The Byrds Lyrics Page

When the Byrds in 1965 recorded their single "Mr. Tambourine Man" at Columbia Records the company insisted on 'professional 'back up musicians to accompany the singing of McGuinn, Clark and Crosby and the Rickenbacker guitar playing of McGuinn. Hillman and Clarke were back in the game when the group went into the studio to record their first album "Mr. Tambourine Man".

The Byrds tried to fuse their own musical talents with the art of Bob Dylan and the Beatles with Gene Clark proving himself as great songwriter from the beginning.

"Mr. Tambourine Man" went to No.1 and the company told the press that the Byrds were America's answer to the Beatles, waking big expectations the musicians never could deal with. Instead they identified themselves more and more with artists like Dylan who had proved that you never should allow anybody to sell-out your art.

Michael Clarke had improved heavily on the drum set and Chris Hillman played unusual bass licks
best to be heard on "Spanish Harlem Incident". Jim McGuinn, with his Benjamin Franklin glasses and his vocal part on "Tambourine Man" would soon be identified by fans as the boss of the band. With compositions like "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" and "Here Without You" Gene Clarke contributed the strongest own compositions to the repertoire while David Crosby became the "spirit" of the Byrds' beautiful harmony singing.

Bob Dylan joined the Byrds for their version of his composition "All I Really Want To Do" at Ciro's (picture) after the success of "Tambourine Man".