Byrdmaniax

The Byrds

Columbia, 1971

http://www.thebyrds.com

REVIEW BY: David Bowling

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 03/02/2019

The Byrds released so many excellent albums that when one did not measure up, it was judged harshly because the standard had been set so high. Byrdmaniax struggles to be average and is one of the weaker albums in their catalogue. While there are a couple of high points, ultimately the mundane songs bring the overall quality of the release down.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

One of the major problems with the album was the production – or I should say the over-production. Terry Melcher added strings, brass, keyboards, and backup singers to the tracks. The issue has always been whether it was with the group member’s knowledge or not. The result was that many of the songs veered from the traditional and accepted Byrds sound and the record buying public was not happy about it.

My other thought was that the voice of Gene Parsons was underused, as no tracks contain his lead. His vocal skills were unique and he may have had the best voice in the group at the time.

Three songs rise above the production. Roger McGuinn’s “I Trust,” is gospel influenced and sends a positive message. “Kathleen’s Song” is a beautiful and sensitive ballad that makes use of a nice chorus. “Jamaica Say You Will” was penned by Jackson Browne and features a gritty vocal by Clarence White.

Skip Battin and his writing partner of the time, Kim Fowley, wrote write three songs here. Only the odd “Citizen Kane” was mildly interesting. This campy tribute to Hollywood even sounded like the 1930s. Battin composed a surprising number of songs during his time with the group, and while they weren’t terrible, he had a difficult time composing tunes that matched the group’s sound.

The best of the rest are McGuinn’s ballad “Pale Blue” and possibly the cover of “Glory Glory,” but they are lost in the excess of it all.

Byrdmaniax was a disappointing release in 1971 and remains a deservedly forgotten album today. When exploring the Byrds legacy, your time and energy is better spent elsewhere.

Rating: C

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