by Gene Clark with Crosby and McGuinn adding bits to it.
Love that one.
Eight Miles High has been credited as being the first psychedelic record, which created a new genre.
here in Canada it was 11.5 kilometers high, which ruined the poetic tempo.
Pete Seeger is up there with Woodie Guthrie, an absolute legend of folk music. Both inspired Dylan and many others.
Amen.
Add Tom Paxton and Dave Van Ronk to those two and you've got the big four of American folk.
Thank you!
@jamesdignanmusic2765
You are missing the often forgotten and now dismissed Peter, Paul , and Mary. They were active participants in the equal rights movement and were probably only #2 overall to Dylan, although they actually preceeded him in popularity
@@badplay156 Not really forgetting them, but I'd place them slightly behind those four, along with the likes of the Kingston Trio and Joan Baez.
The last line, A time for peace I swear it’s not to late, was added to the song.
So great to emphasize peace in that last verse in 1965. Makes that verse stick into your mind!
"The last line... was added to the song." So was every other line. WTF LOL
@@theapocalyptist he should have said they were added to the Bible phrases.
The beautiful sound of the guitar is the Rickenbacker 12 string played so well by Roger McGuinn. In my opinion this is one of the finest singles of the entire 60s decade.
I've always been amazed more bands don't make use of 12 string guitars, they sound so lovely.
Oh my gosh!!! I had this song played at my wedding,that was 48 years ago! Timeless classic! Thank you Syed for bring back memories!!!!
A Byrds song that doesn't get much play, but has a great upbeat sound for an unpleasant theme, is ""I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better". Tom Petty covered it on "Full Moon Fever''.
That's a fantastic song!
It's a wonderful song!
Dusty - Agreed! Great song written and sung by the never forgotten, multi-talented Gene Clark.
I can't think of another song that has a better 1960's vibe❤
The interesting thing about the harmonies is that Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark are both singing the melody line, while David Crosby is all over the place with his harmonies, making it sound more like three-part harmony than two-part. On the chorus, all three are mostly singing in unison. The Byrds were ex-folkies, so they took their inspiration from Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, as well as from The Beatles.
What a mad time it was, 1965, with bands all listening to each other and bouncing their innovations around. Creation was never so joyous. I was 17 then when I saw them at the Fairfield Hall in Croydon.
That was Jim (Roger) McGuinn on 12-string lead guitar and lead vocals. David Crosby who is the best known by the general public today, because of CSN and CSN&Y, plays rhythm guitar and does harmonies. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on December 4, 1965 (assuming Wikipedia is accurate).
They were also hugely influenced by The Beatles. By early 1964, McGuinn had become enamored with the music of the Beatles, and had begun to intersperse his solo folk repertoire with acoustic versions of Beatles' songs. While performing at the Troubadour folk club in Los Angeles, McGuinn was approached by fellow Beatles fan Gene Clark, and the pair soon formed a Peter and Gordon-style duo, playing Beatles' covers, Beatlesque renditions of traditional folk songs.
Inspired by the Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night, the band decided to equip themselves with similar instruments to the Fab Four: a Rickenbacker twelve-string guitar for McGuinn, a Ludwig drum kit for Clarke, and a Gretsch Tennessean guitar for Clark
And in turn, they influenced the Beatles - songs like "If I needed someone" are definitely Byrds-inspired.
@@jamesdignanmusic2765 yes- If I Needed Someone was inspired by the Byrds’ and Pete Seeger’s The Bells of Rhymney”.
Should be noted that David Crosby was in this band, singing backup on this track. He later went on to form the super group Crosby Stills Nash (Young). He recently passed away
Stills
@@w.geoffreyspaulding6588 That's such an embarrassing mistake I had to correct it. Thanks!
Deep, profound wisdom in the Bible! Appreciate you pointing out that this was an anti war song. There is a proper time for war, but Vietnam didn’t seem to be a wise one at the time. Grateful there’s been a lot of healing between Vietnam & the U.S. Haven’t enjoyed this one, this much, since the 70’s. Thank you!
The main writer of "Eight Miles High" was Gene Clark. Crosby and McGuinn were co-writers.
Oh wow, The Byrds! Ringing guitars weaving around melodies, soaring vocal harmonies, rich rhythms...soooo good on the ears. "Bells of Rhymney" is a beautiful song with weaponized harmonies, and their "Chimes of Freedom" is one of the best Dylan covers ever. I can't wait for you to react to more Byrds.
Absolutely, " Chimes of Freedom"
Action, reaction.
People rarely mention the Bells of Rhymney and I adore it. I remember as a little girl of about 5 begging my Dad to play it over and over on the record player.
Jim McGuinn's twelve string Rik hit me like a sledgehammer when I first heard it,beautiful sound,amazing vocals,stunning song.
My favourite band from Mr Tambourine Man to Farther Along,a privilege to have grown up with them,superb!😎😎
You can hear Roger McGuinn, the guitarist, playing along with Bob Dylan on "Knockin on Heaven's Door".
The Byrds ramped up demand for electric 12-string guitars.
I knew fellow teenagers who bought 12-strings because of this album.
I appreciate how you break down the lyrics and interpret them without constantly pausing. You pause just enough to make sense of what's being heard, still letting us enjoy the music.😊
Really, Syed, if you want a band closely associated with Dylan, you need to check out The Band. They were the backup band for Bob Dylan when he went electric. They are one of the most talented bands and compelling songwriters
Roger Mcguinn was a genius guitar player, composer, and arranger. You can her how much influence he had on Tom Petty and others that came after the Byrds. The song "Feel A Whole Lot Better" is the greatest break-up song ever written, simply because of the genius juxtaposition between the happy music and cutting lyris. You should check it out. Cheers!
In the U.S., it holds the distinction of being the #1 song (on Billboard?) with the oldest lyrics. :)
This song somewhat helped me through a hard time in late 2022. I'm not sure it _really_ helped, but I listened to it a lot during that time.
The guitar on quite a few Byrds songs (or all of them from what I've heard) is a 12 string, which has the strings in courses of 2, 1 an octave higher than the other. When playing lead, it gives the guitar a "jangly" sound. The top 2 courses are tuned in unison, rather than octaves, so playing 1 course plays the same note twice at once, but since the strings are plucked at very slightly different times, they're slightly out of phase, making for a ringing effect.
Nothing like Roger McGuinn's iconic 12-string Rickenbacker. Classic.
He had a very special musical signature!
Your world turns in every way. Change is the constant and accepting that brings peace of mind.
The great lead guitar work is Roger McGuinn on a twelve string Rickenbacker. The harmonies are impeccable. They did 78 takes over five days at Columbia Studios in NYC and finally settled on this one. Bob Dylan was quite a fan of the Byrds. In the liner notes on the back of one of their first albums he wrote "The Byrds can do things even The Byrds don't know they can do". That's pretty high praise in my book!
The 12-string electric guitar of Roger McGuinn is absolutely the key to the Byrds' sound. That and the vocal harmonies.
always loved songs with a 12 string electric guitar..... try a song called "You Were On My Mind" by the We Five
It was The Byrds who started the Folk Rock movement. They were all from folk backgrounds/groups, this being the first foray into rock music for each. The falsetto you hear is that of David Crosby, who just passed away weeks ago.
Yes that's true. They also started the psychedelic genre with Eight Miles High. What an incredible legacy!
Not. To mention Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, universally recognized as the first coming of Country Rock..... that was due to Hillman’s influence for the most part, beginning with the first, & despite a long storied career afterwards, still his best in my book, recorded country song, Time Between, with Clarence White making his first appearance on a Byrds record.
Forgot to mention that Time Between was on the album before Sweetheart, signaling, along with another song on that album, what was coming.
@@raymeedc Wow, that's amazing.
@@raymeedc Time Between was 2 albums before Sweetheart. It was on "Younger Than Yesterday," followed by "The Notorious Byrd Brothers," then came "Sweetheart of the Rodeo."
More Byrds please. Known as the American Beatles. Too much to say about this band. "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better", "Eight Miles High", "Mr Spaceman", "Wasn't Born To Follow", "My Back Pages" (a Dylan song), among many.
"the American Beatles" I love the utter crap people make up in all the Whitesplaining that goes on in the comments of these reaction videos. LOL
@@theapocalyptist what the fuck are you jabbering about?
The Byrds' music has always featured that delightfully jangly 12 string guitar sound. Their (Untitled) double LP from 1970 is one of my all time favorites. 1 live disc, 1 studio (with the haunting Chestnut Mare,) both give many opportunities for the late, great Clarence White to shine on lead guitar. I cannot recommend it too highly.
Roger McGuinn's Rickenbacker guitar
@@marymargaretmoore9034 Yes, I've loved that sound since the first time I heard Mr. Tambourine Man on my little transistor radio, many, many moons ago.
@@davidblackburn3396 I had one too.
The Byrds' two trademarks were the 12-string guitar and the harmonies. The 12-string is responsible for that opening and has a lovely chiming sound (my "weapon of choice" is the 12-string, largely because of the Byrds). You should also check out some of their original songs (maybe "She Don't Care About Time" or "The World Turns All Around Her"). The Byrds were pioneers not just with this sound, but later on they included country music in their sound, more or less inventing what would later become known as alt country.
Pete Seeger is an extremely influential artist. A social activist and Folk singer, he performed well into his nineties, and marched with both Occupy Wall Street at 92 and the Young Communist League in 1936 (at 17). He was a classic liberal activist in the best tradition. His influence goes way beyond music, but he was sure a big one there as well. A legend. THANK YOU!!!
P.S. - They were also rightly credited with starting the Country Rick movement a couple of years down the road..... in other words, a very important/influential group. ✅
The guitar line and the twang of that unique guitar is a 12 string Rickenbacker, that Roger McGuinn was influenced to buy, by hearing George Harrison’s 12 string Rickenbacker he used with The Beatles. This song is on my playlist forever. Great tune. You should also listen to “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better” by The Byrds.
The Book of Ecclesiastes has historically been attributed to King Solomon, David's son. He was considered one of the wisest men who ever lived, so your observation that the song is imparting wisdom is spot on. He wrote the book during a turbulent time in his life. Ecclesiastes opens with Solomon calling everything he had ever accomplished, including the building of a great temple, "vanity". He said he hated his life because he felt that he hadn't really accomplished much. By the third chapter, Solomon has come back to himself a bit and, after the chapters that make up this song, he writes (Chapter 3 verse 11) "He has made every thing beautiful in its time." This is one of the most encouraging passages of Scripture I've ever read. It's telling us to trust God's timing. Thank you for your reaction to this great song!
The Byrds are credited for writing the first psychedelic song, "Eight Miles High" and is referenced in a number of songs. The biggest being American Pie.
That glorious guitar line is the genius of Roger McGuinn and his 12-string Rickenbacker electric guitar!
The "hopeful" sound comes from the jangle and the jangle comes from the 12-string Rickenbacker guitar and works perfect with these harmonies -- the Byrds signature sound. My favorite of their Dylan covers is "My Back Pages" --- I highly recommend it.
Great track- hopeful and has that moral authority. I wonder if Dylan had words on this ? Great reaction !
I love how the music just stops after "A time for peace, I swear it's not too late." That small pause adds so much emphasis to that line and gives you a brief second to ponder it before they go back into the chorus. I love the way that you interpret music. I've been listening to these songs for 50+ years and you often offer a completely fresh interpretation to the lyrics or the music that I hadn't considered before.
It's not verbatim, but it takes inspiration from the Ecclesiastes. The same message. Thank you for your reaction! Thanks and God Bless!
I think you nailed what the guitar sound was meant to conveyed. It's so crisp and memorable. I think you'll like the Byrd's more psychedelic music too as well as their many Dylan covers. Two folkish songs by them are "Goin Back" and "Chestnut Mare".
The Byrds have a very deep catalog of excellent, first-rate music...including, but not limited to 5D, Chimes of Freedom, The Bells of Rhymney, Lay Down Your Weary Tune, Nothing Was Delivered, Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man, From A Distance, My Back Pages, Goin' Back, Wasn't Born to Follow, You Ain't Going Nowhere.
It's a 12 string guitar that rings out from Jim McGuinn's. Signature sound.
I was a teenager, 15 in 1968, when we were swamped in so many great pop songs, this being one of the best. We were so lucky being blessed with so many varied classic songs by comparison, from what I occasionally hear, to this period.
I was also 15 in 68 we had a plethora of great bands and music which has never been duplicated!
@@richardjacobs7632 Yes, I know each generation have their own period of their own music, however, that 1960s period was where so many musicians were building upon what came before them from the mid 1950s into the early 1960s, and were experimenting with various combinations of musicians and ways to write and record songs, of which many have lasted the test of time and so many young people enjoy hearing them. We were so lucky to experience that at our young impressionable age. 👍😁
Jim McGuin's 12 string made the bands signature sound that Jingle,jangle'ness of it all! not to mention their stellar vocal Harmonies!
One of the many great, meaningful and relevant songs that came out during the time of my growing up in the mid sixties.
lol, I learned the cha-cha (dance) to this in 1968 in 6th grade...lol....as you said right away, the music was uplifting, and during that time what with the Viet Nam conflict going on, it was much needed...so glad you reacted to this!
Early Byrds, McGuinn, Crosby et al, watched The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, and decided that was what they wanted to be. McGuinn was already very accomplished session quality guitar player from a very young age. Went out and got a 12-string like Harrison's. Crosby described going out of the cinema and spinning around a street lamp and knowing what they wanted to be and do. Byrds, in turn, influenced Beatles and the Rubber Soul LP. You're right about Dylan and the Bible: he has said that all his music draws on Bible, not just the Christian period from Slow Train Coming. Years ago, I learned New Testament Greek and Hebrew to get behind what I thought was, and proved to be, superficial bad thinking by so many Christians who seemed so sure in their unexamined ignorance. Realised the Bible was, actually, wider, deeper, far more interesting than what they had indicated!
When they first came out everybody thought they were British. 😆
Man, that electric 12 string Rickenbacker has a sound like no other guitar. Love your reactions here in Detroit!
It's funny, I have known this song since childhood and I do remember actually reading these Bible verses as a kid, but as an older musician now listening to this, I think what significantly adds to the impact of that chorus is them playing around with the time signature. It's not cutting-edge prog-rock but it is a tiny step in that direction for sure.
The sequence of bars in the chorus goes like this:
4/4 6/4 4/4 6/4 4/4 4/4 4/4 4/4
And then it's back to straight beat for everything else.
Also, I definitely noticed how much you love Bob Dylan, and if that is the case, you really need to check out Pete Seeger and in particular Woody Guthrie, whom Bob Dylan absolutely idolized.
I would strongly recommend that your next Byrds song should be "So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star." It really rocks.
Simply one of the most beautiful pop songs ever ❤️ 🙏🏼❤
I appreciate the Byrds very much. I've got the album 'Fifth dimenrion". R.I.P. David Crosby.
This song is still fairly common on rock radio stations here in the states - it's that hopeful melody that keeps it in the lineup.
There are no stations that play old music in the DC area anymore. We use to have a few in the nineties 😢
A jangle/psychedelia/folk classic. Picked up again by the post punk generation 20 years later. Jangle pop, Paisley Underground, a lot of indie: So many bands were inspired by the Byrds. Kind of saved the decade for me!
The sound you're talking about is a 12-string guitar which they were famous for another song that they covered that was written by Dylan was The Times They are changing you should react to!
May I recommend another Byrds/Pete Seeger classic- The Bells of Rhymney. It inspired the Beatles’ If I Needed Someone with that jangly Rickenbacker.
When I was a kid I always heard this song on the radio request concert along with BD's Mr. Tambourine Man. The next and last US hit was the fantastic slightly psychedelic Eight Miles Hight 3:35 1966(!), which they played on Fillmore East 9/23/1970 in a 9:53-version. The official video shows what influence they had on later (Westcost) bands - a must!
I know a more rocking 10'-version of the NL band Golden Earring from their live album 1977. They had two big world hits in the USA too: Radar Love 1973 (the trucker anthem) and Twilight Zone;✌once not a US or Uk group.
Great video Syed, the by rds are great. Gene clark's album No Other, is something that is definetely worth checking out, his solo work is great and really different from the work with the byrds. It would be really fun if you did a tier list but including all the artists you have heard. Maybe narrow it down or just mention/rank the artists that you have enjoyed the most through all suggestions.
Love you sussing the Byrds! Have you learned about Laurel Canyon and it's influence on music and the industry. Many artists lived there, sharing, blending.
Congrats on 20,000 !
For Whom the Bell Tolls was a poem by John Donne in 17th century England. Hemingway used the phrase as a book title. check out John Donne - that poem, and Newfoundland (while the island off Canada was newly known to England, it's a metaphor), among others
The Byrds made some amazing records! This is a classic. iirc, they used 12 string guitar on this.
Dylan spoke about his time with Rodger McGuinn on Rolling Thunder Review. Mcquinn was a techie even then. Musicians accused him of bugging their rooms - Dylan said "I can't say he did but then I can't say he didn't".
Haha, typical Dylan...gotta love him.
(Dylan & McGuinn must have had a spat at one time, Bob makes a negative lyric referencing Byrd's song The Chestnut Mare, can't recall it atm tho :)
Syed, awesome reaction and analysis to this masterpiece! 👏
A match made in Heaven! (:
The jangly sound is from a Rickenbacker electric 12 string guitar
Great song I remember it like yesterday. You will really like this..... This song should be played at every wedding, HS graduation dedications, valentines day.....John Zov - "I Care About You" Live.... My friend since 1976. He plays any instrument. Most talented musician I know. On my channel.
That guitar sound?......My Mother Dorothy Jean Tandle…“Dotty” worked at Electro-Strings Rickenbacker Guitars “RIC” in early 1964. She did the work on the Beatles guitars. George’s 360-12... John's 325 -6 string (first with five knobs) John’s 325-12 (first ever)…. Paul’s Left handed 4001.…Ten years later…..In the 1974, I worked for “Fender Musical Instruments” in Fullerton California.
I made two Fender Rhodes Electric Pianos for John Lennon/Apple Studios.
The one used on “Walls and Bridges”
“Well if they’re gonna send one, send two cause I’d like one as well”
John Lennon ordering a Fender Rhodes Electric Piano at the Apple studios.
(Elton John recorded “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” with the same piano)
My mother and myself are the only mother/son that both built an instrument for John Lennon.
My mother made guitars for many famous Rockers, including the red guitar that was smashed by Peter Townsend of the WHO and is in the Rock HOF. Chris Squire, Roger Waters, Paul McCartney (left-handed 1964 4001S FG Rickenbacker bass) , John Entwistle, George Harrison’s 12 String. Roger McGuinn 12 string and many others.
I have built pianos for “You name it”
just about everyone IE: “Pink Floyd” on “Dark Side Of The Moon”
It is our little contribution to Classic Rock.
I’m very proud of that fact.
Great comments and feelling by you for this song. I always loved the bass and drums on this one - I'm pretty sure that they were played by the Wrecking Crew's Carol Kaye and Hal Blaine.
Pete Seeger is one of the most important folk music artists in American history. End of story.
The Beatles sat in on some Byrds recording sessions just to hear them sing.
the Rickenbacker 12 string electric guitar, first became prominent when George Harrison bought one in the states and started using it on Beatles tracks...the Roger McGuin and the Byrds noticed it before they became "the Byrds" and started using it prominently in their music, as well as long hair lol, this creating the Byrds trademark sound. Credit to George Harrison for accidentally influencing the sound of the Byrds. And probably their name...Beatles were first, everyone else started naming their band after animals and insects hahhaha. except the Rollng Stones...
Roger McGuinn is a great 12 string picker. I believe at one time during his career he went by Jimmy McGuinn.
Still listen to my Byrds albums (yes, LP's)!
Love that twelve stringed guitar.
Rest In Peace, David Crosby.
The Mount Rushmore of American folk music, or music period for that matter, starts with Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan and I'll throw in the Carter family collectively as the fourth head on the mountain.
Good to hear how much you like the Byrds, I thought you maybe wouldn't be keen, given your lukewarm reaction to the early Beatles, but yeah, they have a lovely upbeat jangly sound, that grabbed me the first time I heard the Byrds too.
Great review ! Your biblical knowledge was insightful. Well done .
those jangly, chiming 12-string guitars served this song well, besides being part of the byrds' signature sound. it would influence many other bands, especially tom petty & the heartbreakers (my favourite and check out "american girl" and "the waiting" paticularly).
your musical analysis is quite insightful and i appreciate that. the byrds were a bit before my time but their ethereal sound is timeless to me.
Greatest music era🎸
For more 12-string virtuosity try the Byrds "It Won't Be Wrong." It opens with unforgettable guitar hook.
It's probably a coincidence but your channel name seems to be a phonetic shuffling of "sidewinder", a small American southwestern rattlesnake (with a distinction sideways gait) that punches above its weight as a predator.
Don't forget that in the 60s, the US had the Viet-Nam war, civil rights, the threat of total nuclear war, were going full throttle at this time. Plenty of social unrest. The times were a changing, hence Dylan, The Beatles etc.
People were looking for answers.
The Byrds played Dylan songs better than anyone. There is a full album of that. It's called The Byrds Sing Dylan
Bob Dylan is a great songwriter and poet but he never sung his songs better than almost anyone. He’s a terrible singer. I say that as a fan who has seen him play live.
@fayesouthall6604 I wouldn't say he's a terrible singer, he just sings the way he sings. He has a unique voice and doesn't always try to sound good, but he can sound good when he wants to.
Now you need to listen to some Pete Seeger! Check out "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" and "If I Had a Hammer." Pete was a pillar of the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War. Another song with a biblical theme is "Morning Has Broken," which was written in 1931 as a Christian hymn but popularized when Cat Stevens covered it in 1971. Ironically, Stevens is now a Muslim and calls himself Yusuf.
Pete Seeger should be featured. He was a brilliant singer/ folk ethnologist/ banjo player/ social Justice activist. He refused to rat out his pals to the fascist Committee on Unamerican Activities in the 50’s. He got blacklisted for decades. Then he and the Smothers Brothers got shut down for singing an anti Vietnam War protest song on their show.
These lyrics are directly from The Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible.
Roger McGuinn is said to have played a "jangly" 12-string guitar.
The instrumental break is jingle-jangle heaven.
Yeah, as good a cover as you will ever hear, they made that song their own. Try Eight Miles High next, a psychedelic classic. When you do, I'll be watching. :-) Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎸🎶
Ok right, you knew that.
EDIT Oh my how I love a jangly guitar.
I love The Byrds song "Chestnut Mare"
Another good song by procol harum Song conquistador
And "Homberg" weirdly wonderful.
Great song, Great reaction. Thanks mate!
Thank you💕
High harmony is done by David Crosby, later of Crosby Stills and Nash. Try a listen to their song Eight Miles High.
Here's another fantastic tune from The Byrds, featured in the Counter Culture classic film, EASY RIDER, called "Wasn't Born to Follow. ruclips.net/video/_hftlEpHYh0/видео.html
The electric 12-string guitar has a real impact on this song.