Introductory note: When writing this I wrote as if the spirit of the group was talking. Any drug references are meant to be reflect the spirit of the times and are not meant to be inflammatory or derogatory - ditto the 'palimony' reference.

Mr. Tambourine Man

It's an auspicious starting point. The omnipotent title track, a haunting 'Chimes of Freedom', a soulful 'Here Without You', Mike Clarke's drums trying to devour your eardrums on Jackie DeShannon's 'Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe', while the rest of the band does the Bo Diddley. Folk meets Rock, both come out winners. A sound is born, as is a legend. The Byrds.

Turn!Turn!Turn!

There had to be a follow up. We did pretty good, but a few folks said we rely too much on Dylan. So lets go back for some classic rock, I mean Rock of Ages, we'll do that Turn!Turn!Turn! thing. And Gene & Roger will write more great songs. And we'll do some silly stuff too, like a rock version of 'Oh, Susannah!'. And maybe a couple of Dylan songs, 'cause we want to. And it'll turn out just fine, trust me.

5D (Fifth Dimension)

Gene couldn't handle flying. But we wrote this great flying song, 'Eight Miles High', everyone will probably think it's about drugs. Jim (he's not Roger yet) came up with the theory of relativity title track, so we broke his slide rule. David stared at the sun too long and came up with 'What's Happening?!?!'. Then Jim got this visit from spacemen, and the whole band thought they were bluesmen, Capt. Soul. It was just a dream, we think.

Younger Than Yesterday

No more flying songs. Everyone thinks they're about drugs. We'll have real drug songs like 'Mind Gardens'. Searing love songs like 'Everyone's Been Burned'. Chris' sweetheart went to the rodeo, and so did he for 'Time Between'. Jim saw the Monkees and figured out the secret for success in 'So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star' (whew!). Those pesky spacemen intercepted our broadcast at 'CTA -102'. Pass the acid please.

Notorious Byrd Bros.

We had to ask David to leave. He wouldn't play nice with the other boys and kept playing hooky. He didn't like the Goffin/King songs 'Wasn't Born to Follow' & 'Goin' Back', and refused to play on them. We came up with some great stuff like 'Artificial Energy', 'Change Is Now', and 'Get To You'. The last one is a nice tune, but I wonder if these steel guitars mean something. Wrote a song about the movie '2001: A Space Odyssey', I wonder if our songs will be in a movies someday. 'Hello, Peter...'

Sweetheart of The Rodeo

Chris and his friend, Gram, took us to get these western outfits. Says rock bands doing Hank Williams is the coming thing. The music's coming along great, but everywhere we go, people look at us like freaks, long-haired cowboys. Roger made the band do some Dylan tunes, but they sure sound different with steel guitar. Chris finally found his sweetheart, and she posed for the album cover, but she was kind of wooden.

Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde

Gram quit instead of going to South Africa. Chris quit too. Roger and Clarence, and his friend Gene, and this studio guy, John York, put the album together. Great nuke sound at the end of 'This Wheel's on Fire' which is what Roger will do if he sees Gram. Songs about drug store truck drivin' men and children of the universe. I think someone snuck in and spiked the lemonade.

Ballad of Easy Rider

Well it's about time! Roger's friend Peter ran out of money, so he used our songs. I'm not sure that came out right. Everybody got religion, so we did 'Oil in My Lamp', and this 'Jesus' song. Gene got to thinking he was 'Gunga Din', and everybody felt 'Tulsa County Blue'. John had a problem with his dog, 'Fido', and 'Armstrong, Aldrin & Collins' came on in the middle of the morning. Hope they don't get a talk show.

(Untitled)

Too much touring. Couldn't think of a title. At least we taped the tour and put it on the record. Roger decided he wanted a 'Chestnut Mare'...at least she won't ask for palimony. Clarence got involved with a 'Truck Stop Girl'. Gene almost got left on Yesterday's Train', and the new guy, Skip, wanted to welcome everybody back home. It was a strange tour. By the way, 'You All Look Alike'.

Byrdmaniax

The tour did it. Everyone thinks Roger's too bossy. He wants to grow up to be a politician. He finally let everyone have their say. Skip couldn't decide if he was William R. Hearst in 'Citizen Kane' or some fifties greaseball in a 'Tunnel of Love'. Gene and Clarence learned to dance the 'Green Apple Quick Step'. Clarence got Jamaica to say she will (?). They all got mudpacks for the album cover and look years younger, 'I Trust'.

Farther Along

Roger fell in love with a 'Tiffany Queen'. Skip got involved in 'America's Great National Pastime'. Clarence's dog, 'Bugler', died, and he was so broke up. This antique dealer friend, Sandy, got stuck in the echo chamber while wandering around the recording studio. Since they've been doing so much touring, they did a song for their roadies, 'B.B. Class Road'. The boys are all talking about records they're working on - wonder what this means?

Byrds

Roger was 'Born to Rock 'n' Roll', Gene had a 'Changing Heart', David was 'Laughing'. Chris promised 'Things Will Be Better'. They all did their best, and everybody pitched in with playing, singing, producing, and the dishes. David tried the hardest (and broke the fewest dishes), so they put his name on the cover as producer. People loved the album so much, it turned gold. But the critics were mean, and the boys gave up.