Customer Reviews

Preflyte

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

 

 

Way back in 1969, a little-known Record Company called Together Records released a Little gem of Album called PREFLYTE by the Best Sixties Rock N' Roll Band, America's Own, The Byrds.

Most Records back then were sold in Drug Stores and that's where I found this neat Little Curio. I hadn't Listened to a Byrd's LP since "Younger Than Yesterday", But this sure looked interesting...so for $3.99 I was on my way home to give this a spin on the Record Player.

It begins with "You Showed Me" already a hit for the Turtles, but this was a McQuinn-Clark tune, and it was much better than the Over-Produced Version by those Hard-Shelled Byrd's Wannabe's, I could tell this Wierd little Record was Something Special Right away. Firstly Gene Clark's Vocals are more Up-Front along side Jim ( Later Known as Roger) McQuinn. This is very close in sound to the Folk Records of 1958-1962, but it's a BEAUTIFUL SOUND, yes, these are Baby Steps for this about to be BIG Band, but, they were ALREADY Producing Great Music, Thank's to the Writtings of a Certain Gene Clark ( Who composed 9 of the 11 Tracks Featured here on PREFLYTE ). This Music has a Heavy Beatle's Influnence to it, But, for all it's Merseybeat Edge, it is still Rooted in American folk. This was only 1964, the only Music from America that got played on the Radio besides The Beatles, The Animals or the Really Cool Zombies was from Surf Groups as Jan & Dean or The Beach Boys. But of course it would be Five Years before PREFLYTE was released, we would all soon Know how Great The Byrd's were. But In fact this was a Group of Guy's Just LEARNING their craft, learning how to play these New Electric Insruments, Learning How, to find their way through a Proper Recording Session. Even how to Look Cool enough to make the Little Girls Scream. This was indeed Quite a beginning.

All the things that make the Byrd's great can be heard right here. Compared to the Versions you already know these are Softer than what they became a year or two later down the road, but the Talent is Right Here for all to hear. "She Has A Way', "The Reason Why", "For Me Again", "I Knew I'd Want You" all sound fresh & brand new in their early versions. "Mr. Tambourine Man" comes close to what it would later be and Michael Clark's Military Beat used here ain't half- bad, ( before this he was using Cardboard Boxes, to keep the Beat).

Even David Crosby get's a Chance with "The Airport Song", with it's Haunting Vocal and Great use of Minor Chords it's another Highlight on a Record full of em'.
Thing's would change Big Time for The Byrd's when "Mr. Tambourine Man" was re-done with a BIG Rickenbacker Electric 12 String Sound by Mr. McQuinn and lot's of Backing Studio Guys. But when I Hear this Music all these Years later I still smile and I still Believe we were SO LUCKY to have these guys, The Best American Band of the Sixties, THE BYRD"S.

This is the first time that the Preflyte album has been released on CD. Before this, you either had to buy "In the Beginning" which didn't contain the same versions of the songs, or the "Preflyte Sessions" which contained the songs from Preflyte, plus a whole lot more at a bigger price. Finally, for those of us who have the original LP, we have a high-quality digital master of the material at a reasonable price. Winner!

In terms of the material, this is a collection of demos recorded in 1964 before the band was signed to Columbia Records. It contains early versions of some songs that ended up on the Byrds' debut album, "Mr. Tambourine Man", as well as some other songs that have never been released elsewhere. This is essential for fans.

I remember my brother buying the Columbia version of this album on 8 track many years ago and all the fun we used to have singing along to it. So naturally I was very excited to see that it was coming out on CD (finally). But is this really "Preflyte"? It sounds a lot like the versions used for the "In The Beginning" CD. I distinctly remember "You Showed Me" and "Mr.Tambourine Man" being a lot slower then the versions on this new CD. Also, the vocals on "You Showed Me" were more of a group sound then just one singer. I personally think these are either the same takes used on "In The Beginning" or different takes all together. Does anyone else notice this?

I'll try to make this simple. I've seen this release get disrespect and it doesn't deserve it. All the releases of this material are great for us Byrd fans. But I tell you the sound quality, the remixing and any post production done before it was put out is a gas. If you don't get a slug in the chest by "Boston" and the fantastic "You Movin' you just might be deceased! This collection's sound quality is excellent and with the original Preflyte song lineup, it's a bargain and a real treat. Remember the tapes used for these masters, they being used over and over again. Ever do that with a cassette? If so, you know you can only take tape so far. This just might be the winner over all the rereleases of this material in that the sound quality is excellent and the song lineup isn't overdone to the max (even though I can't get enough of my Byrds). I have been screaming for years to use today's technology with the past in that let's have two versions released of all the great groups of the sixties primarily. Anyhow, don't let anything scare you away from this collection that you'll want to hear over and over again! The disc can be found at a bargain price and also, kudos on the packaging.

As was said in a prior review; this album gets no respect. It is an amazing preface and epilogue to some great albums by The Byrds. Personally, I like it even better than the "Preflyte Sessions". This is more concise and better sequenced. It is sad that Gene Clark, a songwriter who could bring real pathos to a song, was never truly given the opportunities or promotion to shine in the group or as a solo artist. The rest of the band do their part remarkably as well. For a bunch of session tapes never meant for the light of day this is a fine slab of vinyl.

This product was taken from a vinyl copy of the Together version It was not produced by Gary Usher.(he was co-owner of Together Records) He didn't meet the Byrds until after Meltcher and Stanton produced them at CBS (now Sony) When CBS and Rhino released their versions, these tapes were not returned from Together, which used Keith Olsen mixes. The new Sundazed (shorter version) is made from those recovered Olsen tapes, the long version is all new mixes made by Bob Irwin. Poptones no longer has any right to re-produce Preflyte The Sundazed long version includes everything recorded by the Byrds pre CBS. The short version IS the original Preflyte.(including a reproduction of the cover)

Jim Dickson (producer)