The Byrds – The Notorious Byrd Brothers (White Vinyl)

Building on the maturity of their previous album, *YOUNGER THAN YESTERDAY*, the Byrds delivered a series of songs that flow into one another with uncanny ease. It is one of the few vinyl releases where both sides were always played, and 30 years later, it begs to be listened to in its entirety—when played individually, the songs lose their power. This was an artistic triumph and a commercial disappointment, as the memory of Crosby faded, to be (allegedly) replaced by a horse on the album cover. The Byrds moved on to their country phase and numerous lineup changes, but they would never sound quite so perfect again.

Even though some people know The Byrds only for their cover versions, critics consider them among the most important and influential bands of the 1960s. Their distinctive sound, featuring clear harmonies and jangling guitars, blended well with the sounds of the British “Invaders”—the Beatles and the Rolling Stones—and they became pioneers of folk rock, psychedelic rock, and country rock.

Recording the 1968 album *The Notorious Byrd Brothers*, in the midst of the Flower Power era’s heyday, was a truly Herculean task; Disputes over artistic direction and power struggles within the band meant that by the time the recordings were completed, only two Byrd members remained. The album, however, was a labor of love; it is more experimental and progressive than their earlier works and is considered one of the best albums they ever recorded.

Genre: Pop & Rock