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The Byrds' The Notorious Byrd Brothers

Series: 33 1/3
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( 164 ratings, 31 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Byrds' The Notorious Byrd Brothers explores the fraught creation of the Byrds' 1968 album, set against a backdrop of internal band conflicts and changing dynamics. As Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman navigate tensions with David Crosby and drummer Michael Clarke during recording, they create a seminal psychedelic pop record that captures the spirit of the 60s despite personal and professional turmoil.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for fans of 1960s music, particularly those interested in the Byrds, psychedelic pop, and rock history aficionados keen to understand the complexities behind a legendary album.

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It turned out to be one of the defining albums of the 60s psychedelic pop experience

It turned out to be one of the defining albums of the 60s psychedelic pop experience

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

By the time Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke entered the studio to begin work on this album, they were basically falling apart at the seams. Ladyfriend, a song written by Crosby, had just failed miserably as a chart single despite the fact that he lobbied hard to get it released. This—coupled with the fact that he made what the rest of the band considered an embarrassing political speech onstage during their set at the Monterey Pop Festival, and then sat in with rivals The Buffalo Springfield the following day—pushed McGuinn and Hillman in particular to the limits of their patience.

Then, for the The Notorious Byrd Brothers sessions, Crosby presented a song called Triad, written about a threesome, and although McGuinn and Hillman reluctantly agreed to record it, they later decided to place a less controversial Goffin & King pop number called Goin' Back on the album instead. Crosby declared the song banal and refused to sing on it. A few too many studio flare-ups later, McGuinn and Hillman finally screeched up into the Hollywood Hills in their Jaguars and fired Crosby on the spot.

Also brooding during this period was drummer Michael Clarke, who had always borne the brunt of the other band members' rage while recording. He was by far the least accomplished member of the band musically, and when they suggested bringing in a studio drummer to embellish some tracks (Jim Gordon, later of Derek & the Dominos fame), he finally declared he'd had enough and moved to Hawaii to get away from the music scene altogether.

So, McGuinn and Hillman were left to cobble together an album with the help of producer Gary Usher (known for his work with Brian Wilson, the Millenium, Sagittarius and many others). The fact that it turned out to be one of the defining albums of the 60s psychedelic pop experience was either a sheer stroke of luck, or a testament to McGuinn and Hillman's determination to prove that they didn't need Crosby's help to construct their masterpiece.

Series: 33 1/3

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

David Biasotti of Ugly Things praises Ric Menck's eloquent examination of the album, highlighting the detailed insight into each track's studio development and the band's historical and psychological context. Menck's account is both rhapsodic and analytical, fitting for Continuum's respected 33 1/3 series.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780826417176

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 March 2007

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 121.0mm

Height: 165.0mm

Weight: 116g

Pages: 152

About the Author

Ric Menck is a drummer, singer, and songwriter who lives in Los Angeles. He has been in bands since 1979, including the Drats, the Reverbs, Pop the Balloon, Bag of Shells, the Springfields, Velvet Crush and the Tyde. As a drummer, he has played on records by (and toured with) Matthew Sweet, Liz Phair, Aimee Mann, Willie Nelson, and Marianne Faithfull. He also runs a small record label dedicated to reissuing lost classics from the 60s and 70s, and he recently released a retrospective solo album The Ballad of Ric Menck, which PopMatters described as 'one of the best albums of 2004'.

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