Byrds

Turn! Turn! Turn!

It's a jangle out there
There are two different types of band in history; those for which the magic resides in one particular line up and once someone leaves the magic goes, and those for which a revolving door policy can play dividends. The classic example of the second type of group is The Byrds. Members as talented as David Crosby, Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman and Gene Clark could float out of the band and produce incredible music, yet the band could find replacements and still make great music. Perhaps the best of the leaving members was the great Gene Clark, an insecure man who never realised quite how good he was. He seemed to have been worn down by the ego battles raging within the Byrds. Picking a best Byrds album is almost as hard as picking a best album, so varied are their styles, but the classic cool cold early Byrds get the nod.

The great songs provided by Clark, Set You Free This Time, The World Turns All Around Her, and on the remastered CD, She Don't Care About Time show the essence of early Byrds, even more than the Dylan covers. They provide the early sharpness that went along with the magnificent haircuts and the gool rectangular glasses sported by McGuinn. For several months they were easily the coolest band on earth, and the Clark songs provided the core of this. Country tinged sounds are evident along with a freshness that still lasts. Listen and worship.