Click to return to Dave’s Music Database home page.

Released: January 3, 1968

Rating: 4.302 (average of 18 ratings)

Genre: rock > folk

Quotable: --

Album Tracks:

  1. Artificial Energy (Clarke / Hillman/ McGuinn)
  2. Goin’ Back (Goffin / King)
  3. Natural Harmony (Hillman)
  4. Draft Morning (Crosby / Hillman / McGuinn)
  5. Wasn’t Born to Follow (Goffin / King / McGuinn)
  6. Get to You (Hillman / McGuinn)
  7. Change Is Now (Hillman / McGuinn)
  8. Old John Robertson (Hillman / McGuinn)
  9. Tribal Gathering (Crosby / Hillman)
  10. Dolphins’ Smile (Crosby / Hillman / McGuinn)
  11. Space Odyssey (Hippard / Hippard / McGuinn)

Total Running Time: 47:49

Sales (in millions):

sales in U.S. only --
sales in U.K. only - estimated --
sales in all of Europe as determined by IFPI – click here to go to their site. --
sales worldwide - estimated --

Peak:

peak on U.S. Billboard album chart 47
peak on U.K. album chart 12

Singles/Hit Songs:

  • Wasn’t Born to Follow (9/69) --
  • Goin’ Back (10/20/67) #89 US

Notes: “The CD reissue adds six bonus tracks, including different versions of ‘Goin’ Back’ and ‘Draft Morning,’ a few instrumentals [‘Moog Raga,’ ‘Bound to Fall,’ and ‘Universal Mind Decoder’], and David Crosby's controversial ‘Triad’; unlisted on the sleeve is a rehearsal outtake which captures comically vitriolic arguments among the band” (Unterberger).

Awards:

Rated one of the top 1000 albums of all time by Dave’s Music Database. Click to learn more. Mojo Magazine’s 100 Greatest Albums

The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
Review:
“The recording sessions for the Byrds’ fifth album, The Notorious Byrd Brothers, were conducted in the midst of internal turmoil that found them reduced to a duo by the time the record was completed. That wasn't evident from listening to the results, which showed the group continuing to expand the parameters of their eclecticism while retaining their hallmark guitar jangle and harmonies. With assistance from producer Gary Usher, they took more chances in the studio, enhancing the spacy quality of tracks like Natural Harmony and Goffin & King's Wasn’t Born to Follow with electronic phasing.” RU

“Washes of Moog synthesizer formed the eerie backdrop for Space Odyssey, and the songs were craftily and unobtrusively linked with segues and fades. But the Byrds did not bury the essential strengths of their tunes in effects: Goin’ Back (also written by Goffin & King) was a magnificent and melodic cover with the expected tasteful 12-string guitar runs that should have been a big hit. Tribal Gathering has some of the band's most effervescent harmonies; Draft Morning is a subtle and effective reflection of the horrors of the Vietnam War; and Old John Robertson looks forward to the country-rock that would soon dominate their repertoire.” RU

Review Source(s):

Related DMDB Links:

Previous Album: Greatest Hits (compilation: 1965-67) The Byrds’ DMDB page Next Album: Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968)
Michael Clarke’s DMDB page David Crosby’s DMDB page Chris Hillman’s DMDB page Roger McGuinn’s DMDB page

Last updated November 16, 2010.