Customer Reviews

The Byrds Play Dylan

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This collection comes as a godsend for owners of the original 70's Lp who cried bloody murder over the wretched 80's CD re-release (which -- no fooling -- appeared to have been mastered from an audio cassette!). Not only is the sound quality pf this new collection at the same high level of CBS/Legacy's previous Byrds CD releases, but this new CD contains 7 more tracks, some of of which were only available previously on the Byrds box set. That's the good news. Now for the bad, or at least odd, news...

Producer Bob Irwin apparently had the brilliant idea of programming the songs in ALPHABETICAL order! I am not kidding. Take a look at that track listing at the top of the page -- the collection begins with "All I Really Want to Do," and ends with "You Ain't Goin' Nowehere" (followed by 7 unreleased, live, and alternate versions). The result is a bizarre playlist where the great "Lay Down Your Weary Tune" is jarringly followed by "Lay Lady Lady" -- possibly the worst Dylan cover the Byrds ever did. This album would have been much, much better if the tracks had been arranged chronologically, as they were in the original release.

Those thinking about buying this CD should be aware that there is an Australian version with alternate programming available from Amazon [ASIN BOOOO5K2U3]. Here is a quick comparison of the USA and Australian CDs:

I. CONTENTS:

Both use the same 20 tracks. These include the 1965 take of `It's All Over Now, Baby Blue' (in stereo), but not the dramatically different 1969 track on "Ballad of Easy Rider." This is a glaring omission, considering there are alternate versions of four other songs.

Still, here are sixteen songs from Bob Dylan's most creative period, with each of the various Byrds line-ups performing on at least one or two tracks. This makes for a rich listening experience, though the dramatically different styles of the various line-ups makes programming these tracks a challenge.

II. PROGRAMMING:

An earlier reviewer pointed out the strange programming choice for the USA CD. He's right - it appears to be simply alphabetical through track 13! When playing the USA CD, I usually set my player to "random" or "shuffle"; it's mostly random by alphabet anyway, and this often generates some interesting alternate programs.

The strongest point of the Australian CD is that it largely succeeds in an attempt to program these songs for enjoyable listening. (See Amazon's listing of the Australian CD for this alternate program.)

III. SOUND QUALITY

The remastering on the USA album is excellent, in that all tracks from a wide variety of sources play at about the same volume and EQ setting.

For this reason, some tracks may not have the same full bodied richness of the original album tracks, but when played loud the sound quality is excellent and will not disappoint.

The Australian CD tends toward a slight "import" sound, but is nonetheless also excellent.

Bottom line: very good to excellent sound on both USA and AUS versions.

IV. PACKAGING

The US release features 2 color photos of the post-Clark Byrds. Its 12 page booklet contains more photos and a 2002 essay by David Fricke that explores the Byrds' special relationship with Dylan.

The Aussie version has only a single fold-open sheet with a one page essay by David Humphries written in 2001.

The two CDs have different covers, but both are shown on Amazon so buyers can decide for themselves about these.

OVERALL:

This album is pretty much a "must have" for Byrds fans, though almost anyone familiar with either Dylan or the Byrds will probably also enjoy it. I recommend the USA version with its superior packaging for die hard fans. But the Australian program is (in my opinion) much superior for listening, so I reccomend that for casual buyers.

ALSO SUGGESTED:

Those interested in this album will surely also enjoy Mcguinn's fine duet with Dylan on 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door.' See "The Bootleg Series, Vol. 5 - Bob Dylan Live 1975 - The Rolling Thunder Revue" (Legacy C2K 87047).

"Byrds Play Dylan" was put together by going through the Byrds records and pulling every song written by Dylan that they covered starting with "Mr. Tambourine Man" the hit that brought the group national recognition and helped popularize Dylan as well. The result is of interest to Dylan fans, who have learned to appreciate his musical genius in a new way by hearing it sung by artists who can really sing (this is not meant as a slight, because hearing Dylan sung by Peter, Paul & Mary was what proved that his music was as strong as his lyrics). "Chimes of Freedom" and "My Back Pages" are the ones that really stand out in this collection. This is as fine a collection of Dylan covers as you are going to find, but do not mistake it as an adequate introduction to the Byrds because it accounts for neither their original compositions nor their covers of other artists. The Bryds were one of the most influential groups of the Sixties, making folk-rock immensly popular by taking the lyricism of contemporary folk music with the energy of the British Invasion. Singing songs written by Bob Dylan was only part of their magic.

This album gives a great overview of the different eras of the Byrds career. Almost every Dylan cover on this album is just incredible. But, I have to agree with an earlier reviewer that it would have made better sense for the songs to listed chronologically.

Every Dylan cover on this album is just stellar, with one exception. I would have given this album 5 stars if the horrid single version of Lay Lady Lay had been excluded and left for possible inclusion on some parody comedy album. It is embarrassing to listen to a gospel choir singing about getting a lady into bed.

I think that the stripped down alternate version of Lay Lady Lay, also included here, is infinitely superior to the single version. I would hope that some producer, and not the Byrds themselves, made the misguided decision to ruin this song by overlaying the choir track.

Beyond this collection being polluted by that one egregious exception, I don't think that I can give a high enough recommendation of this album. The rest of the songs are great from start to finish. I don't think I have ever heard another group do such a great job of covering another artist's material.

I'm glad this CD shows the true vitality of rock's true legends. Bob Dylan wrote quite a few songs that gave The Byrds it's amazing grace, on top of McGuinn and Hillman's own songwriting ** The Byrds helped bring folk/rock and country/rock into the music world. ANY fan (and I mean) any fan of The Byrds MUST add this to their Byrds collection. Everytime I play "Lay Down Your Weary Tune" or "Bells of Rhymney" my fur just curls. Get it - don't waste any more time reading this, GET IT!!!...

This is a must have cd for any fan of Dylan or the Byrds. Although many of these songs have appeared in the expanded reissue versions of the Byrds catalog, this is a must have cd in order to have all of this great material/performances on one cd. If you are new to the Byrds (how?), this is a great place to begin your flight. Take off and buy it! (Wayn-o, does any of this get through?)

I'm not a big folk music listener but do listen occasionally to the wispy reflexions of poets. I like Dylan so I thought I'd give this disc a try and found it to be pretty good within it's genre. I used to like the Byrds when they were popular a gazillion years ago so I was tempted even more. The Byrds are the perfct vechicle for Dylan songs. With the 12 string guitar constantly wailing and the harmonic vocals the disc captures the times of the popularity of these songs. Most of the interpretations are right on with the exception of "Lay Lady Lay" which unfortunately has two versions on this disc; for the record, the single version is worse IMO than the alternate take! The alternate take is not half bad. Some of the songs were recorded live at the Fillmore West during the height of flower power. Now for the live versions. "Positively 4th Street" is very Dylanesque in that the vocals have that Dylan twang plus the extended guitar solo is a nice touch. "Mr. Tambourine Man" is very good but way too short at 2:30."Chimes of Freedom" has a country vibe because of the plucking on guitar for a pretty nice version. I'm not really nostalgic but I think what I like about these familiar songs is the ability to actually remember the lyrics and sing along(in my head)to these tunes. If you were alive during the sixties than you will probably like these songs. Otherwise they might strike you as lame, corny time-capsules by some folk-rockers.

"The Byrds Play Dylan" -- do you remember the magic you experienced the very first time you heard Roger McGuinn's elecric twelve-string Rickenbaker piercing your mind from the radio? . . . you can experience that magic once again on this cd collection of The Byrds playing Dylan.

The selections are tracks recorded between 1965 up to 1990. And the miracle melodies are all here intact.

My personal preference leans toward the earlier years - when the "sound" had changed the folk approach of Bob Dylan to electric and electrifying folk/rock and "rock with a message" or "poetic rock" - call it what you like. The sound hit you right in the face and mesmerized you and captivted you and entranced you. But even with personel changes in the line-up and the passing of years(to "Sweethearts Of The Rodeo" period) The Byrds
stil delivered their tansforming effect with all of their music . . .and especially with the art of Bob Dylan.

This collection includes original studio recording and several "live" tracks and altrnate versions of songs.

I recommend this collection to any fan of The Byrds or Dylan . . . or to any fan of the "sixties phenomenon music" . . . and to new listeners who may have never heard this music when it mad its initial epiphany . . . you will enjoy the magic! . . . and like The Holy Modal Rounders once sang . . . "if ya wanna be a Byrd it won't take much to get you up there . . ." -- just this "The Byrds Play Dylan" cd collection should just about do it! :)

My husband is into old music that is no longer avaiable in your local stores . He was very excited to find this CD & said it was a great buy . It arrived sooner than expected & in excelent condition . He is extremely happy with this purchase

Good stuff; don't know that I have ever heard a better interpretation of Dylan music. So good I've found I like the Byrds covers better than the Dylan originals. Classic!