The Very Best of The Byrds is a

compilation album A compilation album comprises tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several performers. If by one artist, then generally the tracks were not originally intended for rel ...

by the American rock

band Band or BAND may refer to: Places *Bánd, a village in Hungary *Band, Iran, a village in Urmia County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran * Band, Mureș, a commune in Romania *Band-e Majid Khan, a village in Bukan County, West Azerbaijan Province, I ...

The Byrds The Byrds () were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) remaining the sole con ...

, released by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...

in 1997. Initially the compilation was only released in Europe and Canada but as of 2006, the album has seen some release in the U.S. The album contains a total of 27 songs, arranged in chronological order, that span the first five years of the band's career (1965 to 1970). This particular compilation should not be confused with the 2006 compilation ''The Very Best of The Byrds''. Although the 2006 compilation has the same title, it contains a different track listing and different cover artwork.

Track listing

#" Mr. Tambourine Man" (

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

) – 2:29 #"

All I Really Want to Do "All I Really Want to Do" is a song written by Bob Dylan and featured on his Tom Wilson- produced 1964 album, ''Another Side of Bob Dylan''. It is arguably one of the most popular songs that Dylan wrote in the period immediately after he abandon ...

" (Bob Dylan) – 2:04 #" Chimes of Freedom" (Bob Dylan) – 3:51 #" I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" (

Gene Clark Harold Eugene Clark (November 17, 1944 – May 24, 1991) was an American singer-songwriter and founding member of the folk rock band the Byrds. He was the Byrds' principal songwriter between 1964 and early 1966, writing most of the band's best ...

) – 2:32 #"

Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season) "Turn! Turn! Turn!", or "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)", is a song written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s and first recorded in 1959. The lyrics – except for the title, which is repeated throughout the song, and the fin ...

" (

Book of Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes (; hbo, קֹהֶלֶת, Qōheleṯ, grc, Ἐκκλησιαστής, Ekklēsiastēs) is one of the Ketuvim ("Writings") of the Hebrew Bible and part of the Wisdom literature of the Christian Old Testament. The title commonly us ...

Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notabl ...

) – 3:49 #" The Times They Are a-Changin'" (Bob Dylan) – 2:18 #"

The World Turns All Around Her "The World Turns All Around Her" is a song written by Gene Clark that was first recorded by the Byrds for their second album ''Turn! Turn! Turn! (album), Turn! Turn! Turn!'' (1965). Music and lyrics "The World Turns All Around Her" is one of sever ...

" (Gene Clark) – 2:13 #" It Won't Be Wrong" (

Roger McGuinn James Roger McGuinn (born James Joseph McGuinn III; July 13, 1942) is an American musician. He is best known for being the frontman and leader of the Byrds. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with the Byrds. As a ...

, Harvey Gerst) – 1:58 #" He Was a Friend of Mine" (

traditional A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

, new words and arrangement Roger McGuinn) – 2:30 #"

Eight Miles High "Eight Miles High" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds, written by Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn (a.k.a. Roger McGuinn), and David Crosby. It was first released as a single on March 14, 1966. Musically influenced by sitar player Ravi Sh ...

" (Gene Clark, Roger McGuinn,

David Crosby David Van Cortlandt Crosby (born August 14, 1941) is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Crosby joined the Byrds in 1964. They got ...

) – 3:34 #" 5D (Fifth Dimension)" (Roger McGuinn) – 2:33 #" Mr. Spaceman" (Roger McGuinn) – 2:09 #" So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" (Roger McGuinn,

Chris Hillman Christopher Hillman (born December 4, 1944) is an American musician. He was the original bassist of and one of the original members of the Byrds, which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby and Michael Clarke. With freque ...

) – 2:05 #"

My Back Pages "My Back Pages" is a song written by Bob Dylan and included on his 1964 album ''Another Side of Bob Dylan''. It is stylistically similar to his earlier folk protest songs and features Dylan's voice with an acoustic guitar accompaniment. Howeve ...

" (Bob Dylan) – 3:08 #"Renaissance Fair" (David Crosby, Roger McGuinn) – 1:51 #"

Goin' Back "Goin' Back" (also recorded and released as "Going Back") is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King in 1966. It describes the loss of innocence that comes with adulthood, along with an attempt, on the part of the singer, to recapture th ...

" (

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at 1650 Broadway and later as a solo artist. Regarded as one ...

Gerry Goffin Gerald Goffin (February 11, 1939 – June 19, 2014) was an American lyricist. Collaborating initially with his first wife, Carole King, he co-wrote many international pop hits of the early and mid-1960s, including the US No.1 hits " Will You Lo ...

) – 3:26 #" Wasn't Born to Follow" (Carole King, Gerry Goffin) – 2:04 #"Dolphin's Smile" (David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn) – 2:00 #"

You Ain't Going Nowhere "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" is a song written by American musician Bob Dylan in 1967 in Woodstock, New York, during the self-imposed exile from public appearances that followed his July 29, 1966 motorcycle accident. A recording of Dylan performi ...

" (Bob Dylan) – 2:38 #"One Hundred Years from Now" (

Gram Parsons Ingram Cecil Connor III (November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973) who was known professionally as Gram Parsons, was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist who recorded as a solo artist and with the International Submarine Band, ...

) – 2:43 #"You're Still on My Mind" (

Luke McDaniel Luke McDaniel (February 3, 1927 – June 27, 1992), who also recorded under the stage name Jeff Daniels, was an American country and rockabilly music singer and songwriter. He was the grandfather of Mississippi state senator Chris McDaniel. ...

) – 2:26 #"

Hickory Wind "Hickory Wind" is a song written by country rock artist Gram Parsons and former International Submarine Band member Bob Buchanan. The song was written on a train ride the pair took from Florida to Los Angeles in early 1968, and first appeared on Th ...

" (Gram Parsons, Bob Buchanan) – 3:34 #"

Ballad of Easy Rider "Ballad of Easy Rider" is a song written by Roger McGuinn, with input from Bob Dylan (although Dylan is not credited as a co-writer), for the 1969 film, ''Easy Rider''. The song was initially released in August 1969 on the ''Easy Rider'' soundt ...

" (Roger McGuinn, Bob Dylan) – 2:00 #*NOTE: Bob Dylan is not officially credited as a songwriter on "Ballad of Easy Rider". #" Jesus Is Just Alright" (Arthur Reynolds) – 2:10 #"

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan and featured on his '' Bringing It All Back Home'' album, released on March 22, 1965, by Columbia Records. The song was recorded on January 15, 1965, with Dylan's acousti ...

" (Bob Dylan) – 4:53 #"

Lay Lady Lay "Lay Lady Lay", sometimes rendered "Lay, Lady, Lay", is a song written by Bob Dylan and originally released in 1969 on his '' Nashville Skyline'' album. Like many of the tracks on the album, Dylan sings the song in a low croon, rather than in the ...

" (Bob Dylan) – 3:18 #"

Chestnut Mare "Chestnut Mare" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds, written by Roger McGuinn and Jacques Levy during 1969 for a planned country rock musical named ''Gene Tryp''. The musical was never staged and the song was instead released in September ...

" (Roger McGuinn,

Jacques Levy Jacques Levy (July 29, 1935 – September 30, 2004) was an American songwriter, theatre director and clinical psychologist. Early life and education Levy was born in New York City in 1935 and graduated from the City College of New York in 1956. ...

) – 5:08

Certifications

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Very Best Of The Byrds The Byrds compilation albums 1997 greatest hits albums Albums produced by Terry Melcher Albums produced by Gary Usher Albums produced by Bob Johnston