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This book, while sometimes accurate is obviously written to favor Roger (or Jim) McGuinn. The Notorious Byrd Brothers was an album that was made by mainly non Byrd musicians, exactly what Crosby had feared from the beginning. This album is probably a contractual obligation that the band as a whole could not deliver. It was made by the label, using the Byrds name and to market and sell an album. While this may be a landmark album, it is hardly a Byrds album at all. The book chronicles the Byrds history, but gives very little information that doesn't favor McGuinn, who by most accounts was difficult to work with, as indicated by the Burrito Brothers a band started by Hillman and Gram Parsons (from the Byrds incarnation of "Sweetheart of The Rodeo"), and drummer, Mike Clarke, who like Crosby was either kicked out or quit during the Notorious Byrd Brotheres Sessions. Also, the success of Crosby and Gene Clark is mentioned in passing, and even downplayed, as if the pinnacle of their careers was the Byrds. We all know Crosby went on to greater heights than the Byrds could ever hope for, and was used for his harmonies by James Taylor, Linda Rondstadt and Jackson Browne as well as countless other recording artissts, to say nothing of his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and forty year history as a member of Crosby, Stills, Nash (and sometimes Young). While this is beside the Byrds history, it is way more than a stunning afternote. This and the subsequent albums also led to a lawsuit by the original Byrds for McGuinn using the Byrds name when he was the only Byrd that was original. The devasting loss of two original members during the making of this album is dismissed as minor events. The fact that the Mike Clarke, the drummer moved to Hawaii and got a regular job is used to examplify what a poor drummer he was. Although recordings of the Byrds do not support that assertion. In fact, he was disgusted with the business and left to vacation. Nothing is mentioned about how difficult all of the members claimed McGuinn was to work with, and how he attempted to dominate and control the band in musical direction and material. The fact that Crosby was kicked out of the band, and yet they continued to use his material indicates that Crosby was of greater value than the Byrds, (Hillman and McGuinn at this point) wanted to admit, is not mentioned. The album is a bad example of the Byrds catalog, if it is a Byrds album at all. That is what makes this album so important in Rock history. This is never addressed in the book. The album signifies the first major band to be taken control of by the labels in such a blatant attempt to make money and it symbolizes the demise of the artist freedom and corruption of the art of pop music by the labels and powers that be. Missed oppotunities to use this album as a symbol of the marketing decades to come, and how it was a lesson to the other Byrds to stop the corruption of their name and image. The album also signifies the lack of cohesion and coordination that is needed to make a good recording by a band, and how any great musicians can make good music of little or no character. The intrinsic value of the performances on the album become the mockery of the musicians and their work, making them studio musicians fulfilling a contract. The albums poor sales reflect what a poor album it was. It is a quick read, lacking facts, but chronicles the Byrds non personal history with some accuracy.Read full review
Having been a Byrds fanatic since I was 12 yrs old in 1973 and reading Timeless Flight the biography of the Byrds and the extensive liner notes to the reissued Byrds cd's,I was impressed by the new information Rick Menck brings in his book.Its great to listen again and listen for the differances in the differant drummers and hear the way Roger Mcguinn and Chris Hillman covered up for the missing David Crosby.Essential reading for the Byrds Freak!
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