The Byrds

THE BYRDS Went ‘EIGHT MILES HIGH’ Today 60 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

14 March 2026

THE BYRDS (1964-1973) were introduced by their record label as the American answer to The Beatles. Well, that was what they hoped for, but it didn’t work out that way, although the Californian band did write some great stuff, like with their single EIGHT MILES HIGH.

The jangly hit was released on 14 March 1966, today 60 years ago.
It was written by Gene Clark, Roger McGuinn, and David Crosby.

The song was subject to a U.S. radio ban shortly after its release, following allegations published in the broadcasting trade journal the Gavin Report, regarding perceived drug connotations in its lyrics. The band strenuously denied these allegations at the time, but in later years, both Clark and Crosby admitted that the song was at least partly inspired by their drug use.

Caused by the ban Eight Miles High stranded on #14 in the US.

Let’s go up, and fly high, people.

Short Bio – Discography

THE BYRDS Released Their 2nd LP ‘TURN! TURN! TURN!’ 60 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

Significant longplayers from the past

7 December 2025

Iconic nightingales THE BYRDS, by some described at the time as the American answer to the British Beatles (sorry, guys, wrong answer) released their 2nd LP ‘TURN! TURN! TURN!’ on 6 December 1965, 60 years ago.

Frontman/lead guitarist Roger McGuinn‘s contributions to songwriting increased and rhythm guitarist David Crosby received his first writing credit on a Byrds album. However, the band’s prolific songwriter Gene Clark (vocals, tambourine) still contributed most of
the original material.

It reached #17 in the US (with a run
of 40 weeks on the charts) and #11
in the UK.

The New York Times wrote: “Not so strong as the first Byrds LP,
Mr. Tambourine Man, but still an effective program of folk-rock.”

SINGLE

ALBUM


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Biography – All Albums

THE BYRDS Topped The UK Single Charts Today 60 Years Ago With BOB DYLAN Gem ‘MR. TAMBOURINE MAN’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

26 June 2025

L.A.’s legendary nightingale voices THE BYRDSs (1964-1973) scored a big
hit with their cover of tmeless Bob Dylan gem MR. TAMBOURINE MAN.

It reached the top of the UK Singles Chart on 26 June 1965,
this day 60 years ago. It also topped the US, South African
and Irish charts, and was a Top-10 single everywhere else.

“Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I’m not sleepy and there is no place I’m going to
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I’ll come following you”

THE BYRDS

BOB DYLAN

YO LA TENGO Cover THE BYRDS Easily – ‘I WASN’T BORN TO FOLLOW’

Posted on by JL

27 August 2020

Veteran alt-rockers YO LA TENGO from New Jersey just announced a new EP called SLEEPLESS NIGHT, with covers of five of their favorite songs. One of Bob Dylan, The Flying Machine, The Delmore Brothers, Ronnie Lane, and The Byrds and one new track of their own.

The covers were all initially released as part of a limited-edition catalog for a Los Angeles Country Museum Of Art retrospective of the Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara who assisted the band to choose the five covers.

You can hear here their take on THE BYRDS‘ ballad I WASN’T BORN TO FOLLOW, co-written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, which was part of the soundtrack of the classic movie Easy Rider…

The original…

YO LA TENGO: Facebook

THE BYRDS – No 1 Hit In The USA With MR. TAMBOURINE MAN On 26 June 1966…

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

26 June 2019

thebyrds

Today 53 years ago, on 26 June 1966, the legendary harmonious Americana choir THE BYRDS scored their first USA number one hit with a cover of BOB DYLAN‘s topper MR. TAMBOURINE MAN (which appeared on his excellent Bringing It All Back Home LP).
The song also peaked on the UK Singles Chart a few weeks later. The Byrds turned the eternal troubadour’s acoustic version into an electrifying classic with jingle jangle guitars as suggested by Dylan’s lyric: “in the jingle jangle morning I’ll come following you”.

Here’s the man…

THE BYRDS: Biography

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