The other morning, I was up and about early and heard a few birds singing just after dawn. I thought it was a one-off, as it seems a bit early for the birds to start getting hormonal, but the same thing happened this morning—and with new voices in the chorus. It lifted my spirits substantially.
Enjoying the birds on my walk set me to thinking about The Byrds, and wondering if I have any of their albums in my library. I was surprised to see that I have five of them. I was in single digits when The Byrds were most active, and while their name is very familiar to me, the only song that came to mind is “Mr. Tambourine Man,” which I have never liked. Looking through the albums sparked a few memories; and when I opened Fifth Dimension, I struck gold.
I’d heard “Eight Miles High” a lot as a kid, courtesy of my aunts and uncles, but always on the radio.1 I couldn’t distinguish much of the lyrics, but that didn’t matter to young Jackie—the crazy-sounding guitar enchanted me.
Listening to it practically anew through good earbuds today revealed so much that was lost in radio airplay. The guitar and percussion intro—I don’t think I ever really heard it before. It almost sounds like music from a Western movie. Then the lead guitar enters, and even though I recognized it instantly, there’s much more to the melodic line than I knew. Today is the day I also learned that lead guitarist Roger McGuinn was playing a 12-string Rickenbacker, which contributes to the unique sound. The Indian raga style adds complex beauty too.
The rich vocal harmonies are much more complex and dynamic than I knew. There’s so much there that my ears don’t know where to focus,2 so even now I have some trouble deciphering the lyrics.
While “Eight Miles High” was a top-20 hit for The Byrds in 1966, it was constrained by a radio ban, as the lyrics were thought to be referring to drug use. The band denied it, stating that the song is about a flight to London for a British tour … but later admitted that drugs did influence it.
The Byrds’ psychedelic sound is what I remember most fondly, and for me, “Eight Miles High” is emblematic of it. Having sampled a couple of other songs3 in my possession, I foresee a listening session soon.
And usually a car radio at that
It doesn’t help that the voices aren’t more prominent in the mix
Including their cover of the Bob Dylan song “Chimes of Freedom,” which I knew only via Warren Zevon’s fantastic cover
AM Car Radio to boot
I was never a big fan of Mr Tambourine Man either but do enjoy Turn! Turn! Turn! Having said that, those may be the only two Byrds songs I actually know!