The Byrds were such a huge influence on me, and I have great memories of hanging out with my older brothers listening to the first 2 albums. 1965, 9 years old, and all these years later it still resonates with me. This CD features solo piano versions of their most well known songs. There's also an improvised piano solo on each track.
The Byrds; "the American Beatles." The iconic music of the Byrds has been quite a journey to discover again; a musical archeological excavation. I transcribed note for note each song with all the harmonies and guitar riffs, before coming up with an arrangement. What I found was really interesting. Mostly how the sum of the individual group members were far greater as the whole. In no particular order....
The song writing of Gene Clark is overlooked in the oeuvre of the 60's music history. His melodies, chords and lyrics were individual and his lyrics very introspective, and in the process of transcribing and arranging these songs, it became apparent that he was as important as any other mid 60's songwriter. The true test of solo piano interpretations is how they hold up with just the bare bones of melodies and chords. I find the Byrds songs hold up very well.
David Crosby is another key facet of the Byrd's alchemy. His harmonies made the songs really pop out to the ear. This is because he instinctually went for the 4th's and 5th's instead of just the 3rd's that is mostly heard in pop. This really became apparent in my transcriptions of these songs. The Byrds vocals sound like they do because of Crosby's harmonies blended with either Gene Clark or Roger McGuinn.
Chris Hillman on bass; he started off as a mandolin player in bluegrass bands, and was recruited as a bassist for the group. His root movements are surprisingly intuitive and unusual for that era; another overlooked talent.
And of course, there's Roger McGuinn. Much has been written about his "jangly" 12 string electric Rickenbacker guitar. But his picking patterns, straight from folk guitar, are the main reason for the Byrds sound. Also the sound of his voice is totally unique in 60's pop. It was his arrangements of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger songs that hit such a nerve in 1965 and single handedly ushered in the "folk/rock" sound that started a trend that begat Poco, the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Eagles.
The Byrds on piano. Who would've thunk it? In my opinion, it works great. But you probably had to have lived through that era to appreciate this CD. I can hear the lyrics and harmonies plain as day when I listen to these piano arrangements. And it takes me back to 1965 when I was just a classical piano nerd trying to keep up with my two older brothers when I was only 9 years old. And fond memories of my orange Zenith transistor radio playing "Mr. Tambourine Man" along with all the other hits by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones....