With only two of the original members left standing, it’s only natural that the Byrds would reinvent themselves, but no one could have predicted the extent to which their sound would change. 

By hiring Gram Parsons, the band found itself set on a mission to unite classic country music with contemporary rock, a mixture for which there was no obvious fan base. Parsons pushed the band hard in the direction that he desired, with Hillman happy to make the change and McGuinn hesitantly acquiescing. Upon release, reception was lukewarm at best, and subsequent issues would cause this iteration of the band to break up after only six months. 

At the time, “Sweethearts of the Rodeo” was viewed as a failed experiment but today it is regarded as deeply influential in altering the direction of rock music. We also touch a bit on that album’s follow-up release, “Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde”, which caught the band partially retreating to a sound that tried to balance rock and country styles. 

Featured tracks include;

1) You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere

2) I Am a Pilgrim

3) The Christian Life

4) You Don’t Miss Your Water

5) You’re Still on My Mind

6) Pretty Boy Floyd

7) Hickory Wind

8) One Hundred Years from Now

9) Pretty Polly

10) Old Blue

11) Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man

12) Bad Night at the Whiskey