Farther Along

Infobox Album | Name = Farther Along
Type = Album
Artist = The Byrds


Released = November 17 1971
Recorded = 22 July–28 July 1971
Genre = Rock
Length = 31:57
Label = Columbia/Legacy
Producer = The Byrds
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ztfibk096akv link]
*"Rolling Stone" (Not Rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thebyrds/albums/album/146966/review/5944791/farther_along link]
Last album = "Byrdmaniax"
(1971)
This album = "Farther Along"
(1971)
Next album = ""
(1972)

"Farther Along" is an album by American band The Byrds, released in 1971 (see 1971 in music). Well aware of the stinging criticism that "Byrdmaniax" was receiving (and none too pleased with the album "themselves"), The Byrds promptly dispensed with Terry Melcher again, headed off to London, England in the summer of 1971 and quickly cut a new album, producing it themselves. (Clarence White's final vocal, on the poignant wreck-on-the-highway tune "Bugler", was overdubbed on return to Los Angeles.)

Unfortunately, the damage inflicted by "Byrdmaniax" was not completely undone, and the Byrds' dwindling commercial fortunes continued - "Farther Along" went largely unnoticed upon release, stalling at 152 in the U.S. (and failing to appear on the UK charts) and disappearing quickly.

It would also turn out to be the last Byrds studio album with its latter day line-up and on Columbia Records. By 1972, Roger McGuinn had broken up the Columbia Byrds to facilitate a reunion of the original 1965 group (with David Crosby, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke) and a "comeback" album.

Additional and unreleased tracks recorded by the Columbia Byrds

In the months following the release of "Farther Along", the Columbia Byrds would record four more songs, all McGuinn originals; these included versions of "Draggin'", "My New Woman", "Born to Rock and Roll", and "Bag Full of Money". Only the latter two tracks seem to have survived in the Columbia Byrds versions, and were added to the 2000 reissue of "Farther Along", in addition to a version of David Wiffen's "Lost My Drivin' Wheel", with McGuinn backed by a session band. Besides McGuinn, it is disputed just who plays on these tracks, although at least White and Flying Burrito Brothers pedal steel guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow are in evidence.

McGuinn would revisit most of these 'lost' songs (and "Lost My Drivin' Wheel") on his first solo album, and performed "Born to Rock and Roll" on the 1973 Byrds reunion album.

Personnel

* Roger McGuinn - guitar, vocals
* Clarence White - guitar, vocals
* Skip Battin - bass, vocals
* Gene Parsons - drums, vocals

Track listing

#"Tiffany Queen" (Roger McGuinn) – 2:40
#"Get Down Your Line" (Gene Parsons) – 3:26
#"Farther Along" (trad. arr. Clarence White) – 2:57
#"B.B. Class Road" (Gene Parsons/S. Dawson) – 2:16
#"Bugler" (L. Murray) – 3:06
#"America's Great National Pastime" (Skip Battin/Kim Fowley) – 2:57
#"Antique Sandy" (Roger McGuinn/Skip Battin/Gene Parsons/Clarence White/J. Seiter) – 2:13
#"Precious Kate" (Skip Battin/Kim Fowley) – 2:59
#"So Fine" (J. Otis) – 3:38
#"Lazy Waters" (B. Rafkin) – 3:32
#"Bristol Steam Convention Blues" (Gene Parsons/Clarence White) – 2:39

Singles

#"America's Great National Pastime" b/w "Farther Along" (Columbia 45514) 29 November 1971

"Farther Along" (Columbia 31050) reached 152 in the US during a chart stay of seven weeks. It never charted in the UK.

The album was remastered and re-issued in 2000 with three bonus tracks.

ources

* "Farther Along" CD booklet essay, David Fricke, c.2000.
* AllMusicGuide.com
* "Top Pop Albums 1955–2001", Joel Whitburn, c.2002.
* "ByrdWatcher: A Field Guide to the Byrds of Los Angeles", Tim Connors, c. 1999. http://ebni.com/byrds/index.html