BYRDS - S/T SELF-TITLED GENE CLARK, CHRIS HILLMAN, DAVID CROSBY, ROGER MCGUINN, MICHAEL CLARKE 12" Vinyl LP Album

Byrds is the twelfth album by the American rock band The Byrds and was released in March 1973 on Asylum Records. It was recorded as the centerpiece of a reunion between the five original members of The Byrds: Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke. The last time that all five members had worked together as The Byrds was in 1966, prior to Gene Clark's departure from the band. During the reunion, the current, latter-day line-up of the band continued to make live appearances until February 1973, with McGuinn being the only member common to both versions of the group.

BYRDS - Self-Titled Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Roger Mcguinn, Michael Clarke 12" Vinyl LP Album front cover https://vinyl-records.nl  

Album Description:

In 1972, the idea of a reunion of the original Byrds lineup seemed unlikely. Founding members Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn, and Michael Clarke had drifted apart musically and personally over the years. However, a shared desire to recapture old magic resulted in their 1973 self-titled album, simply known as "Byrds."

Back to the Beginning

The reunion album aimed to revisit the sound that made The Byrds famous nearly a decade earlier: jangly guitars, tight harmonies, and a folk-country foundation. While some songs echoed the band's earlier work, there was also a sense of seasoned musicianship and a willingness to take subtle risks.

Clashing Visions

Despite moments of harmony, the reunion was fraught with tension. Creative differences flared up during the recording process. Clark, who had been struggling personally, penned some darker, more introspective songs that clashed with the nostalgia-tinged direction others envisioned.

Fragile Unity

The "Byrds" album features contributions from all five original members, showcasing their individual songwriting talents. Yet, the recording sessions were marked by infighting, and the fragile unity wouldn't last long. Soon after the album's release, the reunion fell apart.

Album Description & Collectors information:

 Matrix/Stamper codes:
Side One: ST-AS-732779A (handwritten/etched)
Side Two: ST-AS-732780A (handwritten/etched)

Gatefold/FOC (Fold Open Cover) Album Cover Design with photos on the inside cover pages

Byrds is the twelfth album by the American rock band The Byrds and was released in March 1973 on Asylum Records. It was recorded as the centerpiece of a reunion between the five original members of The Byrds: Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke. The last time that all five members had worked together as The Byrds was in 1966, prior to Gene Clark's departure from the band. During the reunion, the current, latter-day line-up of the band continued to make live appearances until February 1973, with McGuinn being the only member common to both versions of the group.

Music Genre:

Country Rock 

Album Production Information:

The album: "BYRDS - S/T Self-Titled Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Michael Clarke" was produced by: David Crosby

Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Doc Storch (as played by Sandy Fisher), Raghu

This album was recorded at: Walter Heider Recording Studio, mastered at Artisan Sound Recorders.

Album cover design/photography: Gary Burden, Alexa Smith, Henry Diltz

Record Label & Catalognr:

Asylum Records SD 5058 (ST-AS-732779 PR)

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 280 gram  

Year & Country:

1973 Made in USA
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: BYRDS - S/T Self-Titled Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Michael Clarke
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • Roger McGuinn - guitar, banjo, Moog synthesizer, vocals
  • Gene Clark - guitar, harmonica, tambourine, vocals
  • David Crosby - guitar, vocals

    David Crosby was a singer-songwriter and musician from California. He was born on 14 August 1941, in Los Angeles, California. Crosby began his career in the 1960s as a member of the folk-rock group The Byrds , where he played guitar and sang. He appeared on their first five albums and co-wrote some of their biggest hits, including "Eight Miles High" and "Why."

    Forming CSN and CSNY

    more...

    In 1968, he formed the band Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash. CSN released their debut album in 1969, which included hit songs such as "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and "Marrakesh Express." They were later joined by Neil Young, forming Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY). The band released several more albums and had several hit songs, including "Teach Your Children" and "Woodstock."

    Crosby released his first solo album, "If I Could Only Remember My Name," in 1971. He went on to release several more solo albums throughout his career, including "Oh Yes I Can" in 1989 and "Croz" in 2014. He also collaborated with other musicians, including Phil Collins and Michael McDonald.

    Crosby has had a tumultuous personal life and struggled with drug addiction. He was arrested several times and served time in prison. However, he has been sober since the mid-1980s and continues to make music and tour. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Byrds in 1991 and again as a member of Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1997.

  • Chris Hillman - electric bass, guitar, mandolin, vocals
  • Michael Clarke - drums, congas, percussion
Complete Track-listing of the album "BYRDS - S/T Self-Titled Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Michael Clarke"

The detailed tracklist of this record "BYRDS - S/T Self-Titled Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Michael Clarke" is:

    Side One:
  1. Full Circle (Gene Clark) - 2:43
  2. Sweet Mary (Roger McGuinn, Jacques Levy) - 2:55
  3. Changing Heart (Gene Clark) - 2:42
  4. For Free (Joni Mitchell) - 3:50
  5. Born to Rock 'n' Roll (Roger McGuinn) - 3:12
    Side Two:
  1. Things Will Be Better (Chris Hillman, Dallas Taylor) - 2:13
  2. Cowgirl in the Sand (Neil Young) - 3:24
  3. Long Live the King (David Crosby) - 2:17
  4. Borrowing Time (Chris Hillman, Joe Lala) - 2:00
  5. Laughing (David Crosby) - 5:38
  6. (See the Sky) About to Rain (Neil Young) - 3:49
Index of THE BYRDS - Selected Vinyl Album Discography and Album Cover Gallery
THE BYRDS - Byrdmaniax 12" Vinyl LP
THE BYRDS - Byrdmaniax album front cover vinyl record

The album was recorded with a different lineup than the band's classic era, and it was largely dismissed by critics upon its release. However, "Byrdmaniax" still features some noteworthy tracks, including "I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician" and "Glory, Glory."

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THE BYRDS - Farther Along 12" Vinyl LP
THE BYRDS - Farther Along album front cover vinyl record

The core of "Farther Along" was recorded during an intense five-day session in London. The band, led by frontman Roger McGuinn with Chris Hillman, Skip Battin, and Gene Parsons, largely self-produced the album. The emphasis was on live, unadorned recordings that captured their raw energy.

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THE BYRDS - Greatest Hits 12" Vinyl LP
THE BYRDS - Greatest Hits album front cover vinyl record

This is the first Dutch release of "Greatest Hits" by "The Byrds" and the record label has a solid Orange colour and the CBS "Walking Eye" Company Logo. Later issues of the Dutch release have an orange to yellow colour grading on the label.

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THE BYRDS - Greatest Hits 12" Vinyl LP
THE BYRDS - Greatest Hits album front cover vinyl record

Embassy Records was a budget label famous for selling cover versions of popular hits exclusively through Woolworths stores. They offered cheaper alternatives to original singles, targeting young listeners with limited budgets. Embassy thrived in the 1950s and 60s, known for quick production and affordability

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THE BYRDS - Mr Tambourine Man 12" Vinyl LP
THE BYRDS - Mr Tambourine Man album front cover vinyl record

The album's opening track, "Mr Tambourine Man," is a Bob Dylan cover that the band made their own. The song features the band's signature vocal harmonies, jangly guitars, and the distinctive 12-string Rickenbacker guitar played by lead guitarist Roger McGuinn. The song's success helped establish the band

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THE BYRDS - S/T Self-Titled 12" Vinyl LP
THE BYRDS - S/T Self-Titled album front cover vinyl record

The reunion album aimed to revisit the sound that made The Byrds famous nearly a decade earlier: jangly guitars, tight harmonies, and a folk-country foundation. While some songs echoed the band's earlier work, there was also a sense of seasoned musicianship and a willingness to take subtle risks.

Learn more
THE BYRDS - Sweetheart of the Rodeo 12" Vinyl LP
THE BYRDS - Sweetheart of the Rodeo album front cover vinyl record

By the time The Byrds entered the studio to record "Sweetheart of the Rodeo," the band had weathered significant changes. Founding members David Crosby and Gene Clark had departed, leaving Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman as the core members. New to the fold were Gram Parsons, a rising star with a passion

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THE BYRDS - Turn Turn Turn 12" Vinyl LP
THE BYRDS - Turn Turn Turn album front cover vinyl record

The Mono edition of the album is highly sought after by collectors and music enthusiasts. The Mono version of the album is different from the stereo version in that it has a more raw and authentic sound. The Mono edition has a single channel of audio, which gives it a more unified and coherent sound.

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THE BYRDS - Untitled 12" Vinyl LP
THE BYRDS - Untitled album front cover vinyl record

The Byrds' "Untitled" album was a double LP set that included both live recordings and studio tracks. The live recordings were taken from concerts that the band had performed at the Fillmore East in New York City and the Fillmore West in San Francisco. The studio tracks were recorded at Columbia Studios

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