utorak, 30.12.2008.
The Byrds - Fifth Dimension (1966) (Remaster Edit 1996)
Having already pioneered folk-rock via their electrified versions of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger songs such as "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn Turn Turn," the Byrds helped midwife yet another new musical form in 1966 on this, their third album. Influenced by Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar and jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, Jim McGuinn's atonal 12-string guitar on the suitably titled "Eight Miles High" was a psychedelic omen of things to come. Pointing in other new directions, too, are the prescient country-rock tune, "Mr. Spaceman," string-aided updates of folk evergreens "Wild Mountain Thyme" and "John Riley," and David Crosby's fusion-y "I See You" and "What's Happening?!?!" On this album, plenty...Billy Altman
I would have rated the Byrds original 'Fifth Dimension' disc as a four star effort, but the six bonus tracks offered on this remastered package easily promote the collection to five star status. In fact, the bonus tracks, which essentially form a third album side to the original vinyl release, are collectively superior to either of the two album sides put together by the band in 1966.
This album, along with 'The Notorious Byrd Brothers' established The Byrds as the true 'American Beatles', a title usually reserved for the Beach Boys. The Byrds, however, were a much more dynamic force than the Beach Boys in the 1960's. With this album, the band broke the ice of the Psychedelic Era, and with 'Notorious...' helped usher in the Country-Rock genre, with a nod to Buffalo Springfield. It's quite remarkable to realize that the RCA version of 'Eight Miles High' was recorded at the end of 1965, signifying the bands stature as the founders of psychedelic rock. It wasn't a fluke as other psychedelic contributions from the disc attest, including 'I See You', 'What's Happening', and 'The Lear Jet Song'. Even though the lyrics to most of the songs were not truly acid-based or even acid-laced, they were acid-friendly, and Roger (still at the time aka "Jim") McGuinn's adaptation of his jangling guitar to mimic John Coltrane's jazz saxophone and as a sitar is a stroke of psychedelic genius. Had the band been bold enough to release a full-fledged psychedelic montage by replacing the rather placid folk tracks ('Wild Mountain Thyme', 'I Come and Stand at Every Door', and 'John Riley') with the likes of 'Why', 'I Know My Rider', and 'Psychodrama City', this album would be the only competition 'Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band' would have to being the greatest album ever. Each of these songs possess great hooks, harmonies, and lyrics. In fact, listen to 'Psychodrama City' and see if you can't perceive the makings of Steely Dan's 'Show Biz Kids'. When you add to these bonus tracks the likes of the title track, with it's thoroughly spaced-out lyrics set to a melody that's like a cool summer breeze in your brain, the delightful aural message-in-a-bottle to extraterrestrials everywhere that is 'Mr. Spaceman', the dramatic emergence of David Crosby as a songwriter on 'I See You' (with a little help from McGuinn), and 'What's Happening?!?!, which relies more on exclamation points than question marks, and the funky instrumental 'Captain Soul', and you have a record beyond one, two, three or four dimensions. It truly begins to possess the essence of the Psychedelic Era... a mind altering experience. Of course I have hardly even mentioned the shining gem of the album, Roger McGuinn's 'Mona Lisa' (with credits to David Crosby and even the departed Gene Clark, who ironically left the band rather than travel on jumbo jets... no lie), 'Eight Miles High'. There is no lead vocal on the track as the lyrics are delivered entirely in harmonies, which serves to contrast McGuinn's mind-blowing, still today avante-gard guitar work. For years it was rumored that the first recorded version of the song, done for RCA in 1965, was superior to the officially released version. The inclusion of that recording here proves that isn't the case, but the track is not to be overlooked. Whereas the version we are familiar with seems to be soaring at least Six Miles High (as the song was originally titled as that is the altitude jumbo jets normally cruise at), the RCA version is so heavy it sounds like it might never get off the runway. The flight, as it turns out, is less intricate, but more turbulent. It has its own appeal, and its existance demands that every serious fan of psychedelic rock possess a copy. Fortunately there is much, much more to be enjoyed here. While the lyrics would be nice to have, they aren't included, but the liner notes, photographs, and track information is extensive. And be sure when you listen to the disc that you don't turn it off too soon. Included after the final bonus track is an radio interview with Jim McGuinn and David Crosby, sans the interviewer, whatever local DJ wanted to offer his audience a "live" interview with the pair, hawking this new release in 1966. This is just a marvelous artifact for any fan of 1960's rock music to own. Buy it, or be forever square...B. Rumah
Codec: mp3
Bitrate: 320 kB/s
Size: 142 MB
Genre : Classic Rock, Folk Rock
2000mustangs
Tracklist:
01. 5D (Fifth Dimension) 2.36
02. Wild Mountain Thyme 2.34
03. Mr. Spaceman 2.13
04. I See You 2.41
05. What's Happening?!?! 2.38
06. I Come And Stand At Every Door 3.06
07. Eight Miles High 3.38
08. Hey Joe (Where You Gonna Go) 2.20
09. Captain Soul 2.57
10. John Riley 3.01
11. 2-4-2 Fox Trot (The Lear Jet Song) 2.22
12. Why (single version) (Bonus) 3.03
13. I Know My Rider (I Know You Rider) (Bonus) 2.47
14. Psychodrama City BONUS TRACKS 3.26
15. Eight Miles High (alternative/RCA Studios version) (Bonus) 3.22
16. Why (alternative/RCA Studios version) (Bonus) 2.44
17. John Riley (instrumental version 1) (Bonus) 16.54
