My 1001 Albums Journey

Another band I feel like I know well, even though I really only know the hits. Sitting with the full record puts them in clearer focus — and yep, it’s folk and mostly Dylan covers everywhere. But The Byrds made them shimmer. Roger McGuinn’s jangly 12-string Rickenbacker is legendary — bright, chirpy, and now synonymous with this thing called folk rock that The Byrds helped popularise. There’s a sweetness to the sound, but a quiet confidence underneath. These weren’t just Dylan acolytes in matching jackets — they were the first truly effective American band to challenge the British Invasion on the charts. The Beatles might’ve kicked the door down, but The Byrds walked through with shades on. And the influence? Actually insane. You can trace a straight line from here to everyone like The Turtles, Simon & Garfunkel, the Smiths, The Stone Roses, Big Star, R.E.M., Tom Petty, Wilco… even early Jayhawks. The ripple effect is everywhere. Verdict: Very very excellent (not *quite* essential — I’ve lived most of my life without hearing it) For fans of: Dylan covers, The Beatles, Big Star, harmonies on highways and post-acid clarity