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Rating: Between 1968 and the early seventies, almost all of the most renowned west coast root artists found themselves in a whirlwind of country rock, especially the Byrds, who between '68 and '70 released the supercountry "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo," the half-country half-psychedelic "Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde," the country rock/folk rock works "Ballad Of Easy Rider" and "(Untitled)."
Already in my review of this latter work, I allowed myself to accuse McGuinn and company of lacking originality, if not perhaps cowardice, although, precisely on the front of compositional courage, within the Byrd family at that time there was even the name of a man against all odds like Kim Fowley. Well, even the historic producer of the Byrds, Terry Melcher, grew tired of "his" band and its way of playing, and while the boys were on tour, what did he do? He took the material on hand, summoned arranger-companion Paul Polina, explained his plot to him and... zap! Partial death to country rock!
In June 1971, unbeknownst to the musicians and later, when it was too late, against their expressed will, "Byrdmaniax" was born, the first "black" album of the Byrds.
Melcher took material from three different recording studio sessions: June and October 1970 for the first two and January '71 for the last. Since the previous album, "(Untitled)," was released in September '70 and recorded between May and June of that year, and considering that by the time "Byrdmaniax" was released, the band was still on a promotional tour for "(Untitled)," it is clear that much of this tracklist comes from the sessions for that album, essentially making the tracks on "Byrdmaniax" mostly leftovers. If we then consider that much of "(Untitled)" in turn derives from the ashes of a never-born musical, it's quickly said.
Just like the album from the previous year, then, "Byrdmaniax," its natural discard, from a compositional standpoint, exhibits the same characteristics: McGuinn/Levy for the musical's leftovers, Battin/Fowley for the rest. Overall, the predominant pair is without doubt Melcher/Polina.
The country version of the famous "Glory, Glory," thanks to the two, returns to being spiritual, only tinged with pedal steel guitar; McGuinn-style country "I Trust" first becomes a gospel, then a 45, and finally a flop; the country trick "I Wanna Grow Up To Be A Politician" at some point is grafted with a tune from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. On the Battin/Fowley front, in "Tunnel Of Love," there are too many keyboards, the brass rising almost leaves you stunned, and when the brass arrives, it no longer surprises because the track has already turned into a boogie fit for Fats Domino emulators. "Citizen Kane" seems more like a glam piece, and Fowley's crazy hand, always a deconstructor, is felt heavily.
But there are songs that even the most skilled producer and the most experienced arranger can't modify, even if they share the same intent, such as "Pale Blue," an acoustic folk piece so standard that any different version would become ridiculous, or the confidential country, all in a whisper, of "Absolute Happiness," a gem by Skip Battin and Kim Fowley, truth be told a bit too reminiscent of certain melodies by Cat Stevens.
To blues it, to dip it in sepia black, to further stuff such inevitably and irreversibly "white" songs means to sully them, although there is no potential masterpiece at stake here, quite the contrary. Moreover, doing it all underhand, unbeknownst to the involved parties... Without their support, Melcher could only hope to rearrange what was there and what could suffice for the purpose. Certain songs "untranslatable" into the language of soul needed to be replaced altogether, but there were no songs to serve as replacements, and the band, knowing nothing, couldn't produce any. Thus, the project becomes doubly unsuccessful because firstly it only "physically" succeeded halfway, that is, only for half of the songs on the setlist, and secondly because the little that did succeed turned out rather poorly.
"Americana" is generally a term that, in the musical sense, now encompasses an entire style resulting from a mix between rock, country, folk, root... The one in question would instead be "black Americana," born from the orgy between soul, gospel, spiritual, blues... I am convinced that Melcher was right with this idea of "continuity" in the name of American music, all things considered.
In conclusion, I believe that the idea of a turn, and a decisive one at that, wouldn't have been so bad. But to make such a significant turn, four leftovers are not enough, of which only half undergo a stylistic conversion, and it is not enough for the project to come to life artificially, independent of inspiration.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Glory, Glory (04:05)
Written by Arthur Reynolds
Glory, Glory Hallelujah
Since I laid my burden down
Glory, Glory Hallelujah
Since I laid my burden down
I feel so much better
so much better
Since I laid my burden down
I feel so much better
so much better
Since I laid my burden down
Glory, Glory Hallelujah
Since I laid my burden down
Glory, Glory Hallelujah
Since I laid my burden down
Thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus
Help me lay my burden down
I wanna thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus
Help me lay my burden down
Since I laid my burden down
Glory, Glory Hallelujah
Since I laid my burden down
Glory, Glory Hallelujah
03 I Trust (03:21)
Written by Roger McGuinn
In times of dispair, I think about the good things that you've done
And though you're not there, I sometimes ask myself, is anyone?
It's hard being human, when the whole world's uptight
But somehow I know
that everything's gonna work out all right
I might lose my patience, but won't you please try to understand
I've got obligations, and I intend to face 'em and take my stand
Oh, it's so hard being human, with all the troubles in sight
But somehow I know
that everything's gonna work out all right
Stick by me baby, in spite of my thoughts
that's all I want you to do, and try to help me when I'm down
and I'll take good care of you
Now I want to thank you for all the gentle loving that you give
it brightens my feelings and gives me the strength I need to live
Oh it's so hard being human, with all of the troubles in sight
But somehow I know
that everything's gonna work out all right
05 Citizen Kane (02:37)
Written by Skip Battin and Kim Fowley Fat ugly fat man swam In a red tire made of stone, A painted lady paddled next to him With two poodles on her lap. Garbo quietly picked a flower While the chauffeur won his check again, And Barrymore took a noon day nap And diamonds fell like rain. Cisco Kid had a bald-headed waitress Trapped 'neath a bed of brass. The French cook served them chocolate ants And some cold cuts on the grass. Louella ripped her zebra pants In the Polo Lounge And Errol Flynn was not let in Cause he was coming down Up in Xanadu diamonds fell like rain. Citizen Kane was king, poor Citizen Kane! Valentino suddenly appeared In his midnight blue tuxedo Had a falcon on his shoulder Eating chicken from his hands, And Fatty Arbuckle waddled by On way to the bath house green. Frankenstein ate the leading lady And licked the carcass clean Up in Xanadu diamonds fell like rain Citizen Kane was king, poor Citizen Kane
06 I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician (02:06)
(Roger McGuinn and Jacques Levy)
I want to grow up to be a politician
And take over this beautiful land
I want to grow up to be a politician
And be the old U.S. of A.'s number one man
I'll always be tough but I'll never be scary
I want to shoot guns or butter my bread
I'll work in the towns or conservate the prairies
And you can believe the future's ahead
I'll give the young the right to vote as soon as they mature
But spare the rod and spoil the child to help them feel secure
And if I win election day I might give you a job
I'll sign a bill to help the poor to show I'm not a snob
I'll open my door I'm charging no admission
And you can be sure I'll give you my hand
I want to grow up to be a politician
And take over this beautiful land
Instrumental (Brass Band)
I'll make you glad you got me in with everything I do
And I'll defend until the end the old red white and blue
I want to grow up to be a politician
And take over this beautiful land
And take over this beautiful land
And take over this beautiful land
© BMI
10 Kathleen's Song (02:44)
Written by Roger McGuinn and Jacques Levy
When I awake you will be gone
Shady tomorrow
I want to go where will you be
So I'll stay home letting my hair grow long
And I will be waiting for you
While fire burns summer is gone
Winter is sorrow
And time don't mean nothing to me
When only the owls (hours??) listen to hear my songs
And I will be walking in dew
And I will be waiting for you
Some people say love goes away
Not mine
A rose is left for your cheeks
I will borrow
And find a place for you to see
A sash of blue tells me your love is strong
Each spring my life, starting anew
And I will be waiting for you
11 Jamaica Say You Will (03:36)
Jamaica was the lovely one, I played her well
As we lay in the tall grass where the shadows fell
Hiding from the children so they would not tell
We would stay there 'till her sister rang the evening bell
Jamaica, say you will
Help me find a way to fill these empty hours
Say you will come again tomorrow
The daughter of a captain on the rolling seas
She would stare across the water from the trees
Last time he was home he held her on his knees
And said the next time they would sail away just where they pleased
Jamaica, say you will
Help me find a way to fill these lifeless sails
And stay until my ships can find the sea
Jamaica was a sweet young one, I loved her true
She was a comfort and a mercy through and through
Hiding from this world together, next thing I knew
We had brought her things down to the bay -- what could I do
Jamaica, say you will
Help me find a way to fill these sails
And we will sail until our waters have run dry
12 Just Like a Woman (03:59)
Nobody feels any pain
Tonight as I stand inside the rain
Ev'rybody knows that Baby's got new clothes
But lately I see her ribbons and her bows
Have fallen from her curls
She takes just like a
Woman, yes, she does
She makes love just like
A woman, yes, she does
And she aches just like a woman
But she breaks just like a little girl
Queen Mary, she's my friend
Yes, I believe I'll go see her again
Nobody has to guess
That Baby can't be blessed
Till she sees finally
That she's like all the rest
With her fog, her
Amphetamine and her pearls
She takes just like a
Woman, yes, she does
She makes love just like
A woman, yes, she does
And she aches just like a woman
But she breaks just like a little girl
It was raining from the first
And I was dying there of thirst
So I came in here
And your long-time curse hurts
But what's worse
Is this pain in here
I can't stay in here
Ain't it clear that-
I just can't fit
Yes, I believe it's time for us to quit
When we meet again introduced as friends
Please don't let on that you knew me when
I was hungry and it was your world.
Ah, you fake just like a
Woman, yes, you do
You make love just like a
Woman, yes, you do
Then you ache just like a woman
But you break just like a little girl
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