Younger Than Yesterday
With their first two albums, "Mr. Tambourine Man" (June, 1965) and "Turn! Turn! Turn" (December, 1965), the Byrds introduced the world to the new hybrid of folk and rock. Their following album, "Fifth Dimension" (1966), saw the Byrds continue with folk-rock but also experiment with new musical styles including jazz-rock, raga-rock, country-rock, and psychedelic-rock. "Fifth Dimension" was a bit of a discordant mess but proved to be a necessary step in the Byrds exploration of alternative musical genres. The next three Byrds albums are considered among the finest albums ever recorded by a rock band.
Jim McGuinn (lead guitar), David Crosby (rhythm guitar), Chris Hillman (bass), and Michael Clark (drums) entered Columbia's Hollywood studios on November 28, 1966 to begin work on their fourth album, "Younger Than Yesterday." Gary Usher was brought in as producer after working on Gene Clark's solo debut, "Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers." Recording sessions for the new album concluded on December 8.
"Younger Than Yesterday" explored many of the same musical styles of "Fifth Dimension," but the songwriting and performances are much more accomplished. The album is distinguished by Crosby's emergence as the dominant artistic force in the band. Also, Chris Hillman contributes songs for the first time including two country-influenced numbers that presage country-rock. McGuinn, such a force on the first three albums, takes a noticeable back seat to Crosby and Hillman on this album. Producer Usher used several recording techniques associated with psychedelic-rock including reverse tape effects.
"Younger Than Yesterday" was released on February 6, 1967 and peaked at #24 on the LP chart. The single, "So You Want To Be A Rock And Roll Star"/"Everybody's Been Burned" was released on January 9, 1967 and peaked at #29. "My Back Pages"/"Renaissance Fair" was released March 13 and peaked at #30. "Have You Seen Her Face"/"Don't Make Waves" was released May 22 and peaked at #74.
Critical and popular reception of "Younger Than Yesterday" at the time of its release was only lukewarm. Many rock listeners equated the Byrds with the passé folk-rock sound of "Mr. Tambourine Man." But "Younger Than Yesterday" has gained increasing recognition over the years as one of the very best rock albums of the 1960s. Rolling Stone selected it as #124 on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list published in 2003. In 2007, USA Today included "Younger Than Yesterday" as one of the 20 albums that defined 1967's "Summer of Love."
Jim McGuinn (lead guitar), David Crosby (rhythm guitar), Chris Hillman (bass), and Michael Clark (drums) entered Columbia's Hollywood studios on November 28, 1966 to begin work on their fourth album, "Younger Than Yesterday." Gary Usher was brought in as producer after working on Gene Clark's solo debut, "Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers." Recording sessions for the new album concluded on December 8.
"Younger Than Yesterday" explored many of the same musical styles of "Fifth Dimension," but the songwriting and performances are much more accomplished. The album is distinguished by Crosby's emergence as the dominant artistic force in the band. Also, Chris Hillman contributes songs for the first time including two country-influenced numbers that presage country-rock. McGuinn, such a force on the first three albums, takes a noticeable back seat to Crosby and Hillman on this album. Producer Usher used several recording techniques associated with psychedelic-rock including reverse tape effects.
"Younger Than Yesterday" was released on February 6, 1967 and peaked at #24 on the LP chart. The single, "So You Want To Be A Rock And Roll Star"/"Everybody's Been Burned" was released on January 9, 1967 and peaked at #29. "My Back Pages"/"Renaissance Fair" was released March 13 and peaked at #30. "Have You Seen Her Face"/"Don't Make Waves" was released May 22 and peaked at #74.
Critical and popular reception of "Younger Than Yesterday" at the time of its release was only lukewarm. Many rock listeners equated the Byrds with the passé folk-rock sound of "Mr. Tambourine Man." But "Younger Than Yesterday" has gained increasing recognition over the years as one of the very best rock albums of the 1960s. Rolling Stone selected it as #124 on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list published in 2003. In 2007, USA Today included "Younger Than Yesterday" as one of the 20 albums that defined 1967's "Summer of Love."
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