Byrds -"Changing Heart" w/Gene Clark

[Chip Fossa]

This is why the Byrds are the quintessential folk/rock/country band of all time.

Just listen to the harmony. No la, la, la's; but much ghostly harmony

And of course, Gene on harp.

"Changing Heart"

http://picosong.com/RbB

This song was off of their "re-union" album.

I think a lot of work/practice went into this song. It sounds like it to me. It's stunning.
It's brilliant!

And, yet, it's only a 2 minute+ song.

Never hit the charts [thank God].

But is still a testament of the unbelieveable creativeness of the Byrds.

[Will Houston]

Hey Chip, thanks for that song, don't believe I've ever heard it.
Always like hearing most of the Byrds old stuff.
Will

[Chip Fossa]

Brother Will...

Glad you dug it.

I got a slew of their early "unheard" stuff. But, it's not obscure. You can find it. Just gotta know what you're lookin' for.

Thanks, anyway, Will.

I'll always toss-up some Byrds stuff. Just to make a point.

As much as I love the pedal steel, the Byrds will always be an amazing creative band to me. Especially at a time when other bands tried to be creative, too, but fell short, and the Byrds perservered. A lot of animosity, too, among members; but they [actually McGuinn] kept on; when others just gave up.

I got a little ga-ga in that last paragraph. But the Byrds never ever bored me; even to this day.

I can not explain it. They are magic, to me.

Sorry again, for being so ga-ga.

[Craig Stock]

Chip, You are not alone on the appreciation of the Byrds.

It's also OK to be ga-ga over them, just don't go Lady ga ga

[Joachim Kettner]

In my opinion the four songs by Gene Clak are the best ones on this album, not only because you can hear
all of the five Byrds playing and singing. On some of the other songs, it sounds like some of them were absent during the recording.

[Chip Fossa]

Thanks Craig and Joachim,

Yeah, that "reuninon" recording was actually a touchy feel good/not-so-good endeavour.

They pulled it off, but there was some thick air, still, between Mcguinn and Crosby.

But, by this recording, they were all pretty well seasoned pros, so unity and professionalism won out over personal animosities.

As much as Mcguinn new he would have to let Crosby go, he admitted later-on, that no newer incarnations of the Byrds ever sounded like they did as the original 5; especially David Crosby's soaring high harmonies. In a stock folk/bluegrass/country 1-3-5 harmony, Crosby always seemed to not hit the 3 or 5, but somewhere in the middle, maybe the 4. Crosby had more of a jazz side to him. He grew up listening to big band music as a kid, and I think one of his uncles was actually the Bing Crosby [or he was related to him somehow].

Outside of the obvious Dylan tunes, many of the early Byrd's "hits" were Gene Clark songs.

[Joachim Kettner]

Chip, I was crazy about the b- side of "Turn, Turn, Turn" called "She Don't Care About Time" a Gene Clark song with great harmony singing by Crosby. Maybe you could put this on here too.

[Chip Fossa]

Absolutely Joachim.

Another unheralded Byrds classic. Dynamic break by Mcguinn, too.

"She Don't Care About Time"
http://picosong.com/R8Y

[Chip Fossa]

While we're at it...

"Close Up The Honky Tonks"
http://picosong.com/R8S

and...

"Don't Doubt Yourself Babe"
http://picosong.com/R8B

[Mark Eaton]

I was 19 when the album entitled Byrds came out, and huge Byrds fan that I was, along with my two older brothers, I remember high-tailing it down to our local Tower Records to buy it after it was just released.

There's a few weak songs on there, but I remember that I really liked it overall, and was somewhat disturbed by the many mediocre reviews it received.

Over the decades when I would think about it or occasionally put it on my turntable, I can recall thinking, "man, those rock critics were sure harsh on this one."

So yesterday I found what appears to be a very well researched Wikipedia entry on the record, and if it is fairly accurate, then I guess the critics were smarter than I was - because the actual Byrds themselves didn't seem very happy with the thing either. This is a good read for all you Byrd-o-philes, or I guess I could write "Byrdmaniax:"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:The_Byrds_albums

Once you get to the page, scroll down and look for the title then click on that - for some reason I could not paste a direct link to the Wikipedia article.

[Chip Fossa]

Great response Mark, and of course, well respected.

"Byrdmaniax" was, I definitely agree, the Byrds worst effort.

I'm quickly responding now to your post. I haven't read the Wiki article yet.

You, good buddy, inadverently have hit the crux of the Byrd mystique.

It seems you liked them at one point, realized that not ALL songs were IDEAL, and then let someone else's opinion dissuade you, from your original thoughts about the Byrds.

That's how I'm reading your response.

Yes! The Byrds were very critical of themselves all along; mainly because Jim Mcguinn was a fanatical musician and arranger. Mcguinn had a vision. More than anyone else in the Byrds from the beginning to the end.

You really should read "So You Want To Be A Rock n' Roll Star".
http://www.amazon.com/Want-Rock-Roll-St ... 594&sr=1-2

Mark, either you like the Byrds or you don't; with all their faults. Not much different than many other bands.

And, in defiance of "critics". What do they know? They are telling you what you should like or not?

I always thought you were SMARTER than that, and not to be so easily dissuaded by some hired blowhard's opinion.

Which, brings me back to - either you like them or you don't.

And that's cool.

[Mark Eaton]

This is where you need to read the Wikipedia article on that album Chip. When you see the comments from The Byrds themselves, they weren't at all pleased with the outcome. They felt is was rushed.

The best songs on that album were either written by, or were the lead vocals by, Gene Clark. I always felt in the early years of the band he was the best songwriter and McGuinn was second. And in the early years, Clark was the one driving the Ferrari down Sunset Strip, because he was raking in the songwriter's royalties. Chris Hillman had some good songs, but I always thought from this particular record that "Things Will Be Better Now" was mediocre.

Crosby? No thanks. Wonderful singer. Great harmonizer. A gift for vocals. Lame songwriter (for the most part). His version of Joni Mitchell's "For free" from this album I enjoyed, but he interpreted the song, he didn't write it himself obviously."Long Live the King" and "Laughing" - both songsIi would skip over for years.

The song you started the thread about, "Changing Heart," a Gene Clark song. I have nothing but respect for Roger McGuinn, and how he held the band together for all those years, but I think Gene Clark is one of the most under-appreciated talents in the history of rock music. And his lead vocals, on this album on the Neil Young tunes, "See the Sky About to Rain," and "Cowgirl In the Sand," just beautiful.

And going back to those early years. "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better," still in my top 20 all-time favorites. Gene Clark, baby. Afraid of flying and an alcoholic, which contributed to killing him well before his time. What a tragedy - an absolutely brilliant talent.

Oh yeah, I keep meaning to read that book - I just need to order it and be done with it! Thanks for the reminder.

[Chip Fossa]

Mark,

You and I, believe it or not, will come to find that we are one and the same with the Byrds.

Why? Because they got some kinda grip on you. Which is not a bad thing. Just give it up. It's not a bad thing, you know.

I'm serious. OTHERWISE! You wouldn't bother with this topic/thread.

Sure they had conflicts. Any group of individuals working together towards a common goal {Oh God, did I just say this?] will butt heads. Look at the Beatles, Beach Boys, Creedance, .....great music came out of this. The tension and animosity, in a sick way, is almost paramount to greatness.

Gotta embrace it; it comes with the territory, as they say.

And yes, Gene was garnering writer royalties as well as band [Byrds] royalties.

This extra "royalty" that Gene was accruing beyond the band's income, just annoyed Mcguinn, especially, and I suppose others.
But Mcguinn was really pissed off. He was and still is the BYRDS! And when he "found out" Gene was "raking" in more bucks, just because he was the author of a song; prompted Jimmy to get off his lazy folk-butt butt and write some of the greatest tunes ever.

[Will Houston]

I found that most of their albums I either liked songs alot or was kinda indifferent to them, usually about half and half.
The early stuff the Clark songs were the ones I liked best. With all the different phases and personal changes they went thru it always seemed that way about half and half. Except the time between Notorious Byrd Bros, Sweetheart and Dr. Bryds, that was my favorite Byrds period. Of course Sweetheart can do no wrong.
After that I still bought their albums but never really got into them very much.
Have to admire McGuinn for sticking with it all those years.
Still one of my most liked bands.
And of course Eight Miles High one of my all time great songs.
Just my thoughts on the Byrds.

[Joachim Kettner]

This Album featured the Gene Clark song "Day For Night". It is him on vocals and has a nice pedal steel.

He was also featured On a Long Ryders record called "Native Sons", but I cant remember which song.
"True Voices" is another album from the late eighties, where he sings "Changes", a Phil Ochs song.

[scott murray]

Changing Heart is a great tune. Right up there with Full Circle Song, which Gene cranked out about the same time. It's a shame his Roadmaster album didn't make more of a splash, as it was basically a Byrds album... Hillman, McGuinn, Mike Clarke and Clarence White were all present.

love Gene's harp playing.
Spanish Guitar and Set You Free This Time are two great examples.

[Brint Hannay]

Absolutely Joachim.

Another unheralded Byrds classic. Dynamic break by Mcguinn, too.

"She Don't Care About Time"
http://picosong.com/R8Y

I'll never forget my father's cry of distress (he was a classical music aficionado) when he overheard the McGuinn solo on "She Don't Care About Time" with its "abuse" of Bach's "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring".

[Mark Eaton]

Changing Heart is a great tune. Right up there with Full Circle Song, which Gene cranked out about the same time.

Clark cut "Full Circle Song" in '72 for his Roadmaster album and it was recorded again with the shortened title of "Full Circle" in '73 on the aforementioned Byrds album.


Thanks for the links, I always loved in particular "Set You Free."

You can imagine my delight after buying Alison Krauss & Robert Plant's Raising Sand a few years ago and finding that they tapped a pair of Gene Clark tunes, "Polly," and what is probably my all-time favorite song from his solo career (this one with Doug Dillard), "Through the Morning, Through the Night."

I wonder who was hip to those tunes - was it Alison, Robert, or producer T-Bone Burnett?

[Joachim Kettner]

Not that I cannot appreciate voices like the one's of Dylan or John Prine, his, especially on "No Other" is unbelievable. One must only listen to "Strength Of Strings" from this album. What a singer!

[scott murray]

i believe T-Bone suggested the Clark tunes to Plant & Krauss.

"Polly" is from the 'Through the Morning' album with Doug Dillard as well. Those 2 Dillard & Clark albums are just so good...

[Joachim Kettner]

"Full Circle" done by the late Dan Fogelberg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T21RGKo0gjg

[Chip Fossa]

Thanks Joachim for that Dan Fogleberg YouTube. He certainly loved the Byrds [with all their attributes and faults; as many of us, here, have acknowledged.] Dan was a great singer, musician, and all around good person. He had heart.

Here's another great, unhearalded Byrds memory.

WHAT A SONG, C'MON!

http://picosong.com/qjz

[Will Houston]

Right you are Chip, some good stuff on that album, thats one of em'.

[Joachim Kettner]

There's a mention of a Gretch guitar being used for the solo. Not so important but interesting!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Have_You_Seen_Her_Face

[Chip Fossa]

Will and Joachim....Great, you guys. Absolutely stupendous.

That Wiki article was right-on.

The song blends elements of ragtime, and pop, maybe rock, too.

This song is yet another example of the brilliance of Jim Mcquinn.

He is a master of synthesizing all these diverse music idioms; seamlessly.

Thanks W & J...

Here's another:

(We gotta keep this thread goin')...

"The Wild Mountain Thyme"....

http://picsong.com/qg8

You guys are great...thanks so much.