The Byrds discography

Summary

The Byrds were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964.[1] The bulk of the band's releases were issued on Columbia Records or its subsidiaries, except their final studio album, Byrds, and its associated singles, which Asylum Records released in 1973.[2] Before signing a recording contract with Columbia, the band released a single with Elektra Records in 1964 under the name the Beefeaters.[2]

The Byrds discography
The Byrds in 1965
Studio albums12
Live albums3
Compilation albums47
EPs6
Singles29

The Byrds' discography was originally released on the vinyl format, as full-length LPs, shorter EPs, and singles.[2] Since the 1960s, the band's back catalogue has also been released on reel-to-reel tape, audio cassette, 8-track tape, CD, MiniDisc, digital downloads, and, most recently, as streaming media. Between 1965 and 1968, the Byrds' albums were released in both mono and stereo variations, with Sweetheart of the Rodeo being the first album to be released exclusively in stereo in the US (Sweetheart of the Rodeo and its follow-up Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde were both issued in mono and stereo formats in the UK).[2]

This article lists all of the Byrds' official studio albums, live albums, compilations, EPs, and singles. Unofficial, "bootleg" releases are not included.

Studio albums edit

Title Album details[A] Peak chart positions
US release UK release US
[4]
CAN
[5]
GER
[6]
NLD
[7]
UK
[8]
Mr. Tambourine Man
  • Released: August 20, 1965
  • Label: CBS
6 35 7
Turn! Turn! Turn!
  • Released: December 6, 1965
  • Label: Columbia
  • Released: March 22, 1966
  • Label: CBS
17 11
Fifth Dimension
  • Released: July 18, 1966
  • Label: Columbia
  • Released: September 22, 1966
  • Label: CBS
24 27
Younger Than Yesterday
  • Released: February 6, 1967
  • Label: Columbia
  • Released: April 7, 1967
  • Label: CBS
24 37
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
  • Released: January 15, 1968
  • Label: Columbia
  • Released: April 12, 1968
  • Label: CBS
47 12
Sweetheart of the Rodeo
  • Released: August 30, 1968
  • Label: Columbia
  • Released: September 27, 1968
  • Label: CBS
77
Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde
  • Released: March 5, 1969
  • Label: Columbia
  • Released: April 25, 1969
  • Label: CBS
153 6 15
Ballad of Easy Rider
  • Released: November 10, 1969
  • Label: Columbia
  • Released: January 16, 1970
  • Label: CBS
36 40 41
(Untitled)
  • Released: September 14, 1970
  • Label: Columbia
  • Released: November 13, 1970
  • Label: CBS
40 15 3 11
Byrdmaniax
  • Released: June 23, 1971
  • Label: Columbia
  • Released: August 6, 1971
  • Label: CBS
46 23 1
Farther Along
  • Released: November 17, 1971
  • Label: Columbia
  • Released: January 21, 1972
  • Label: CBS
152 41
Byrds
  • Released: March 7, 1973
  • Label: Asylum
  • Released: March 24, 1973
  • Label: Asylum
20 19 6 31
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

  1. ^ US and UK release information is per Christopher Hjort's book, So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star.[3]

Live albums edit

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[4]
CAN
[5]
NLD
[7]
UK
[8]
(Untitled) (sides 1 and 2 only)
  • Released: September 14, 1970
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: LP, reel-to-reel, 8-track tape, cassette
40 15 3 11
Live at the Fillmore – February 1969
  • Released: February 22, 2000
  • Label: Columbia/Legacy
  • Format: CD
Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971
  • Released: June 17, 2008
  • Label: Sundazed
  • Format: CD, LP
The Lost Broadcasts
  • Released: June 28, 2011
  • Label: Gonzo
  • Format: CD, DVD
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums edit

There have been many official compilation albums by the Byrds released since 1967, with the majority of these collections consisting of material recorded between 1965 and 1971, a period when the band were with Columbia Records. In addition, four compilations of material recorded before the group secured a recording contract with Columbia have been released under the titles Preflyte, In the Beginning, The Preflyte Sessions and Preflyte Plus. Two compilations of rare and previously unissued material have also been released as Never Before and Another Dimension. There have so far been two Byrds' box sets issued: The Byrds (October 1990) and There Is a Season (September 2006). Also, excerpts from the band's performance at the Monterey Pop Festival have been released on The Monterey International Pop Festival CD box set and among the extras on the Monterey Pop DVD.

  • NOTE: The four compilation albums with the title The Very Best of The Byrds (released in 1983, 1997, 2006, and 2008) are not the same and each features a different track listing.
  • NOTE: The three compilations titled The Byrds Play Dylan or The Byrds Play the Songs of Bob Dylan (released in 1979, 2001, and 2002) are not the same and each features a different track listing.
Title Released Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[4]
NLD
[7]
UK
[8]
The Byrds' Greatest Hits August 7, 1967 6
Preflyte July 29, 1969 84
The Byrds' Greatest Hits Volume II October 29, 1971 1
The Best of The Byrds: Greatest Hits, Volume II November 10, 1972 114
History of The Byrds May 18, 1973 47
Return of The Byrds May 7, 1976
The Byrds December 1978
20 Golden Hits July 1979 20
The Byrds Play Dylan November 1979
The Original Singles: 1965–1967, Volume 1 August 8, 1980
The Original Singles: 1967–1969, Volume 2 February 1982
The Very Best of The Byrds November 1983
The Byrds Collection September 1986
Never Before December 1, 1987
In the Beginning August 1988
The Byrds October 19, 1990 151
Full Flyte 1965-1970 February 1991
Greatest Hits - 18 Classics Remastered 1991 26
Free Flyte 1991
20 Essential Tracks From The Boxed Set: 1965-1990 January 14, 1992
Definitive Collection 1995
Nashville West May 1996
The Very Best of The Byrds June 23, 1997
Super Hits July 21, 1998
Byrd Parts September 15, 1998
Sanctuary July 18, 2000
Sanctuary II December 19, 2000
The Byrds Play the Songs of Bob Dylan May 28, 2001
The Preflyte Sessions November 2001
Sanctuary III December 11, 2001
Sanctuary IV May 21, 2002
The Byrds Play Dylan June 11, 2002
The Columbia Singles '65-'67 November 1, 2002
The Essential Byrds April 22, 2003
Byrd Parts 2 May 2003
Mojo Presents...An Introduction to The Byrds September 22, 2003
Cancelled Flytes September 2004
Another Dimension April 26, 2005
America's Great National Treasure January 31, 2006
The Very Best of The Byrds June 2006 82
There Is a Season September 26, 2006
A Collection July 9, 2007
Playlist: The Very Best of The Byrds October 21, 2008
Greatest Hits March 16, 2009
Eight Miles High: The Best of The Byrds January 25, 2010
The Complete Album Collection November 14, 2011
Setlist: The Very Best of the Byrds Live December 27, 2011
Preflyte Plus February 27, 2012
The 60s: The Byrds September 9, 2014
Turn! Turn! Turn!: The Ultimate Collection October 16, 2015
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays edit

CBS Records released two Byrds EPs in the UK during 1966, featuring tracks taken from the band's first three albums. Then, in 1971, Columbia Records and Scholastic Books released an EP in the United States to tie-in with the publication of Bud Scoppa's biography of the Byrds. A further three EPs were released in the UK between 1983 and 1990 on various record labels.

Title Released
The Times They Are a-Changin' February 1966
Eight Miles High October 1966
The Byrds 1971
The Byrds September 1983
Solid Gold May 1989
Four Dimensions December 1990

Singles edit

Title Date[A] Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US release UK release US
[12]
GER
[6]
NLD
[7]
UK
[8]
"Please Let Me Love You"[B] /
"Don't Be Long"[B]
October 7, 1964[13] January 1965[14] non-album single
"Mr. Tambourine Man" /
"I Knew I'd Want You"
April 12, 1965 May 15, 1965 1 2 3 1 Mr. Tambourine Man
"All I Really Want to Do" /
"I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better"
June 14, 1965 August 6, 1965
27 4
"Turn! Turn! Turn!" /
"She Don't Care About Time"
October 1, 1965 October 29, 1965 1 8 15 26 Turn! Turn! Turn!
"Set You Free This Time" /
"It Won't Be Wrong"
January 10, 1966[D] February 11, 1966[E]
  • 79
  • 63
"Eight Miles High" /
"Why"
March 14, 1966 May 29, 1966 14 24 Fifth Dimension
"5D (Fifth Dimension)" /
"Captain Soul"
June 13, 1966 June 29, 1966 44
"Mr. Spaceman" /
"What's Happening?!?!"
September 6, 1966 October 14, 1966 36 18
"So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" /
"Everybody's Been Burned"
January 9, 1967 February 17, 1967 29 Younger Than Yesterday
"My Back Pages" /
"Renaissance Fair"
March 13, 1967 May 23, 1967 30 18
"Have You Seen Her Face" /
"Don't Make Waves"
May 22, 1967 74
"Lady Friend" /
"Old John Robertson"
July 13, 1967 September 1, 1967[F] 82 non-album single
"Goin' Back" /
"Change Is Now"
October 20, 1967 December 29, 1967 89 The Notorious Byrd Brothers
"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" /
"Artificial Energy"
April 2, 1968 May 3, 1968 74 45 Sweetheart of the Rodeo
"I Am a Pilgrim" /
"Pretty Boy Floyd"
September 2, 1968 October 11, 1968
"Bad Night at the Whiskey" /
"Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man"
January 7, 1969 March 7, 1969 Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde
"Lay Lady Lay" /
"Old Blue"
May 2, 1969 June 6, 1969 [G] non-album single
"Wasn't Born to Follow" /
"Child of the Universe"
September 26, 1969 The Notorious Byrd Brothers
"Ballad of Easy Rider" /
"Oil in My Lamp"
October 1, 1969 65 Ballad of Easy Rider
"Jesus Is Just Alright" /
"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"
December 15, 1969 February 20, 1970 97 13
"Chestnut Mare" /
"Just a Season"
October 23, 1970 January 1, 1971 [H] 13 19 (Untitled)
"I Trust (Everything Is Gonna Work Out Alright)" /
"(Is This) My Destiny"
May 7, 1971 17 Byrdmaniax
"Glory, Glory" /
"Citizen Kane"
August 20, 1971 October 1, 1971 [I]
"America's Great National Pastime" /
"Farther Along"
November 29, 1971 January 1972[J] Farther Along
"Full Circle" /
"Long Live the King"
April 11, 1973[K] June 22, 1973 [L] Byrds
"Things Will Be Better" /
"For Free"
April 24, 1973[K]
"Cowgirl in the Sand" /
"Long Live the King"
June 1973
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

  1. ^ US and UK release information is per Christopher Hjort's 2008 book, So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star,[11] except where noted.
  2. ^ a b Released under the pseudonym the Beefeaters.[2]
  3. ^ "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" peaked at number 103 on Billboard's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.[2]
  4. ^ The single's release may have been delayed by a week. Soon after its release, Columbia began promoting "It Won't Be Wrong" as the A-side.[15]
  5. ^ A week later, on February 18, CBS began promoting "It Won't Be Wrong" as the A-side.[2][16]
  6. ^ In the UK, the single was instead backed with "Don't Make Waves".[14][17]
  7. ^ "Lay Lady Lay" peaked at number 132 on Billboard's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.[2]
  8. ^ "Chestnut Mare" peaked at number 121 on Billboard's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.[2]
  9. ^ "Glory, Glory" peaked at number 110 on Billboard's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.[2]
  10. ^ Hjort writes that the single was possibly withdrawn before being released in the U.K., but its European release went ahead in West Germany and the Netherlands.[18]
  11. ^ a b "Full Circle" was released in the UK with "Things Will Be Better" as its B-side on August 8, 1975.[19][20]
  12. ^ "Full Circle" peaked at number 109 on Billboard's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.[2]

References edit

General
  • Rogan, Johnny (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited. Rogan House. ISBN 0-9529540-1-X.
  • Hjort, Christopher (2008). So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-By-Day (1965–1973). Jawbone Press. ISBN 978-1-906002-15-2.
  • Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Pop Albums 1955–2001. Hal Leonard Corp. ISBN 0-634-03948-2.
  • Whitburn, Joel (2008). Top Pop Singles 1955–2006. Record Research Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-172-7.
  • Brown, Tony (2000). The Complete Book of the British Charts. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-7119-7670-2.
  • "Byrdmaniax Discography Pages". Byrds Flyght. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  • "The Byrds' chart data". Ultimate Music Database. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
Specific
  1. ^ "The Byrds Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rogan, Johnny. (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. pp. 541–554. ISBN 0-9529540-1-X.
  3. ^ Hjort 2008, pp. 40, 74, 102, 120, 157, 187, 206, 226, 254, 279, 289, 317.
  4. ^ a b c "The Byrds Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  5. ^ a b "Results: RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  6. ^ a b "Discographie von Byrds". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  7. ^ a b c d "Discografie The Byrds". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  8. ^ a b c d "Byrds full Official Chart History". Official Charts. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  9. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  10. ^ a b c "British certifications – Byrds". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 March 2023. Type Byrds in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  11. ^ Hjort 2008, pp. 29, 39, 67, 79, 82, 87, 96, 108, 118, 125, 145, 149, 167, 189, 201, 210, 222–223, 229, 257, 275, 283, 290, 318, 320, 321.
  12. ^ "The Byrds Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  13. ^ Rogan 1998, p. 543.
  14. ^ a b Rogan 1998, p. 541.
  15. ^ Hjort 2008, p. 79.
  16. ^ Hjort 2008, p. 82.
  17. ^ Hjort 2008, p. 145.
  18. ^ Hjort 2008, pp. 290, 294.
  19. ^ Rogan 1998, p. 542.
  20. ^ Hjort 2008, p. 321.

External links edit