Customer Reviews

So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-by-Day, 1965-1973

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As the third reviewer of this book, I appear to be the first person to actually have read it--or at least large sections of it. And I'll be rereading it, too.

This book is amazing, and surpasses all my expectations. It goes FAR beyond the Rogan book on the Byrds, which is its own first-rate exploration of the subject. But this book . . .

It has so much material that hasn't appeared in print together before. It really is a day by day account, describing concert performances, recording sessions (I didn't know that Gene Clark was the co-writer of the song "Get to You" from The Notorious Byrd Brothers, not Chris Hillman, but there it is, in McGuinn's own words), contemporaneous reviews of the singles releases, the albums. ETc, etc.

And there are so many photos, images of posters advertising concerts, and on and on. This is about as comprehensive as you can get, a dream of a book for a Byrds fan. I was stunned to see reviews of a concert I'd attended at Carnegie Hall in New York, when the Byrds and the Gram Parson/Chris Hillman Burrito Brothers shared the bill and later jammed together; or the concert at the Fillmore East where the band introduced (Untitled).

This is a treasure trove for the fanatic. Yes, I know, that's what I am. I demand that amazon institute a new 6 star rating system, so I can give this book one extra star.

This is a 336 page, superbly documented chronicle and includes many photographs that I had never seen before. Up to now, the greatest authority on The Byrds has been Johnny Rogan's 'Timeless Flight Revisited', which I've heard, is going to reappear at some point in a vastly expanded fourth edition. Of course, Rogan's book remains unmatched for analysis and insight. But for contemporary press reports, very many long lost interviews, posters, set lists, recording sessions and a wealth of information you didn't know before, Christopher Hjort's volume is the real deal. But beware - you'll find it dangerously engaging!

So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star is a thorough account of the rock group The Byrds, which chronicles the band's life and music, from their worldwide hit "Mr. Tambourine Man" in 1965 to their final concert in 1973. A text-heavy account interspersed with occasional black-and-white period photographs (and print memorabilia!), So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star draws upon eyewitness accounts, press reports, concert reviews, set lists, tour dates, gig locations, record releases, reviews and more to put together its day-to-day narrative. A worthy treasury, highly recommended for fans for the Byrds.

I just concluded perusing Christopher Hjort's "So You Want To Be A Rock'n'Roll Star The Byrds Day-By-Day 1965-1973." It is a mammoth and detailed read, that certainly would have benefited from the services of a proofreader. Let me first say that it would have been expeditious, if the listing of all Byrds recording sessions (as well as where each song is referred to) at the end of this book had accompanying page numbers, in order to locate a specific title in the main text easily. However, said sessions (which sometimes included, heretofore unknown, other contributors) and the concert locales and radio/television appearances was most extensive and helpful. In this tome is a plethora of info on all the scribe could glean on where and when the Byrds performed (and the sometimes obscure artists who shared the bill with them); what songs they played (which, for many stretches of time, remained fairly constant) and who was involved; how well they performed the works--often contingent on previous rehearsals with newer members, dexterity of each Byrd (rarely in question) and the quality of the sound systems employed; dealings behind the scenes; interviews, press reviews and audience reactions. Also, it was unequivocally confirmed that the latter-day Byrds lineup was the superior ensemble--in concert at least. Various alumni had mordant things to say about other members, which I shan't reiterate in this forum. Nevertheless, I found overall, Gene Clark remained unscathed (and, apparently, was a part of the recording of "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" album). Finally, it should be pointed out that Mr. Hjort consulted innumerable books and magazines, as well as conducting many interviews, for this unique project and should be offered encomium by all aficionados of the Byrds. Get Dutch rock historian Christopher Hjort's 2008, 336 page, profusely illustrated (black & white), Byrds chronology entitled, "So You Want To Be A Rock'n'Roll Star," today, to appreciate how, live they were inimitable on the Holy Grail of all concert stages.

This book is amazing.

An online friend mentioned he first saw the Byrds sometime in 1966 at Newark Symphony Hall.

I found that venue in 1966 and flipped back:

* *

Per "The Byrds Day-to-Day" --

Your Newark Symphony Hall concert was on Sunday, March 27, 1966 at 1:30. That night it played Trenton Convention Hall. Opening act was The Strangeurs.

Book has a photo which looks like the ticket, but is probably a small newspaper ad. Admissions were $2.75, $375, and $4.50.

Charles E. Rothchild Presents

A Weekend with the Byrds

in association with

Zeta Beta Tau, Queens College

I caught them later that summer. "Beach Boys Summer Spectacular" at the Hollywood Bowl on June 25. They opened with Eight Miles High.

* * *

Everyone who appeared at the Bowl that night is listed. I had forgotten many, but it all came back.

Do so if you wish, but I doubt many will read this straight though.

Mostly it's something you will find yourself picking up time and again when you have a few minutes to kill, and explore any period of Byrds history at whim.

Album and single release dates are here for both US/UK, along with sample reviews and chart history.

Also how the Byrds felt personally about each release, including whether the producer was a help, nuisance, or worse. Memories can change over time, so sometimes inconsistent comments made at different times are juxtaposed for fun.

Bottom line -- there's nothing else like this.

When it first arrived I thought it "just okay", but have since become hugely impressed.

Suggest you pick this up and slip it into a bookshelf. The better you get to know it, the more it grows on you.

The book "So you want to be a Rock and Roll Star" is simply incredible. Little known facts about their day to day activities. It is more than I could have hoped for. I recommend this book to anyone who is a Byrds fan. Just open to any page and read. It is very interesting and I am enjoying the photos and writing. I can't say enough about it.

For a long time the only truly comprehensive book about the Byrds was "Timeless Flight" by Johnny Rogan. This was the go to book for the definitive story and it was updated a few years ago but good luck finding a copy because it is out of print. It was Rogan's work in obtaining session information from Columbia's vaults that made the re-issue campaign of the Byrd's material on CD possible. However, for many people it was felt that there were too many errors.

"So You Want To Be A Rock N' Roll Star" is a new book about the Byrds from the formation in 1965 to the final days of the touring Byrds as well as the short-lived reunion of the original 5 Byrds. Everything from concert performances, TV performances, radio interviews, and interviews for music publications are documented as best as can be. There are no current interviews with the surviving members of the Byrds as this is not really a biography but a diary of their performing career. Some of the reading goes from interesting to downright boring and not very relevant but again its basically like reading through someone's datebook.

I learned about this book from one of the internet discussion groups. It's not expensive so if you're a Byrds fan, or a fan of 60's music, you should consider adding this book to your collection.

The book seems to be well researched. The images of flyers & ads from the time are interesting. It gives a good background of the principal members and proceeds to lay out, by date, what was happening with the band. Some daily entries seem to be only for archival purposes (i.e. they recorded a song on this date but the tape was lost) while other entries give good insight into the band. Hjort references his sources, such as Rogan, when applicable. This is a good book to read a little bit at a time or just to skim stopping at the spots that are of particular interest to you.

This is a fantastic book, an essential companion to Johnny Rogan's books, especially his new "Requim For the Timeless".For those interested in every aspect of the Byrds history, it is meticuously detailed here. A great source for dating bootleg tapes, which have often been misdated.

A few minor complaints; one previously mentioned is the proof reading. No more need be said on this. The second is some misinformation on the drummers used during "The Notorious Byrd Bros." Careful litening would suggest that Rogan's session credits are more correct as to who plays on what: it's definately Michael Clarke on "Change Is Now' and definately not Michael Clarke on "Dolphin's Smile". Also, he states that Gene Clark was brought back just to do TV appearences, when in fact he came back as a full member.It was the fear of touring that forced him out again.Minor quibbles, but important to all Byrd fans.

Again, highly recommended.

The original Byrds - McGuinn, Clark, Crosby, Hillman and Clarke - played an important role in the evolution of rock. Despite the loss of most of the originals, McGuinn pressed on with the Byrds name and basically overstayed his welcome. That judgement applies to Christopher Hjort's exhaustive - and exhausting - chronicle of the group. SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR, THE BYRDS DAY-BY-DAY, 1965-1973 is an absolutely incredible job of research but great research doesn't always translate into a great read!

Slogging through Hjort's book, which runs to 336 pages, I kept thinking of that old Tonight Show routine where Johnny Carson pulls out some book entitled THE COMPLETE BOOK OF FRICKFRACK or some such thing and talks it up. Ed McMahon, in his best TV huckster voice, then jumps in and goes on and on about "It boggles the mind...Just think, EVERY last bit of information, EVERY last fact ANYONE would EVER want to know about Frickfrack is packed in THAT little volume." Giving Ed a disdainful look, Carson would snap back: "You are wrong, Banana Breath" and go on with the skit. Hjort seemingly has uncovered scads and scads of information on the Byrds, their roots, musical development, concerts, personal interactions, their role in 60s music and society, what reviewers/ contemporaries/ others thought of them, etc., etc. and used it all in this book.

Yet when every bit of information is important enough to merit publication, the most important story - the development of the Byrds' music - is buried under a mountain of minutiae. Does it really matter that the Byrds concert in Moosejaw, N.D. was marked by poor acoustics and no interaction with the audience? Or that a scheduled appearance at Club XYZ was canceled? And, so what if the reporter for the Frostbite Falls College newspaper trashed the group's show? Too much data, not enough pruning.

So, four stars for this 2008 Outline Press release. The book's research gets five stars; its readability gets three. Coulda been a great read if Hjort or an editor had separated the wheat from the chaff.