By the Byrds. Sweetheart of the Rodeo gets all the well deserved love, but this album, which came out right before, is my favorite. It’s the band’s first time embracing country music, but they haven’t quite left the psychedelic era; they’re in a state of transition.  The album glides by like a series of daydreams— of laid back mornings and acid-eyed evenings, fading romances,  pastoral fantasies and whole lifetimes circling back on themselves. Beautiful harmonies, unique guitar tones, strings, pedal steel and Moog synth contribute to an atmosphere not found in the work of their contemporaries. It might be one of the last great 60s psych records, but it is also the beginning of soft rock, of dream pop, and alt country. 
Jan 24, 2025

Comments (4)

Make an account to reply.
image
Gonna listen to this on my Saturday morning stroll tomorrow
Jan 25, 2025
image
steelyfan1998 sweet
Jan 25, 2025
image
lol for some reason the cd bonus issue of this has ten minutes of the band arguing in the studio tacked on the end
Jan 24, 2025
image
hell yeah
Jan 24, 2025

Related Recs

recommendation image
🤠
I used to think I hated country music; it was for hicks.  Then I discovered Gram and my whole perspective changed. The Byrds’ “Sweetheart of the Rodeo.” The Flying Burrito Brothers’ first two albums. The Stones’ “Wild Horses” and “Dead Flowers” were no doubt influenced by Gram hanging around at Nellcote. And his solo work (especially with Emmylou Harris); “Grievous Angel” is a masterpiece. We probably don’t have a Nudie Suit cult, “Far Away Eyes” or alt-country without Gram. Gone way too soon at the age of 26.  Cosmic American Music for the kids.  IYDKNYK
Jan 21, 2024
🤠
So comfy. Feels like being under a warm blanket and reading a fun book about legends and stories of the old west, heroes and horses. The albums John Wesley Harding through Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid. Favorite songs: The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest, Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You, Days of ‘49, If Not For You (George Harrison also did a great version of this!)
Apr 20, 2024

Top Recs from @slowdazzle