Byrdmaniax (Rm) (W/4 Prev Unre: Byrds: Amazon.ca: Music

1. Glory, Glory

2. Pale Blue

3. I Trust

4. Tunnel Of Love

5. Citizen Kane

6. I Wanna Grow Up To Be A Politician

7. Absolute Happiness

8. Green Apple Quick Step

9. My Destiny

10. Kathleen's Song

11. Jamaica Say You Will

12. Just Like A Woman

13. Pale Blue

14. Think I'm Gonna Feel Better

Product Description

From Amazon.com

Byrdmaniax has been sidelined ever since its original 1971 release, when it arrived in the wake of the triumphant Untitled. At the time, the group's musical diversity was beginning to suggest uncertainty, but in hindsight--and with the inclusion here of three contemporaneous bonus tracks--there is much to savor. Highlights include Roger McGuinn's poignant "Kathleen's Song" and the band's striking cover of Jackson Browne's "Jamaica Say You Will." Skip Battin was never better than on "Citizen Kane," a collaboration with maverick Kim Fowley. Original tracks are enhanced by a sensitive alternate version of McGuinn's "Pale Blue" and, particularly, by Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman." Byrdmaniax may not be the pick of the Byrds' canon, but it sits well in Sony's imaginative repackaging of this much-loved band's catalog. --Patrick Humphries

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com ^(beta)

Amazon.com: 3.2 out of 5 stars (24 customer reviews)

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than they tell you, Feb 25 2000

By Jules - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Byrdmaniax (Rm) (W/4 Prev Unre (Audio CD)

Ahhh! The much maligned BYRDMANIAX, recently likened by a UK journalist to what the Byrds would sound like if Richard Carpenter was producing. Background story: The Byrds' previous album (UNTITLED) is a (relative) critical/commercial success which provides the band with a much needed upswing in fortunes. By the time of the recording of this, the follow-up, they're having personal problems and are out on the road a lot. Producer Terry Melcher plasters results in orchestrations (Phil Spector LET IT BE-style) to help disguise sub-standard performances (he says), band know nothing until record released (they say).

Results? Pretty good, on the whole. "Kathleen's Song" (held over from UNTITLED) is all the better for Melcher's overdubs - it's achingly beautiful - as is the not-dissimilar "Pale Blue". Other highlights include Skip Battin's "Absolute Happiness" and the Clarence White sung "Jamaica (Say you Will)". Other tracks ain't so wonderful, but the album's far from being the dog it's been rumoured to be for so long.

The bonus tracks consist of another UNTITLED-era recording ("Just Like a Woman"), an alternate version ("Pale Blue") and an out-take - a version of Gene Clark's "Think I'm Gonna Feel Better"*. What we don't get is the rumoured alternate take of "Jamaica" which Clarence White always said to be vastly superior to the album version.

* At least I think it's the Gene Clark song, I haven't heard it yet!

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Flawed masterpiece, Dec 11 1999

By burritobrother - Published on Amazon.com

"Byrdmaniax" is a marvelous late-period Byrds album, with some stellar songs and affecting performances. In fact, there are several all- time Byrds classics to be found: 'Pale Blue', 'I Wanna Grow Up To Be A Politician' and 'Glory, Glory'. The very best tracks, though, are better than anything The Byrds had ever come up with to that time. McGuinn's amazing 'I Trust' and Skip Battin's strange ode to old Hollywood, 'Citizen Kane' (the guitars on that track, along with the raw attack of Gene Parson's drumming, seems to predict grunge...I'm just babbling now). Then there's Skip's pastoral 'Absolute Happiness' which is not at all bad. Actually, all of the material in "Byrdmaniax" is downright great; the only flaw--and this is a big one-- is the overproduction. The Byrds were at their height at this point, with the McGuinn-Battin-Parsons-White lineup; and yet they're buried underneith tons of ridiculous strings. That pretty much destroyed the wonderful 'Kathleen's Song' (without the kitchen sink it is included on the 1990 Byrds box set) and vastly diminishes the power of 'Pale Blue' and 'My Destiny'. It should be noted that The Byrds were not responsible for this and were incensed tremendously that their producer would screw them so badly; as a direct result the band itself produced the next lp, "Farther Along". That album has the edge over "Byrdmaniax" due to it's amazingly quiet and clean simplicity of both material and production. But don't pass up "Byrdmaniax". There are several great cuts that didn't make the box set (why in the world was 'Citizen Kane' not included in the box? ) and that are necessary for anyone wishing to gain a complete understanding of one of America's greatest and most influential country-rock bands. While "Byrdmaniax" is not currently in print in the US, it should be reissued soon.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Eclectic Masterpiece, Nov 7 2000

By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Byrdmaniax (Rm) (W/4 Prev Unre (Audio CD)

Upon first hearing this recording in '71, having already been a fan of the early and middle Byrd line-ups and a recent devotee to the then newest "Untitled" line-up, I admit I was challenged by the eclectic, richly produced, and varied song repertoire of "Byrdmaniax"... but not for long. This wonderful recording soon became and has long been one of my favorite Byrds albums... not for its traditional, predictable or comfortable nature... but because of the depth of material, spirit of adventure, and the overwhelmingly beautiful, haunting and spiritual quality of almost every song on the album. "Tunnel of Love" and "My Destiny" are soulfully disturbing tracks... "Tunnel of Love" utilizing a healthy dose of tongue in cheek, but when the organ and horns kick in at fever pitch at song's end atop the incessant, lumbering piano riff... you know you've died and gone to carnival heaven. And if I have Terry Melcher to thank for the rich arrangements, so be it... "My Destiny" is the Byrds answer to Ray Charles' "Goin' Down Slow" from the "Cryin Time" sessions... "I Trust" is a wonderful gospel number that never fails to lift the spirits... "Kathleen's Song", "Pale Blue" and their version of "Jamaica Say You Will" engulf the senses like a rich tapestry... these songs are simply beautiful. "Citizen Kane" is offbeat and infectious... Overall, the album works on the strength of its rich and varied content... This re-release is true to the original.. the sound quality is exceptional... and the extra tracks are a special bonus. I encourage those of you with a wide palette and ear for the uniquely beautiful to indulge yourself the opportunity to discover a grossly under appreciated recording that saturates the senses with a thick dose of soulful melancholy, pastoral space cowboy, and playful acerbic wit... And hey, if you don't like it, you've got all of those other great Byrds, Burrito and Parsons albums to listen to.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 24 reviews 3.2 out of 5 stars

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Byrdmaniax (Rm) (W/4 Prev Unre

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