Preflyte Sessions

Editorial Reviews
USA Today, January 15, 2002
"This collection brings out the best in the sometimes-primitive tracks with superior sound quality..."

Billboard Magazine, January 17, 2002
"comprehensively compiles the pioneering folk-rock band's pre-Columbia recordings, greatly expanding upon a like-titled 1969 compilation, with 40 tracks—16 heretofore unreleased"

Album Description
The most comprehensive collection of the Byrds' pre-Columbia recordings ever assembled! Deluxe double compact disc set • 52 page booklet

Also available as 180 gm gatefold double LP Before turning rock ‘n’ roll on its ear in 1965, the Byrds spent countless hours creating and refining their unique sound at LA’s World Pacific Studios, where they recorded newborn, spine-tingling versions of classics-to-be like “Mr. Tambourine Man” and lost gems such as “You Showed Me” (later a smash for the Turtles).

The 2-CD (and double 180 gram gatefold LP) Preflyte Sessions — the most comprehensive collection of the Byrds' pre-Columbia recordings ever assembled — captures the newly-kindled fire and enthusiasm of one of the most legendary and influential groups of all time.

Preflyte Sessions

Tracks:

The Reason Why (II)
You Wont Have To Cry (electric)
She Has A Way (IV)
You Showed Me (electric)
Here Without You (II)
Dont Be Long
I Knew Id Want You (electric II)
Boston (II)
Tomorrow Is A Long Ways Away (electric)
For Me Again (II)
Its No Use (II)
You Movin (III)
Please Let Me Love You
The Airport Song
Mr. Tambourine Man (electric)
She Has A Way (III)
I Knew Id Want You (electric I)
Boston (inst.)
You Showed Me (inst.)
The Times They Are A Changin (inst.)

Tracks:

The Only Girl I Adore
Tomorrow Is A Long Ways Away (acoustic)
You Showed Me (acoustic)
I Knew Id Want You (acoustic)
You Wont Have To Cry (acoustic)
Mr. Tambourine Man (acoustic)
Willie Jean (David Crosby)
Come Back Baby (David Crosby)
Jack Of Diamonds (David Crosby)
Get Together (David Crosby)
She Has A Way (I)
Here Without You (I)
For Me Again (I)
Its No Use (I)
You Movin (I)
Boston (I)
She Has A Way (II)
You Movin (II)
The Reason Why (II)
Its No Use (III)

Album Description

The most comprehensive collection of the Byrds' pre-Columbia recordings ever assembled! Deluxe double compact disc set • 52 page booklet

Also available as 180 gm gatefold double LP Before turning rock `n' roll on its ear in 1965, the Byrds spent countless hours creating and refining their unique sound at LA's World Pacific Studios, where they recorded newborn, spine-tingling versions of classics-to-be like “Mr. Tambourine Man” and lost gems such as “You Showed Me” (later a smash for the Turtles).

Album Description

From Sundazed, the most comprehensive collection of the Byrds' pre-Columbia recordings ever assembled. The 2-CD (& double 180gm gatefold LP set) 'Preflyte Sessions' set is filled with 40 World Pacific Studio recordings circa 1964 and '65; tracks include all cuts found on the original Together-label 'Preflyte' album, plus unissued & alternate versions from both the acoustic and electric Byrds' sessions, early David Crosby demo recordings, and the rare pre-Byrds Jet Set recording of 'The Only Girl I Adore'. The CD set, housed in a full color slipcase, is accompanied by a lavish 52-page booklet with a historical essay by Rolling Stone Senior Editor David Fricke - based on new interviews with Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, original Byrds' manager Jim Dickson and others present at the sessions - and is handsomely adorned with an absolute wealth of previously unpublished photos by Jim Dickson and

Customer Reviews:

The reason why you need this CD.......2007-05-28

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" I have always made it a priority to hear any material by the great 60's Los Angeles and San Francisco bands.

My mission has never stopped with the normal releases. When I can get a key to a vault and hear a band before they would take off it is fascinating to compare what was to what would be.

Preflyte Sessions aren't throw away tracks. With the vocal ability of the band even in the early stages it is not hard to see why they could take the next giant step.

If you have most of the fine Byrds albums in the collection don't compare this to what you own. Let it stand on its own.

Even those that have heard some of these tunes on unreleased recordings will like the sound quality and how the tracks are put together for Preflyte.

The Byrds should have been more appreciated for being able to handle the personal changes and take on new musical styles and win.

You often here they were a great American band, they were but....

They were a great band period and the msuic has held up very well. When you have a bit of time go back to yesterday and sing along, nobody is in the room but you and the band.

Be well always,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

you need it.......2007-02-04

Any fan of the Byrds and Gene Clark should have this in their collection . I never had either half of this material when it was released previously by both Rhino and Together, and put off buying it due to spotty reviews. Throw that mess out of your mind and get a copy . The Sundazed label did a great job on the whole package and it's a valuable addition to my collection. The sets have a lot of fascinating stuff , but hearing the original acoustic version of " you Showed Me The Way " by itself is worth it.

Byrth of the Byrds.......2003-12-08

An awesome collection two disc's that compile the original lp Preflyte plus the 80's collection In The Begining.This is the birth of folk rock.These sessions in 1964 offer acoustic and electric versions of songs that ended up on Mr.Tambourine Man and songs that didn't make their debut in 1965. Also included are solo tracks from David Crosby which show off his remarkable voice.Checkout Get Together which would become a standard by the Youngbloods in the late 60's.The Reason Why a song written by Gene Clark is a neat mix of the Beatles and Bo Diddley.The electric version of You Showed Me and The Airport Song also are great Byrdsongs that never made it on the debut.Tomorrow is along Ways Away and The Only Girl I Adore realy show a Mersey Beat influence which was gone by the time of their first lp.Finaly you can here embryonic versions of Mr.Tambourine Man where Mike Clarke plays a military beat and You Showed Me where Clarke plays drums on cardboard boxes. A must have for all fans of the Byrds and folk rock.

EMBRYONIC JOURNEY.......2003-07-08

For those of us who believe the Byrds in their heyday were and remain the greatest American rock band, this collection is an essential look into how they got there. Four young men find their "voices" as singers, songwriters and harmonists in a 40-track collection that includes little of the "demo-itis" that usually plagues collections of this sort. The band hadn't yet hit their TAMBOURINE MAN through YOUNGER THAN YESTERDAY stride, of course, but the music contained in this collection is better than much of what was being "officially" released in the U.S. at the time. The sound of the Byrds can be heard today in everyone from 16 Horsepower to REM, and anyone interested in the evolution of great American rock music should check this out.

Essential For Byrds Fans.......2002-12-11

This is the definitive document on the birth of the Byrds, and how they sounded before recording the "Mr. Tambourine Man" single. All the material included on In the Beginning and Preflyte is included here along with many alternate takes, and four early David Crosby recordings. There is much excellent music on this CD even if the performances are less polished, and songwriting has more of a Beatles influence. The songs are almost always original, and there are great ones (some by Gene Clark in particular) that were not included on their first album on Columbia. The drawback to this release is that the many alternate takes are not as good as the cuts that made up the original In the Beginning and Preflyte. However, this is the only album that collects everything plus, and it is good to have all the material in one place. Perhaps it would have been better if each song were represented once in the best version or occasionally twice. This would have whittled the album down to around twenty tracks, which would have made it easy to play from start to finish. Another reason to get this is because of the well made fifty page booklet of essays and pictures. If you look around, you may be able to find this album for around twenty dollars (in the US). I really feel this is essential for Byrds fans to own.

Average customer rating:

Preflyte Sessions
Byrds
Manufacturer: Msi Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005J430
Release Date: 2002-07-17

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