Music video by The Byrds performing Old Blue (Audio). Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Clarence White is my all time favorite guitarists. Had the pleasure of seeing The Byrds a couple of times in the late 60s and early 70s which was pure delight. The sudden death of Clarence was a major tragedy. Rest in peace, Clarence.
One of my oldest friends and band mates lost his pooch of 15 years on 11-28-23. RIP Jack, the best of dogs. I sent him this as a tribute. Music fucking rules.
A big fan of the Byrds, Roger in particular, from the get-go...and still. In the early 90s Roger was playing small venues and was a guest on my local radio station to promote his appearance at a club. The station had a call-in thing and I actually got to talk with Roger ! Big thrill for me ! I named this record as one of my favorites of the Byrds.. he seemed surprized, said it didn't get mentioned much but that he really liked how the finished record turned out. Thanks, Roger for your music thru the years.
It took me forever to master that opening clap and drum fill simultaneously with my own pair of hands (no drumsticks attached lol), but I finally got it spot on! :D
A really unique song (especially the lyrics) for a group that migrated from Rock/Psychedelic music to Country Western style music. The Byrds created some really good C&W music, like this one and Green Apple Quick Step. Got to see them in concert during this era once back around 1970.
What an interesting time period! I was born in '72 so I was not old enough to experience this. In the past month I just stumbled upon this version of the Byrds after looking up Telecaster guitars and looking into the B-Bender which of course led to Clarence White. I am blown away with Clarence's amazing talent and melodic bends! I absolutely love this time period of the psychedelic/country mix of the Byrd's music. What an absolute treat! I'm painstakingly trying to learn some of Clarence's guitar riffs.
Clarence's guitar is really natural and melodic, but Roger's background guitar and the bass lines are both essential. And then there's McGuinn's remarkable singing, which many take for granted. Don't listen to the song for a day or so, and then try to recreate his singing line. That's when you realize how good he was.
Elwood Blue was my part lab part boxer hound. Mr Blue id call him. Or Woody. Or Mr woodster. Or elly. Or Blue. All the above. Lived in the woods and this dog was smart like stink. Knew bears personally lol. Didn't mess with them he kept them as friends and gave them their space. Liked owls. Respected Turtles. Loved to go canoe and go down rapids. Ahhhh Mr blue you were the best!! This song reminded me of him. Been gone for years. The Byrds played Californias in WIndsor Ontario in the 80s. Thanks for making the trip to play near us. So lucky to have the music we did back then live and with big names here and there. The world of music is a big pie hole now. No Cheery topic either. Not even a Crust!
I can't help but wonder why their Ballad Of Easy Rider album sold so much better than this one did and why this album was one of their worst selling. This album is more consistent than Ballad Of Easy Rider. I think that album is alright but this one is so much better!
This imho is a better album than Easy Rider. i would put down he better sales for Easy Rider being down to its use in the film of that name which was a success and that was reflected in better sales for that album. I think its more of a proper country rock album than 'Sweetheart' though overall i think Sweetheart has better songs. There was much criticism at the time of the lack of 12 string* on Dr Byrds and also McGuinn's dominance vocally . In the hierarchy of Byrds albums its clearly not the best but i can think of four albums off the top of my head it is better than. A oft forgotten fact about it is that it was the first album where there was only one original member of the band left and that was seen as a negative. * ( that critic also applied to Sweetheart and it is used more on Dr Byrds )
I am afraid to say that I prefer the country inflected songs on this album to those on Sweetheart of the Rodeo. I appreciate that this is a heretical view. For me, Sweetheart tended to sound quite self conscious and somewhat stilted, the pedal steel intrusive and cliched (and I like the instrument) and the overall effect, to me, was of trying too hard to sound 'authentically country'. Here, the country sounds seem to have been better internalised and expressed as something personal rather than just copied. Perhaps this just reflects Jim McG having had more time to come to grips with country music and having a masterful producer on hand (although the band didn't like his work). I appreciate the genius of Gram Parsons and the quality of the personnel on Sweetheart and I recognise that this will be a minority view. It is not intended to cause offence - it is simply that I was struck by this when listening to the two albums side by side. Thanks for posting this album, by the way.
I agree. Sweetheart was a great album in its own way, but it was basically a rock band imitating a country band. Dr. Byrds was much more of a rock band using country elements in an original way, and that made it more "country-rock". It also helped having Clarence White in the band full-time, as opposed to him being a session player for select tracks on the previous three albums. His Stringbender (co-invented with Gene Parsons) allowed him to replicate the steel guitar sound, adding to the strong country element of the later Byrds' music.
I agree here as well. I love the Sweetheart's album. This Dr. Byrd album is unique with Clarence's country guitar bending sprinkled here and there making it a real treat.
I'm totally new to Byrds mostly and I am with you. The whole album honky tonk just bored me after a few.... this sounds better after Wheels....they are better when mixing it up on an album...
Clarence White is my all time favorite guitarists. Had the pleasure of seeing The Byrds a couple of times in the late 60s and early 70s which was pure delight. The sudden death of Clarence was a major tragedy. Rest in peace, Clarence.
One of my oldest friends and band mates lost his pooch of 15 years on 11-28-23. RIP Jack, the best of dogs. I sent him this as a tribute. Music fucking rules.
Not hard to hear why Jimmy Page admired Clarence White's guitar mastery so much. Clarence and Roger's voice made a marvelous combo. 👍
A big fan of the Byrds, Roger in particular, from the get-go...and still. In the early 90s Roger was playing small venues and was a guest on my local radio station to promote his appearance at a club. The station had a call-in thing and I actually got to talk with Roger ! Big thrill for me ! I named this record as one of my favorites of the Byrds.. he seemed surprized, said it didn't get mentioned much but that he really liked how the finished record turned out. Thanks, Roger for your music thru the years.
It took me forever to master that opening clap and drum fill simultaneously with my own pair of hands (no drumsticks attached lol), but I finally got it spot on! :D
A really unique song (especially the lyrics) for a group that migrated from Rock/Psychedelic music to Country Western style music. The Byrds created some really good C&W music, like this one and Green Apple Quick Step. Got to see them in concert during this era once back around 1970.
What an interesting time period! I was born in '72 so I was not old enough to experience this. In the past month I just stumbled upon this version of the Byrds after looking up Telecaster guitars and looking into the B-Bender which of course led to Clarence White. I am blown away with Clarence's amazing talent and melodic bends! I absolutely love this time period of the psychedelic/country mix of the Byrd's music. What an absolute treat! I'm painstakingly trying to learn some of Clarence's guitar riffs.
Ever have a dog???
Clarence's guitar is really natural and melodic, but Roger's background guitar and the bass lines are both essential. And then there's McGuinn's remarkable singing, which many take for granted. Don't listen to the song for a day or so, and then try to recreate his singing line. That's when you realize how good he was.
Elwood Blue was my part lab part boxer hound. Mr Blue id call him. Or Woody. Or Mr woodster. Or elly. Or Blue. All the above. Lived in the woods and this dog was smart like stink. Knew bears personally lol. Didn't mess with them he kept them as friends and gave them their space. Liked owls. Respected Turtles. Loved to go canoe and go down rapids. Ahhhh Mr blue you were the best!! This song reminded me of him. Been gone for years. The Byrds played Californias in WIndsor Ontario in the 80s. Thanks for making the trip to play near us. So lucky to have the music we did back then live and with big names here and there. The world of music is a big pie hole now. No Cheery topic either. Not even a Crust!
The only studio LP in the Byrds discography with Roger McGuinn’s singing the lead vocal on every cut.
great song😃
Quite touching really
This song was featured on KXCI 91.3 in Tucson
I can't help but wonder why their Ballad Of Easy Rider album sold so much better than this one did and why this album was one of their worst selling. This album is more consistent than Ballad Of Easy Rider. I think that album is alright but this one is so much better!
This imho is a better album than Easy Rider. i would put down he better sales for Easy Rider being down to its use in the film of that name which was a success and that was reflected in better sales for that album. I think its more of a proper country rock album than 'Sweetheart' though overall i think Sweetheart has better songs. There was much criticism at the time of the lack of 12 string* on Dr Byrds and also McGuinn's dominance vocally . In the hierarchy of Byrds albums its clearly not the best but i can think of four albums off the top of my head it is better than. A oft forgotten fact about it is that it was the first album where there was only one original member of the band left and that was seen as a negative. * ( that critic also applied to Sweetheart and it is used more on Dr Byrds )
I am afraid to say that I prefer the country inflected songs on this album to those on Sweetheart of the Rodeo. I appreciate that this is a heretical view. For me, Sweetheart tended to sound quite self conscious and somewhat stilted, the pedal steel intrusive and cliched (and I like the instrument) and the overall effect, to me, was of trying too hard to sound 'authentically country'. Here, the country sounds seem to have been better internalised and expressed as something personal rather than just copied. Perhaps this just reflects Jim McG having had more time to come to grips with country music and having a masterful producer on hand (although the band didn't like his work). I appreciate the genius of Gram Parsons and the quality of the personnel on Sweetheart and I recognise that this will be a minority view. It is not intended to cause offence - it is simply that I was struck by this when listening to the two albums side by side. Thanks for posting this album, by the way.
I agree. Sweetheart was a great album in its own way, but it was basically a rock band imitating a country band. Dr. Byrds was much more of a rock band using country elements in an original way, and that made it more "country-rock". It also helped having Clarence White in the band full-time, as opposed to him being a session player for select tracks on the previous three albums. His Stringbender (co-invented with Gene Parsons) allowed him to replicate the steel guitar sound, adding to the strong country element of the later Byrds' music.
I agree here as well. I love the Sweetheart's album. This Dr. Byrd album is unique with Clarence's country guitar bending sprinkled here and there making it a real treat.
I'm totally new to Byrds mostly and I am with you. The whole album honky tonk just bored me after a few.... this sounds better after Wheels....they are better when mixing it up on an album...
@@russallert This sounds closer to so called Alternative Country from people like Neko Case or Wilco.
What are the words to this song
Too repetitive for me. Same for 'Take A Whiff' of (Untitled).