Mr. Tambourine Man

Listening to this album I can't help thinking that The Byrds really paved the way, sonically, for bands like R.E.M., Let's Active, Green on Red, to name a few. I guess maybe my enjoyment of the album has something to do with this being the remastered version, but the sound production is perfect- vocals in front and each instrument comes through crisp and clear. I dont know if that made me like the album even more then I would have but I simply love the jangling guitar and the amazing harmonies. A new favorite.

if they're a byrd im a byrd. downloaded 1,2,4,5,7,8,9,10,12 and 13

Great!

Byrds fan from their beginning. Still follow individual members in their new endeavors.

Fine

Introduction: Released in 1965, "Mr. Tambourine Man" marked a pivotal moment in the history of folk and rock music. The Byrds, a band from Los Angeles, skillfully blended folk and rock elements, creating an album that not only defined the folk-rock genre but also influenced countless artists that followed. In this in-depth review, we will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its lasting influence on the music industry. Lyrics: The album's title track, "Mr. Tambourine Man," is a lyrical masterpiece, written by the legendary Bob Dylan. The poetic and surreal lyrics take the listener on a dreamlike journey, filled with vivid imagery and introspective reflections. The opening lines, "Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me," serve as an invitation to escape reality and embrace the power of music. The Byrds' interpretation of this song set a high standard for cover versions, with its harmonious vocal delivery and jangly guitars capturing the essence of Dylan's original while adding a distinctive touch. The rest of the album's lyrics maintain a similar poetic quality. Tracks like "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" and "Spanish Harlem Incident" showcase the band's ability to craft emotionally resonant and evocative lyrics. The themes explored in the songs range from love and heartbreak to existential pondering, reflecting the social and cultural changes of the 1960s. Music: The Byrds' musical prowess shines throughout "Mr. Tambourine Man." The use of the 12-string Rickenbacker guitar, a signature sound of the band, creates a shimmering and distinctive sonic palette. This jangly guitar sound, showcased prominently in tracks like "All I Really Want to Do," became a hallmark of the folk-rock genre and influenced countless musicians. The vocal harmonies, a key element of The Byrds' sound, are a standout feature. The seamless blend of Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, and David Crosby's voices creates a rich and melodic tapestry that elevates the album to a higher artistic level. The vocal arrangements in songs like "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" and "Chimes of Freedom" demonstrate the band's vocal prowess and their ability to deliver emotionally charged performances. The inclusion of Dylan's material, in addition to other covers and original compositions, showcases the band's versatility. From the upbeat folk-rock of "All I Really Want to Do" to the introspective "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better," The Byrds demonstrate a range of musical styles that contribute to the album's dynamic appeal. Production: "Mr. Tambourine Man" benefits from the production work of Terry Melcher, who skillfully captures the essence of The Byrds' sound while ensuring a polished and balanced mix. The clarity of each instrument, from the distinctive Rickenbacker guitars to the harmonious vocals, contributes to the album's overall sonic quality. The decision to include both original compositions and covers in the album's tracklist demonstrates a thoughtful curation of material. The production choices enhance the thematic coherence of the album, creating a cohesive listening experience that takes the audience on a journey through the various facets of folk and rock music. Themes: The album reflects the cultural and social shifts of the 1960s. The lyrics often touch on themes of individualism, introspection, and a desire for change. The title track, "Mr. Tambourine Man," encapsulates the countercultural spirit of the time, where music served as a means of liberation and escape from societal norms. Tracks like "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" and "Here Without You" delve into the complexities of love and heartbreak, capturing the personal struggles and emotional landscapes of the era. The inclusion of Dylan's socially conscious "Chimes of Freedom" adds a layer of political and cultural relevance to the album. Influence: "Mr. Tambourine Man" had a profound impact on the music industry, influencing the development of the folk-rock genre and shaping the sound of subsequent bands. The use of the 12-string guitar and vocal harmonies became defining elements of the folk-rock movement, with bands like The Byrds paving the way for others, including The Mamas & the Papas and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The album's influence extends beyond its immediate genre, touching on the broader landscape of popular music. Artists from various genres, including Tom Petty, R.E.M., and The Bangles, have acknowledged the impact of The Byrds and "Mr. Tambourine Man" on their own musical journeys. Pros: Innovative Sound: The use of the 12-string Rickenbacker guitar and harmonious vocals created a unique and influential sound that defined folk-rock. Lyrical Depth: The album features thought-provoking and poetic lyrics, particularly in the iconic title track. Versatility: The inclusion of both covers and original compositions showcases the band's musical versatility. Lasting Influence: The album's impact on the folk-rock genre and its influence on subsequent generations of musicians solidify its place in music history. Cons: Limited Original Material: While the covers are well-executed, the reliance on outside material may be seen as a limitation in terms of showcasing the band's songwriting abilities. Uneven Quality: Some tracks, while competent, may not reach the same level of excellence as the standout moments on the album. Sonic Similarity: The jangly guitar sound, while iconic, is consistently present throughout the album and might become monotonous for some listeners. Conclusion: "Mr. Tambourine Man" stands as a landmark album in the evolution of folk and rock music. The Byrds' innovative sound, coupled with their thoughtful interpretation of diverse material, resulted in a timeless collection of songs. The album's influence is immeasurable, shaping the folk-rock genre and leaving an indelible mark on the broader musical landscape. While not without its minor flaws, "Mr. Tambourine Man" remains a testament to The Byrds' artistic vision and enduring impact on the world of popular music.

Just classic. The sound of the 60’s setting a high standard for those that came after. Each musician is excellent.

Despite loving the song Mr. Tambourine Man I actually never listened to the whole album before. Really great!

Love this album. The Byrds harmonies are so comforting.

Amazing album full of folk rock. Some of the songs didn’t age well, but the covers are good. 4.8/5 Fav: “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” Least Fav: “Spanish Harlem Incident”

i'm a huge byrds fan, so no shock that i love this album. although i don't think it is their best effort, it is their first and arguably, their most monumental. although really, the credit goes to the title track, this album shifted the direction of popular (rock) music from british invasion merseybeat style stuff to something brand new, folk rock, taking the songs of folk music and combining them with a then-modern rock sound. in modern contexts, perhaps this album does not sound impressive or is particularly interesting, but within context, this album is a watershed moment in 20th century popular music.

I am listening this album with the great pleasure again . The folk rock is very nice.

Classic 4,5

A good album, I liked their cover of We'll Meet Again and the instrumental song on the album You And Me. My favourite songs on the album were Chimes of Freedom and Mr Tambourine Man.

Album 261 of 1001 The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man Rating : 5 / 5 (Rounded Up) At the core, this is the period/genre of music I enjoy most. It was released just a couple of months before I was born, surely in anticipation of my arrival. Such a classic sound. Sort of Beatle-esque? Sure but still they are their own. Listening through the 1001 Albums playlist from the beginning to around number 830 (and still going), I have heard a lot of The Byrds. More than maybe should be on the list. This album encompasses their sound the best. Everything else was just gravy. I'm surprised at the low number of plays many of these songs have on Spotify. This is a very, very good album. I wish more would listen.

This is so freaking good! Love it. Smooth as butter

love the byrds

Ah, here are the jangly Byrds I was looking for! After three albums from their 1967-68 era (worth listening to, mind you, but so so very different) I was very happy to finally hear an album of what I always thought of as the Byrds' signature sound. In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you! Yay!

This is the album I expected from The Byrds. Packed with the songs I know and love along with other tunes that were new to me but very much sounded like they belonged here. It’s amazing how they made the Dylan songs their own. Easy to take this for granted now, so it was good to listen with fresh ears and hear the tsunami of musical influence flowing from this album to this day.

I really enjoyed this one too

I like far too much stuff influenced directly by this jangle pop to not give a perfect score, even though the Vera Lynn cover is shite.

idk yet

I love The Byrds, and this is a fantastic album. While most of these songs are covers, they're all great, as are the few originals. My favorites are "Mr. Tambourine Man," "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better," and "Chimes of Freedom."

They’re THEM

5-

I am old.

This album starts with one of the most iconic riffs ever and introduced me to the Rickenbacker 12 string guitar. Roger McGuinn was my first ‘favorite guitarist’. With this album The Byrds helped me understand and appreciate Bob Dylan Their harmonies are great, and the guitar work throughout is so good.

Oooh some good 60s oldies. I can dig it! There's something very special with these older pioneers of rock. This album was incredible!! Absolutely loved it.. I love music that can transport me back in time, and this record definitely did that for me. This had the unmistakable sound of the 60s, every track on this record was excellent!

Not got the most amount of bangers. But if you like all the songs then it's got to be a 5 right? Mr tamboomrine man 🤦‍♂️

Nice album!

Very good, very like. Great harmonies. Alot of stuff I liked.

This is a perfect classic 60's album. This guitar sound is so influential it can still be heard in lots of indie rock records to this day. Perfectly crafted songs carried by lush jangly 12 strings guitar and gorgeous harmonies. 9,5/10

This one's a beaut from start to finish. Clean, precise, instrumentation with impeccable vocals and harmonization. Maybe a bit tame for any younger audience but for an old goat like me, it's mana from the gods.

Fun old classic rock.

I loved this album (finally got a good one) and I have wonder how much that dates me.

Adoro i Byrds. Jingle jangle, jingle jangle.

Wonderful album!

A classic

приятное ретро, которое как будто уже где-то слышал

Too many favourite things here

Love this album and happy that i had further recommendations of 60’s music that had that feel good factor 👍🏻

Parecido com The Beatles

It's been a long time since I listened to this album. It's very enjoyable and holds up well after all this time. I completely forgot about "We'll Meet Again." It's a great cover of a song I always liked.

This album was great, although sometimes I wished the mixes were a little different (some voices stuck out more than I wanted them to- maybe I'm spoiled by Crosby's perfect harmonies with CSNY?) but that is a very small quibble. It was simultaneously upbeat and mellow, offered plenty of Dylan covers, and was exactly the vibe I wanted last night.

10/10

This is what to me is the classic Byrds album Belongs in every music lovers collection. Ringing guitars, beautiful harmonies, rich production overall and the songs....wow. The Dylan covers like the title track, Chimes of Freedom and All I Really Want To Do are beautifully rendered and the originals; I'll Feel a Whole Lit Better and Here Without You show a maturity ro their writing that would develop even more on later albums.. favourite track; The Bells of Rhymney. 5 🌟 (note my copy is a Sundazed Vinyl pressing that includes two very good bonus tracks so that's what I'm commenting on and rating.)

This is what to me is the classic Byrds album Belongs in every music lovers collection. Ringing guitars, beautiful harmonies, rich production overall and the songs....wow. The Dylan covers like the title track, Chimes of Freedom and All I Really Want To Do are beautifully rendered and the originals; I'll Feel a Whole Lit Better and Here Without You show a maturity ro their writing that would develop even more on later albums.. favourite track; The Bells of Rhymney. 5 🌟 (note my copy is a Sundazed Vinyl pressing that includes two very good bonus tracks so that's what I'm commenting on and rating.)

Really great. Love the 60's.

Another album I already own on vinyl. I'll never tire of the Byrds.

spookily like the one that precedes it

Love that 12 string sound, and the songs are so earnest and soulful. Iconic.

Super

INCREDIBLE

I've heard this one a zillion times, and it's a favorite. Chimes Of Freedom is outstanding! The best Dylan cover ever, tho Hendrix's All Along The Watchtower comes close!

Suuuper easy listening. Great to pop on and get stuff done

Now we're talking! Love the Byrds. Love Dylan. This is THE 60s. Eight miles high is a classic too.

Really enjoyed this album! They sound very similar to The Beatles.

WOW, what a fantastic album. Classic 60s sound with song like their cover of Mr. Tambourine Man and All I Really Want to Do, to a heavy song with It's No Use and the downtrodden I knew I'd Want You. This is front to back great.

One of the rare albums in my house growing up, and one of the even rarer still good ones.

Country rock with smooth harmonious vocals that are really easy to listen to! Too bad so much of it sounded so similar.

After listening to Eight Miles High earlier, this wasn't what I was expecting. Dylan's collaboration, and sometimes singing, strongly affected this one lyrically, and the trademark jangly, up-tempo sound make it uniquely The Byrds. All I Really Want to Do sounds like Tom Petty, and I can hear how they influenced his sound.

Very enjoyable album to me. Kind of Beatles-esque while having its own feel. I liked this quite a bit. 4/5

We enjoyed it, but their versions of Dylan songs can be slightly strange sometimes.

There's a lot of 60's music that sounds like this album, and this album sounds like a lot of 60's music. To some people, that's an issue coming back to this album. To me, I think it's a credit to its influence. And I like this sound anyway, so...

Good example of 60’s psychedelic rock. Some recognizable and memorable tracks that definitely influence others of the era.

I used to own their greatest hits so I already knew a lot of the best stuff on this. I love it but it does start to feel a bit formulaic and samey to me after a while - better in small doses than an entire album.

Jim McGuinn > Roger McGuinn

This doesn't have the same psychedelic atmosphere as the last Byrds album I listened to, but the more straightforward folk-rock approach here has its own distinct charm. I loved the sunny, jangly tone of the infamous 12-string guitar of this album, and I can see how that guitar would become influential to future strains of indie rock. A lot of this feels like very obvious worship of Bob Dylan and the Beatles, especially with the 4 different Dylan covers, but the musicianship is so tight that the heavy influence doesn't bother me. In the case of the Dylan covers, the aforementioned 12-string give them a unique character that makes them feel distinct from Dylan's versions. The original songs are great too, with the band showing their knack for a good pop hook at an early stage in their career. It's just a fun little album that does a great job of demonstrating what made 60s folk such a compelling scene.

8/10 Great jangly goodness. Almost a 5 star, just wanes a little in a couple of the middle tracks, and We'll Meet Again is just lame

It's a great 60s album. I'd put it about on par with Beatles' Please Please me - fantastic harmonies, some great songwriting, overall just a pleasant album overall from what appears to be an underrated band.

Leuk album. 60s

I enjoyed this. The vocals and harmonies worked well and the chimining guitars you can see have had a big influence elsewhere. Sometimes they vere to close to the Beatles and We'll Meet Again should never have made the record. Four stars

7/10

I remember liking The Byrds when I was a kid, so this is some nostalgia. It's so much 'softer' than my usual taste in music, but the imagery from the lyrics is really nice. I like the last part of the album more than the first part, great love themes and lyrics.

This is an absolute 60s album, kind of defining for the era. A lot of tunes by Bob Dylan here.

Really enjoyed - mellow slightly hippy vibe to many of the tracks

revisit

Sweet little '60s jams -- I dig

100% ma came !!!

More Crosby than anyone else from our 126 albums so far, who’d have thought it? This is one of his best too. Four stars!!!!!! Tom.

Honestly, this is a damn good band, and a tight, good all around collection of songs. I have to view the byrds as a proper part of the 60s popular music. This was very nice to listen to. I think this is a better record than the early beatles records until Rubber Soul.

Great album influenced by the searchers and Beatles.

Hard to remember that this stuff was once considered revolutionary and revelatory, and was also considered part of the American response to the British invasion. Of course these guys played it pretty cool. Their appearance and cutesy-poo spelling of Byrds with a Y instead of an I makes them seem British. I know better, and I often have to remind myself that these guys were from SoCal.

Sehr cooles Album mit absoluten Hits - 4 Sterne, gerne wieder

Coole mukke

I regret to admit this is exactly my kind of album. I would have THRIVED as a teenager in the 1960s

So it's the Beatles?

I went into this with prejudice, since Mr. Tambourine Man is such a hippy cliche, but I was pulled into it. Also glad to get the Jim/Roger McGuinn question sorted out-- that's a weird story about how he became Roger, btw.

Very good one. Surprised they were not a bigger band.

Play a song for me Mr. Tambourine Man....

Heel cute, heel erg 60s. Voor de rest deed het niet heel veel op persoonlijk vlak, maar leuk wel

ik geniet wel van n album/band wat ooit een jaartje het grootste Ding van het moment was en onwijs invloedrijk maar niet die status heeft weten te behouden

Short but tweet

7.0/10 Liked the vibes on this

Comme les Beatles, mais avec des chansons de Dylan

Pleasant

4/5, this is great

I love the 60s

Again, way before my time but still a fantastic album. Fantastic debut albumn and the music sound was way ahead of its time.

Their interpretations of Dylan are... ok, but feel like jangly popified Beatle-esque versions that I didn't need, but apparently the 60s consumer did. The two standouts for me are the familiar Gene Clark classic, "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" and one I'd never heard before "It's No Use." "Here Without You" is really interesting, and shows the psychedelic tones they'd explore later. I can hear why this album was a big deal, but it's not great. 3.5/5. Maybe on the list of 1001 for historical reasons, but to me it feels like too many hybridizations of Dylan and the Beatles. I'll round up, though.

Actually quite liked this

Great record

4.5

This was a good The Byrds record, and the interpretation of Dylan's Tambourine Man is fantastic and iconic. That big 12-string jangle sounds great!.... until it doesn't haha every song smashing you in the face with jangle after jangle after jangle is just a bit repetitive and wearing after a while. I love the song I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better but I am certain the Tom Petty cover from the late 80's is better in every way. Overall a good record but not a great one.

i love the byrds but how about they write an original song for once

Pretty good!

Really good album

I was already familiar with this album before listening. This is a seminal folk rock album. It has the band's signature sound, with great harmonies and jangly guitars. Some tracks have stood the test of time more than others, but overall this is a solid album. I would listen again for sure.

Their harmonies are always a really pleasant listen

mr tambourine man feels like night changes by one direction vibey i like favorite song: I'll feel a whole lot better

The title track is iconic, of course. And the rest of the album isn’t far behind.

The album’s namesake opener is great. Also enjoyed "I'll feel a whole lot better" Album is consistently pretty good. Don't doubt yourself, babe, just listen.

Dope

Love the sound of a jangly Rickenbacker and these guys were the originators and masters of it.

8/10 Best songs: I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better, It's No Use This album is pretty good overall, but the absolute standout is It's No Use, which is probably the best song I've heard in the last 15-20 albums. That alone gets this album 4 stars.

Bob Dylan's songs are always better when somebody else sings.

My last Byrds album on the list. One of my favourite discoveries of this project has been the Byrds. Very interesting/lovely musical progression from this album (folk rock) to their psychedelic era to Sweetheart of the Rodeo (Country folk rock) Probably a 3.75

nice and smooth record

I have a soft spot for 60s rock like this. Tight melodies and good harmonies. Great picnic music

Superior to the other Byrds album we've gotten so far, and this is more of what I think of as their "classic" sound. Pretty massively influential especially with the interlocking guitar jangle and that Richenbacher tone - you can draw a line from this through Petty to REM and the Gin Blossoms (which is a good thing here). Incredible take on the title track that I think improves the Dylan version in every way. Here Without You and Bells of Rhymney were two back to back that I really enjoyed. Vocal harmonies are universally great throughout. A few times where it veers Beatles-esque but overall I think there's enough differentiation in the sound that the Byrds clearly carved their own lane.

Lindo, la original de mucho mejor de Charly

As much as I'm bewildered by the number of Byrds albums on this list, I'm actually enjoying each one of them. Also was today year's old when I realized Feel a Whole Let Better is a Byrds song and not a Tom Petty song (its on Full Moon Fever one of the all time great albums that sure as shit better be on this list).

I really enjoyed this album. I like they also wrote harmony for almost all tracks. Very tasteful. Liked mr. Tambourine man.

Great album for a lazy morning. Obviously the opening track is the one everyone knows, but the rest of the album had some great songs. Exactly what you’d expect from the mid-sixties.

I think I liked this too

Title track is the hit here, but this is classic Byrds. 3.5/5

Really enjoyed that - Beatles-esque with a little folkier spin. No songs necessarily stood out above the others, though. (4)

Dylan can write and the Burd’s can sing.

quintessential 60s music. was trying to think of a reason to hate this and couldn’t come up with anything legit. this is solid

Bom álbum e escutei durante a viagem de volta p casa numa ressaca de carnaval e deitado num ônibus leito

Sweet and easy mellow record. The 12-string guitar is soooo good.

Love the jingle jangle of it all. I liked this one.. Dylan covers and all rolled into a pretty good mash of music ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- To the dudes in the comments who think it's "beta cuck" to respect and want to be friends with a woman (you're dating or otherwise), chances are high that you're not "alpha", you're in the closet. It's totally fine to want men, but it's not fine to hate and objectify women just because you refuse to admit it to yourself and only want to show off to your guy friends to make them want you. hth. - A ton of classics on this album. It's full of great songwriting. The vibe is hippy 60s, but it still feels fresh, with its forward energy, interesting, sincere lyrics, and nice harmonies. - I love their cover of Mr. Tambourine Man - it's the definitive one, imo. Jangly and sweet like it should be. - It's not perfect - there are songs that are better than others (The Byrds Greatest Hits has the best ones on this album plus a few other hits, so I prefer it - that one gets an easy 5), but this is a great debut. I happily played it all day, wouldn't actively skip anything here, and will easily reach for it again.

Good enough to get a low 4. It’s just base-level solid rock.

Das Werk formte hier den charakteristischen Folk‑Rock‑Sound aus 12‑Saiten‑Rickenbacker und mehrstimmigen Harmonien. Der Titelsong – eine Dylan‑Coverversion – wurde zum internationalen Hit und definierte das Genre neu. Ein stilprägendes Album mit ikonischem Klang und zeitlosem Drive. Nicht jeder Track ist ein Volltreffer, aber als Gesamtwerk bleibt es ein Meilenstein – und zugleich eine liebevolle Erinnerung an eine m einer ersten CDs, die Best of Byrds.

First listen I wasnt too impressed. Through the day the album kept growing on me.

Can’t beat a bit of jingle jangle guitar! I get the comparisons to the Beatles and there’s the use of Dylan songs but ultimately it just seems to work. Also it’s clear to hear other bands that have been influenced by this sound in later years.

This is a fantastic history piece of an album. They’ve tried to sound like Dylan and the Beatles, which doesn’t exactly work. The gritty lyrics against the ‘girls left me/girl stop crying’ songs just butt heads a bit painfully. But at the same time in doing so they’ve kind of invented what becomes the west coast psyche with the harmonies and jangly guitar (slow it down, add a bit of reverb and talk about drugs more and they’d have been there). So it somehow manages to be groundbreaking and a bit twee at the same time. Additional scoring considerations: - Their bowl haircuts are off the scale cool. - ‘We’ll meet again’, is totally awful. For the Brits, you just can’t cover that song at all. It just doesn’t and would never have the same powerful message and poignancy as the original.

The Byrds are great and, if possible, becoming underrated. They were (maybe) the best American rock band of the mid 60s and you can hear their influence reverberating in many corners of rock and pop. A lot of hay is made about the Beatles' attempts to keep up with Brian Wilson, but they were clearly also trying to keep pace with the Byrds. So it's a little surprising younger generations of the last 20 years or so have shown little interest in reviving them as they've revived some of their contemporaries. This album is incredible and, although probably not "perfect," there is a distinct sound here that changed popular music forever.

I'm realizing the Byrds are like the R.E.M. of the 60's. Jangly and chim-y sounding, with nothing too complicated about their sound, and they made great album after great album.

Great songs, a little samey but no bad tracks. Had not know "Feel a whole lot better" was not a Tom Petty original

Day 168 Never heard this before, really enjoyed it. Highlights I’ll feel a whole lot better Here without you It’s no use

parece coisa q o jonathan byers ouviria FAVS (top 3): i'll feel a lot better, all i want to do, i knew id want you mençoes honrosas: spanish harlem incident, here without you, chimes of freedom, we'll meet again album mttttt bom, achei as musicas curtas mas okayyyy nota final: 4/5

Folk music certainly existed before The Byrds — Dylan had already reshaped the landscape — but 𝘔𝘳. 𝘛𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯 marks the moment when folk fused with electrified pop and essentially launched a whole new genre. The bright jangle of the 12-string guitar and the tight vocal harmonies would become foundational for the Laurel Canyon scene and countless bands that followed. And honestly, the title track works far better here than in Dylan’s original form: concise, melodic, and transformed into something shimmering and airborne. The rest of the album may lean heavily on covers, but its impact is undeniable.

solid 4

The Byrds have a very distinctive sound. I had to look up what instruments they were playing because the sound is so unique.

Aujourd'hui on va causer d'un monument, d'une pierre angulaire, d'un truc tellement culte qu'on n'ose plus trop le critiquer de peur de se prendre une fatwa par les puristes à sandales. On parle de "Mr. Tambourine Man" des Byrds, sorti en 1965. Mais d'abord, remettons l'église au milieu du village. Je suis né en 70, donc j'ai raté le coche du Summer of Love de peu, et franchement, vu la gueule des redescentes d'acide, c'est peut-être pas plus mal. Mais bon, j'ai quand même bouffé de la musique toute ma vie, j'ai traîné mes guêtres derrière les comptoirs d'un disquaire indépendant, et j'ai usé les faders d'une radio libre. Tout ça pour dire que mon oreille, elle est un peu tannée, elle aime quand ça gratte, quand ça sature, ou quand ça vous prend aux tripes. Pourquoi je vous raconte ma vie ? Parce que quand je pose "Mr. Tambourine Man" sur la platine aujourd'hui, en 2026, j'ai un sentiment plus partagé qu'un hipster devant un rayon de vinyles dans le magasin lowcost du coin. Commençons par ce qui fâche, comme ça c'est fait. Putain, que ça a mal vieilli. Je sais, je sais, c'est un blasphème. On parle de l'album qui a inventé le folk-rock, rien que ça. Mais soyons honnêtes deux minutes entre nous. La production, elle est pas juste "d'époque", elle est carrément anémique. On dirait que tout le spectre sonore a été passé à la Javel pour enlever le moindre gramme de gras. C'est plat, bordel. Ça manque de coffre, de profondeur. Quand t'as l'habitude d'écouter des trucs produits par Steve Albini ou même des vieux enregistrements de jazz qui ont du grain, là, t'as l'impression d'écouter la musique à travers une boîte de conserve reliée à une autre boîte de conserve par un fil de laine. C'est là que je me dis : "Mec, cet album, il hurle pour un remastering, un vrai". Pas le genre de remastering où on pousse juste le volume pour que ça tape plus fort sur Spotify, non. Un travail d'orfèvre pour aller chercher les fréquences perdues, pour redonner un peu de corps à cette rythmique qui sonne parfois comme des cartons à chaussures. C'est un album intemporel, oui, c'est indéniable, mais il a pris un sacré coup de vieux dans les gencives. C'est le paradoxe total : c'est culte, mais techniquement, c'est daté, tellement daté que ça en devient presque touchant, comme regarder une vieille émission télé en noir et blanc où tout le monde fume sur le plateau. Mais attention, ne me faites pas dire ce que je n'ai pas dit. Si je mets un beau 4 sur 5 à cette galette, c'est pas pour faire joli ou pour respecter les quotas de classiques du blog. C'est parce que, malgré ce son de transistor, la magie, elle est là. Les compositions, les amis, c'est du nectar et on ne peut pas toucher à ça. Quand Roger McGuinn (qui s'appelait encore Jim à l'époque, le mec change de prénom comme de chemise) fait sonner sa Rickenbacker 12 cordes, il se passe un truc. C'est ce fameux son "jingle-jangle", cette signature sonore qui a matrixé tout le monde, des Beatles (qui s'en sont inspirés pour "If I Needed Someone") à R.E.M., en passant par les Stone Roses et toute la clique de l'indie pop des années 80-90. Sans cette guitare, pas de Johnny Marr, pas de Peter Buck. C'est l'ADN de la pop moderne qui se joue là. Et puis il y a les voix, ces harmonies... C'est juste à pleurer. McGuinn, Gene Clark et David Crosby, quand ils ouvrent la bouche ensemble, c'est pas juste des mecs qui chantent, c'est une chorale céleste sous hélium. Ils ont réussi le tour de force de prendre du Dylan – qui, soyons francs, chantait comme un canard enroué à l'époque – et d'en faire des hymnes pop scintillants. Le morceau titre, "Mr. Tambourine Man", c'est l'évidence même. Dylan a écrit les paroles, mais les Byrds ont écrit la légende du morceau. C'est une prière électrique, un truc qui te transporte direct, même si la prod te retient un peu au sol. Mais le vrai héros caché de cet album, pour moi, c'est Gene Clark. Ce mec est un génie tragique, un songwriter de l'ombre qui mérite tellement plus de reconnaissance. "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better", c'est peut-être le meilleur morceau de l'album, et c'est de lui. C'est la quintessence du "je t'aime, moi non plus", avec une énergie qui préfigure presque le power-pop. Et que dire de "Here Without You" ou "You Won't Have To Cry" ? C'est d'une beauté mélancolique à te fendre le cœur. Clark avait ce truc en plus, cette sensibilité à fleur de peau qui balance parfaitement avec le côté parfois un peu plus "scolaire" ou "cérébral" de McGuinn. D'ailleurs, parlons-en du mélange car on a du Dylan à toutes les sauces ("All I Really Want To Do", "Spanish Harlem Incident", "Chimes of Freedom"), on a du Pete Seeger avec "The Bells of Rhymney" qui est juste sublime, et puis on a... "We'll Meet Again". Ouais, la chanson de Vera Lynn, le truc de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Qu'est-ce que ça fout là ? C'est la touche d'humour, le petit délire de fin de soirée, ou peut-être un clin d'œil au "Dr. Folamour" de Kubrick. C'est kitsch, c'est bizarre, mais ça passe, parce que c'est les Byrds et qu'ils ont l'air de s'amuser. Ce qui est fascinant avec cet album, c'est qu'il est à la charnière de tout. On est en 65, Dylan vient de brancher l'électricité (en partie grâce à eux, d'ailleurs), les Beatles sont en train de muter, et les Byrds arrivent avec ce mix improbable : la poésie beatnik, les instruments du rock, et des harmonies vocales dignes des Beach Boys. C'est le "folk-rock" qui naît sous nos yeux, ou plutôt dans nos oreilles. C'est l'Amérique qui répond à l'Invasion Britannique en disant : "Eh les gars, nous aussi on sait faire des coupes au bol et des mélodies qui tuent, mais on a des paroles un peu plus costaudes que 'She loves you, yeah yeah yeah'". Alors oui, quand je l'écoute aujourd'hui, avec mes oreilles habituées à des sons un peu plus extrêmes, ça me fait sourire. C'est léger, c'est aérien, c'est presque inoffensif en apparence. Mais c'est trompeur car sous le vernis un peu craquelé de la production d'époque, il y a une écriture solide comme du béton armé. C'est la preuve que tu n'as pas besoin de distorsion à fond pour être intense (même si, on est d'accord, une bonne grosse disto ça fait toujours du bien par où ça passe). C'est un disque de "découverte" par excellence. Si tu veux comprendre d'où vient la moitié de la discothèque indé de ces trente dernières années, tu es obligé de passer par la case Byrds. C'est la racine. Et même si la racine est un peu sèche et qu'elle aurait besoin d'un bon arrosage technologique pour retrouver sa verdeur, elle tient toujours l'arbre debout. Je repense à mes années chez le disquaire. Si un gamin venait me voir en me demandant par où commencer avec le rock des années 60, je lui mettrais peut-être pas ça direct dans les mains s'il écoute du Korn (c'était la mode à l'époque, ne jugez pas), mais s'il avait un t-shirt des Smiths ou de R.E.M., je lui dirais : "Tiens, prends ça. C'est le papa de tes groupes préférés. Le son est un peu maigrelet, on dirait qu'il a sauté un repas, mais la musique, elle, elle va te nourrir pour un moment." En résumé, "Mr. Tambourine Man", c'est comme une vieille photo de famille un peu jaunie. Les couleurs sont passées, le cadre est un peu ébréché, mais quand tu la regardes, tu ne peux pas t'empêcher de ressentir une émotion. Tu vois les sourires, tu sens l'époque, et tu te dis que c'était quand même une putain de belle journée. Il faut juste accepter de faire l'effort d'abstraction. Oubliez vos caissons de basse, oubliez la compression moderne qui vous écrase le cerveau. Mettez-vous en condition, imaginez-vous en 65, sur le Sunset Strip, avec des lunettes rectangulaires fumées et une chemise à jabot (ouais, bon, peut-être pas le jabot). Et laissez cette Rickenbacker vous chatouiller les tympans. C'est un beau 4 sur 5, ferme et définitif. Parce que les classiques, on les respecte, même quand ils ont des rides. Mais s'il vous plaît, messieurs les ingénieurs du son, si vous m'entendez : un petit lifting ne ferait pas de mal. Juste pour que les basses existent, pour de vrai.

yayaya

The title track is probably the best Dylan cover of all time not performed by Jimi Hendrix. I always just wish it was the entire song instead of the shortened version, because I never want it to end. The rest of the album is pretty great too.

A little dated, but still a solid album.

Love the Byrds, and haven't listened to them like this is probably two-ish years? Used to be apart of my psych rock playlists, where they've shuffled on frequently. This was a good throwback.

Ah a classic Byrds album. This is the easiest music in the world to listen to. Soothing and just a classic. 4.5 leaning 4

This is one that I've already listened to prior to this 1001 albums generator. I don't know if I liked it more than before, but I will say I enjoy early Byrds more than later Byrds.

Not quite a five-star classic for me, but its importance is undeniable. The jangly 12-string Rickenbacker sound and lush harmonies practically invented folk-rock, and you can hear its DNA in countless artists since—Tom Petty being the most obvious heir to this style. While the title track and “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” shine, some covers feel a little lightweight compared to Dylan’s originals. Still, as a blueprint for an entire genre, it’s hard to overstate its influence.

7/10

Feel a Whole Lot Better is probably my favorite Byrds song.

Приятная музыка середины 60-х. Она меня не удивляет, но это то, что я буду слушать даже в глубокой старости. Лучшая песня: Here Without You

Good album, better than I expected. The song Mr Tambourine Man was probably my least favorite track on here - but maybe that’s because I’ve been hearing it my whole lie. But it was a nice surprise to find so many other goods songs on this record.

7/10

Volvo songs

I'm a sucker for the folk-bluegrass Laurel Canyon vibes that toss in a bit of the surf rock flowery guitar.

Go byrds dh The byrds rock though, Crosby has not let me down yet

Transports you to the 60s. Took Dylan songs and made them janglier. Did the Byrds elevate Dylan or popularize him by simplifying him? Cool to learn about its place alongside 1965's Bringing it All back Home and Highway 61 revisited and how it influenced him to pivot to electric (as recently depicted in "A Complete Unknown" among others) All a relative blind spot to me so it's cool to see it in context. Essentially invented folk rock, which went on to influence genres such as psychedelic, country rock, power pop, jangly guitar, etc. First American response to British invasion rock. You can hear the Beatles' influence. I've also admitted to being under-familiar with the "CSN extended universe" (there is a tangled infographic out there). But sitting with albums like this and learning a bit about it is a good way to fill this gap. Generally a pleasant listen that wouldn't necessarily stand out given that its sound was replicated many times over in the future. But i think i'll bump it a star after what i've learned about it and it's context when it came out in 1965, and how much future music draws an influence line to this.

I enjoyed this album. They sound a bit like the Beatles.

Really liked this, much better than any Dylan and better than their other albums we’ve had. Love the sound the feel and it’s remarkable how much better a Dylan song is without that buffoon singing.

A remarkable debut which stands with other titanic releases of the era, including those by The Beatles, Kinks, and Rolling Stones. Folk-tinged jangle pop with great harmonies, solid songwriting, and strong performances (including turning Dylan’s songs into remarkable pop craft). The Byrds should have been bigger, but lineup changes which drove major stylistic changes (including a hard tilt toward country) made them a bewildering follow.

This debut album from The Byrds, released in 1965, is an album that is now decades old, yet its sound remains instantly recognizable and enduringly influential. The album starts on a high note with the title track, Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man". This track is a quintessential example of a cover song that seemingly elevates the original, it's often cited as being superior to Dylan's own version - I enjoy Dylan's version just as much. The true legacy of "Mr. Tambourine Man" lies in the sound it pioneered: the distinctive, shimmering jingle-jangle of Roger McGuinn's Rickenbacker 12-string guitar. This sound, combined with the band's precise and excellent vocal harmonies and arrangements, creates an influential sonic template. It is this influence on subsequent genres and bands that earns the album its place on "must-listen" lists. While its influence is undoubtedly five-star, the album's contents range from "good to excellent," making it a fine and pleasant listen overall. The track listing is neatly split: five songs are original compositions (primarily penned by Gene Clark), and the remaining seven are covers, including four different tracks from Bob Dylan. The album’s consistent sound and quality make it a solid experience, defining the style of the mid-60s American rock scene. It's an album that gets five stars for its influence but as an album, musically, it achieves four stars. Side one 1 "Mr. Tambourine Man" (5/5) 2 "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" (5/5) 3 "Spanish Harlem Incident" (4/5) 4 "You Won't Have to Cry" (3/5) 5 "Here Without You" (3/5) 6 "The Bells of Rhymney" (4/5) Side two 1 "All I Really Want to Do" (4/5) 2 "I Knew I'd Want You" (3/5) 3 "It's No Use" (3/5) 4 "Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe" (3/5) 5 "Chimes of Freedom" (5/5) 6 "We'll Meet Again" (3/5) Total - 45 Average - 3.75 186/1001 102/186 albums reviewed were new to me.

Iconic sounds in both the twang of the guitar and the harmonies in the voices. Easy to listen to anytime.

Beach boys bitch

Sounds like if A Hard Days Night-era Beatles covered Dylan. What’s not to like?

The Byrds version of Mr. Tambourine Man is what ignited my love for jangly guitar music.

Great stuff.

The only Byrds songs I was familiar with prior to hearing this were their hits, so this album was all but new to me. For the most part, I really liked it and it seems that Tom Petty was really influenced by them…but Tom Petty is one of my favorites. Anyway, this isn’t a perfect album, but it gets four stars from me.

Music of the mid to late-60's has such a distinctive sound, helped in part by this band. I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better is the standout on this album.

Favorite Track: Mr. Tambourine Man

++: Mr. Tambourine Man, I'll Feel a Whole Better, Spanish Harlem Incident, You Won't Have to Cry, All I Really Want to Do, It's No Use, Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe, Chimes of Freedom, We'll Meet Again +: Here Without You, The Bells of Rhymney, I Knew I'd Want You 8,5/10

Very listenable, upbeat, fun mid 60s sound.

Really goddamn solid! 13 bite-sized bangers, super clean production and really pleasant vocals.

4*

first listen i mean, it's good

Such a warm sounding album. The first song is the best part but it's a great debut and helped define a sound.

Sensacional aparición. Muy buenas versiones de Dylan. Sonido influyente en su época.

A good folk rock album from one of its pioneering bands.

Mr. Tambourine Man was written by Bob Dylan in 1965. The Byrds released this album also in 1965. This is their debut album. And it's just blowing my mind that they even went so far as to name their album the cover of the current hit song. Different times. I like The Byrds version of Mr. Tambourine man actually a little better than Bob Dylan's. The thing that stands out to me is the guitar playing. It's really thick and they have good melodies. Sometimes the songs stray into overly sentimental teenage angst. Favorites: Feel A Whole Lot Better, The Bells of Rhymney (this one kind of reminds me of early R.E.M.), Don't Doubt Yourself, Baby (great rhythm). Chimes of Freedom kind of cracks me up. I think Freedom usually rings bells but okay I guess Chimes will work. And this one sounds like they are really trying hard to write a Bob Dylan song. They are better when they are doing their own thing but for a debut album, it's pretty good!

I bet they sounded great live. All their songs sound the same to me though

The Beatles?

Great album :) I loved the really full guitar parts and the lyrics are meaningful and their voices are great.

Schöne Lieder und natürlich die bessere Version von Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man.

The accessible face of psychedelia. Very pleasant, if not truly stirring

Wow I was not expecting this album to be excellent! Probably mostly because most of the songs are covers, but they did them well, their Mr. Tambourine man cover was especially amazing. Thank you The Byrds for being pioneers of the folk-rock genre.

Shout out to Gene Clark. The Bonner Springs High School grad wrote the best two original songs on Mr. Tambourine Man: "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" and "I Knew I'd Want You." He also co-wrote "Eight Miles High" which, along with "I Knew I'd Want You" are my most favorite songs by The Byrds. After that, thank goodness for Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "All I Really Want to Do."

Mr Tambourine Man / Here Without You

C'est que des reprises mais ils reprennent bien ça c'est sur

Quite the debut

Good stuff

This has the best version of Mr Tambourine Man ever recorded on it. Great guitar playing and vocal harmonies.

Ja. Fint.

Tambourines!

i’ve always found the devotion to dylan, right down to the title, odd and a little lame. but the sound is there, no doubt, even if i like bob’s versions better than theirs. gene’s originals were good, boys. should have filled this up with more of those. he’s always been my favorite byrd.

Perfectly enjoyable and (but?) entirely inoffensive. 4/5 Highlights: Mr. Tambourine Man I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better All I Really Want to Do It’s No Use

Jangles just the right way.

From the very start when they sing too tired for sleeping it sounds like they are. Same idea same fairly pathetic heterosexual mysogism in lyrics, twangy guitars and harmony throughout. Hopefully enough to last a few decades. Classic but very limited

Fun, cohesive album.

here is a copy of David McGowan's Weird Scenes Inside The Canyon: Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops & The Dark Heart Of The Hippie Dream: https://archive.org/details/weirdscenesinsid0000mcgo where you can learn all about how The Byrds and other similar bands were CIA co-operatives who created the hippie movement to de-ligitamtize the anti war movement in the 1960s...

Jingle jangle goodness.

I feel like there’s a certain feeling with the early Byrds stuff which doesn’t really matter what they’re playing - even if it’s just mostly covers of Bob Dylan, which I think this is, it just has such an amazing atmosphere which feels quite mystical - maybe has something to do with the layered vocals which feel slightly hym-like in some places, which is maybe what the Dylan songs needed, as they can be a bit serious sometimes. I do think they influenced pop music more than most people from this era, as it’s not very bluesy, which people later on went on to drop as well. The guitarist(s)’ style is very unique and they surely created/pioneered ‘jangle pop’ as quite a lot of the main Melodies guitar wise are played on the top strings, and I think he maybe plays a 12 string in some places. I sort of wish that some of these songs were longer or had more development, and they’re all quite simple songs, but still great. Favourite songs: Mr. Tambourine Man, I’ll feel a whole lot better, Spanish Harlem incident, here without you, the bells of Rhymney, all I really want to do, it’s no use, chimes of freedom, we’ll meet again, she has a way. Overall around 7/10

Good

Better than the other Byrds album. Still not what I really want from them given their legacy. I wish it was denser, more robust or different than that generic 60s sound. Mr. Tambourine Man is iconic though. Split the difference and give it 4 stars.

Good

Pre-listening thoughts: ok I know I said I was going to go in chronological order but we all knew that wasn’t going to last very long. Listen I needed a good hiking album (or three) so I picked one I knew would be more upbeat. Sorry Rufus wainwright 😭 Post/during listening thoughts: this was pretty good! A little samey all the way through but I enjoyed it all I won’t lie. I never had to think to myself “oh god let me skip this one”, and that’s usually a good sign. I liked their rendition of we’ll meet again as well. Beautiful harmonies. Just wish there were a few more standout songs. 7/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Mr Tambourine Man, Here Without You, All I Really Want To Do Least fav tracks: I didn’t dislike any but as stated above it was samey

Much better than The Notorious Byrd Brothers. Holds together as a complete album, and I never knew Tom Petty was doing a cover of I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better!

Auto-play restarted it after I finished and I wasn’t mad.

At this point in time, Bob Dylan was already cool. His four albums had transcended thought, time, space and whatever what was once deemed regular. He didn't have to have yet another platform to inform the public of that status. The Byrds gave him such and cemented their own place in rock. By giving these songs, and their own, a jangly backdrop and an access unfathomable The Byrds gave rock and roll both a glimpse into its future and a mirror of its then-present. They had no way of knowing of the road they'd pave with this folk-rock masterclass but, once they did, they'd mutate in ways many wouldn't expect, just like Bob would. And it all starts here. Favorites: Mr. Tambourine Man, I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, Spanish Harlem Incident, You Won't Have to Cry, The Bells of Rhymney, All I Really Want to Do, Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe, Chimes of Freedom.

This is my first The Byrds album and, even aware of them, I know I need to do a deep dive on their discography. What a thoroughly amazing album, I had the best breakfast ever. I think the only let down is that most are cover of Dylan songs, but I just love how theyhave their unique sound, and their covers just look like their own songs. I will give it a 4, although I keep my criticism that cover albuns should not belong to this list.

Groovy hippy vibes for a rainy day

Nothing super special, but pretty easy to listen to!

Jangle rock!

:( As much as I would like to, I just can’t give this album 5 stars. It had so much potential, with all the Dylan covers and the 12 string guitar and the harmonies, but… it just doesn’t quite get there for me. The album is dragged down by how badly they butchered the title track. They had probably my favorite song ever, and they: - Removed the best verses (probably due to studio constraints) - Didn’t even play on the track themselves (also due to studio constraints) - And abandoned every musical aspect that made the song good in the first place Ah, well. Still liked it. Can’t go too wrong with Dylan, Gene Clark, and David Crosby contributing to one work of art. Favorite Track: I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better

Grew up with a boomer dad, this was on heavy rotation. 4/5

Very pleasant, a bit same-ish, not sure how extraordinary it is.

Love. Nice and chill.

Very nice

Breezy 60s fun.

A pleasant, chill listen. Always love their sound.

Enjoyed this one.

It's nice but I could not really decide whether to give 3 or 4. It is too good for a 3 but not really a 4. But for the song "Mr. Tambourine Man" it will be a 4.

This album starts off strong for me and then just becomes mid. I do enjoy the album and it can join my rotation of pleasant albums to have on in the background.

Bob Dylan predecessor sort of

A striking debut and very influential on several levels rivaling their European contemporaries. I find this album pleasing. The only thing maybe holding me back from giving an even higher rating would be a few songs that don't hold up as well as others.

Nowhere near their best, but there’s some days where I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better is the greatest song ever written. I feel like REM doesn't exist without this

Had a fun little Sunday jamming out to the Byrd persons.

Me gusta el sonido Beatles, Love, Lemon twigs

75/100.

A fun listen.

Ikke veldig interessant, høres akkurat ut som forventa, på en måte som sikkert va gøy da det va nytt, men nu bare e en i rekka.

A great debut album, now 60 years old. A band finding their stride. Great stuff

Great band!!

Great 60s music

Pretty solid stuff.

Solid debut that unashamedly covers a lot of Dylan, but Gene Clark’s originals are pretty good. Kind of a Dylan meets the Beatles sound.

Pretty innovative sound for the time, fun listen

Talde hontako gehien gustatzen zaidan diska!

Better than Coldplay.

p80. 1965. 4 stars. The template for folk rock in 31 near-perfect minutes. Still sounds fresh today. Point deducted for the suspect cover of "We'll Meet Again".

Great!

Wonderful

Decent enough 60’s album

Excellent. The root source of jangled guitar Indy. Less strong when attempting to sound like the Beatles, peerless when sounding like the byrds.

Fav: I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better Least Fav: We’ll Meet Again

Enjoyed listening to this album.

Another classic album.

Jangly pop in the vain of early Beatles, but with some distinctly American elements, such as surf rock flourishes. It’s quite good, especially the first half, and at some points sounds about 20 years ahead of its time. This is also further proof that Bob Dylan songs are best performed by people who aren’t Bob Dylan.

Jingly-jangly goodness

Excellent group. But not that varied from album to album. One of their albums is more than enough to cover their skills and style.

4.5

Kinda fun, retro sound and liked it a surprising amount…maybe because the jangle DNA is infused in REM and various alt country.

I've always loved their sound. This was one of the first albums I ever bought.

8/10…folk-country-rock

Whatever happened to short, easygoing pop tunes? An album like this makes you appreciate just how effective a "simple" album can be. The Byrds show up here to deliver an absolute powerhouse of 60s pop that's so inoffensive, you can hear just how good a time this band was having making quality music together.

Come for the tambourine, stay for that sweet Rickenbacker 12-string jangle.

Good album, plenty of interesting interpretations of Dylan

You can definitely feel the fact that some of the members met during a beatles cover band. Solid album that feels uplifting, worth a listen

4.5. Amazing that this is the same band that makes Sweetheart of the Rodeo a few years later.

4/5

Dylan is better when Dylan is not being sung by Dylan. A 60s classic.

Another reminder of what a seismic shift Pet Sounds and Sgt Peppers were. This whole thing sounds kind of the same - which is a distinctive enough thing, but by the end I'm hanging for some variation.

1965 was a turbulent year for music. The Beatles had just invaded America and Dylan had gone electric (Judas!). The hippies were making their way to San Francisco and amongst them were the Byrds who bought all of these elements together with this album. The songs are a mix of Dylan covers, folk standards and original songs, with the most recognisable element being the jangly 12 string Rickenbacker guitar that is the centrepiece of their sound. This album fed back into the musical zeitgeist, influencing Dylan’s nascent electric sound as well as the Beatles themselves with the riff from The Bells of Rhymney being a direct inspiration for George Harrison’s guitar on If I Needed Someone. The only slightly bizarre misstep is the final track which is a version of Vera Lynn’s wartime classic We’ll Meet Again, which obviously has a very different cultural impact in the UK.

Beautiful harmonies and interesting arrangements.

Poppier than the later stuff but in a good way. It definitely reminds me of early Beatles, in that it's just very fun.

David Crosby, no está mal este álbum.

great jingle jangle

listened while on a walk on a beautiful saturday afternoon. loved it 🙂‍↕️

Fifth Dimension and The Notorious Byrd Brothers have grown on me a decent bit, but I still feel pretty similarly about this one. Some very good stuff, especially “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better”, but I’m not the biggest McGuinn fan and this one is particularly McGuinn-heavy. I think Side B is also a bit of a drag, especially the awful “All I Really Want to Do” cover. “Chimes of Freedom” redeems it a bit, though, even though I’ll still take the version with all the words over this one any day. 3.5/5

Zoetgevooisde hippiemuziek met de bloemen in het haar en het hitje van de tamboerijnman. Spannender dan dat wordt het niet, het kabbelt verder in één tempo. Leuk tijdsbeeld, maar het is stiekem niet meer dan dat.

Beatlesque en Dylanesque samengevoegd, dan krijg je the Byrds. Het album begint gelijk met het heerlijke gitaargeluid van de titeltrack en dan hebben ze me toch wel aardig te pakken. Zoals gezegd varieert het vervolgens tussen vrolijke beatnummers a la the Beatles en verhalende countryfolk a la Dylan. Er komen nog een handvol semi-bekende nummers voorbij, maar het hoogtepunt is wel echt aan het begin. Alles bij elkaar opgeteld kabbelt het iets te veel, maar een goede 3,5 geef ik hier graag voor. Die ik afrond naar boven vanwege de iconische gitaarriff van de tamboerijnman

It's got the spirit of Dylan but not the whiny complaints.

Generally can't go wrong with jangly guitars and great harmonies for me, except when it they get a little too twee on a couple of tracks which means not full marks

5 Byrds albums on this list apparently which seems a little...de trop. Probably too many covers on this one, and naming your album after someone else's song does seem to be taking liberties..great version though! The rest is OK I s'pose but giving an extra star or two here as out of all 1,001 albums this is probably the only one to name-drop my home town.

This album was the undoubtedly my gateway drug to folk rock in my student years and holds fond memories for me. McGuinn’s “jingle-jangle” guitar lays down a distinctive sound throughout and despite there being a hefty number of cover versions, The Byrds manage to place their own stamp on them. Still, there are plenty of hints of Gene Clark’s songwriting craftsmanship, and I’m id argue that “I knew I’d want you” stands up well against The Beatles’ early output, being one of my favourite songs of that era. A treat to revisit this after many years.

It's just a jolly Bob Dylan cover album and that's not a bad thing.

3.5

(8.83) ★★★★

3.5/5

4.5

Relatively good debut for the 60s containing at least a trio of the best recordings for the decade. Title track opener is a supreme bit of jingle jangle - Dylan done decently. And I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better is absolutely class as well. Compared to these soaring highs the rest of the album does come off as a bit dodo like. All I Really Wanna Do Plus being the main other main catchy number. We’ll Meet Again closer is super corny and would have been best left to Vera Lynn. 3.5 all things considered but 4 for here because of the supreme highlights.

8/10

A1 Mr. Tambourine Man - 10 A2 I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better - light 9 A3 Spanish Harlem Incident - decent 7 A4 You Won't Have to Cry - decent 7 A5 Here Without You - lite 7 A6 The Bells of Rhymney - lite 9 B1 All I Really Want to Do - strong 8 B2 I Knew I'd Want You - lite 7 B3 It's No Use - decent 7 B4 Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe - decent 7 B5 Chimes of Freedom - strong 8 B6 We'll Meet Again - lite 8 Favourite 3 Tracks - 1. Mr. Tambourine Man 2. The Bells of Rhymney 3. I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better - NOTE RATINGS ARE FROM A FIRST LISTEN - SCORE - 7.8/10

Good Byrds

Highly innovative in their time, of course; but what stands out about listening to this album now is how comfortable and familiar it all seems.

Generally not a fan of a good deal of old albums as i find them mostly boring and generic but this one was really good!

Beatles vibe with an easier listening experience in my opinion

звучало веселее

This was super easy to listen to and fun, no particular favorites but I’ll be back

Solid album, I didn’t realize so many of the songs were covers.

i mean its a cool album, ive heard about the byrds a long time ago, but didnt listen to their music until today, and ive gotta say theyre pretty good

Enjoyed this. Sounds a lot like Rubber Soul which is one of my favourite Beatles albums. Like the jangly guitars and vocal harmonies, The Byrds certainly have a distinctive sound Docked a star because it's mostly covers

Fresh and new sounding, this is the record that feels most like an “American Beatles.” First cuts are letter perfect and the whole thing exudes warmth and humanity, especially "Bells of Rhymney" and "Chimes of Freedom" and "We'll Meet Again." If you like jangle, this seems more or less the creation of it. Nobody did Dylan better, as we all know.

3.8.

I am normally not one for covers, but these were kind of better than the original. I love the sound of a 12 string guitar, too. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

Definitely a British invasion band from the 60's.