Oh, how is it that I could come out to here and be still POLLING - The Byrds, Fifth Dimension

easy choice: "What's Happening?!?!" for that incredible lead guitar sound. talk about breaking open the head.

Things fall apart somewhat on the second side, but the highs are really high. Maybe... "What's Happening?!?!" at this instant!

XP: what flappy bird said!

"Eight Miles High" is even more brilliant than maybe the most brilliant cover version ever.

I gotta say, I never understood what was so special about Eight Miles High. I don't get it - not their version, not Hüsker Dü's, not anyone's. I don't get it at all.

I feel like I definitely get it!

Despite being a huge Gene Clark fan, this is one of my favourite Byrds albums - possibly my most favourite.
I do think Eight Miles High is the obvious choice, but I've always been very fond of the two traditionals: Wild Mountain Thyme and John Riley.
I'll go with Wild Mountain Thyme, a sweet hippy sound in lovely harmony. It perfectly captures the soft side of the Byrds for me.

this is fairly obviously the best byrds album imo

voting 'what's happening?!?!'

The CD version is probably my most played Byrds release. I'd be way more inclined to call it their best 'album' if they'd included "Why" and "Psychodrama City" on the original album in the place of "Captain Soul" and "The Lear Jet Song". That'd significantly increase the Crosby quotient though!

lear jet song is a great weird closer

Mr Spaceman or Eight Miles High.

this is fairly obviously the best byrds album imo

I'm afraid the presence of "Hey Joe" and "Captain Soul" suggests otherwise. "I Come and Stand at Every Door" is awesome, but "I See You", "What's Happening?!?!" and "Eight Miles High" really stand out.

There's times the Lear Jet Song gets on my nerves but overall I don't mind the lesser songs.
I'm hoping for I See You to get some votes too.

"I See You", "What's Happening?!?!" and "Eight Miles High" really stand out.

Yeah those three and the title track are the real keepers here I think. I like this album but it definitely feels like a transitional record and slightly rushed maybe? The next two records are peak Byrds for me.

'66 can be seen as a transitional year, but I don't see the Byrds as building toward a peak so much as navigating the changes and hitting home runs all along the way.

I may vote for "Mr. Spaceman." Such a simple, beautiful construction that may have helped initiate psychedelic music as much as "Eight Miles High."

WMT FTW

“Purple Heather” barely over “Just Relaxed but Payin’ Attention.”

yeah that break on "w.h" is great…pity that its in service of the first of many odious "I've got it all figured out, and you'd better heed my ineffable wisdom" jeremiads from the vile Cros…

I treasure "5D" but "wild Mountain Thyme" is my favorite Byrds jam of 'em all…

Not a huge fan non-Clarke Byrds and find most of it washes over me in a pleasant but indistinguishable blur. Crosby and McGuinn just couldn't consistently bring the hooks on their own imo. Like, I had to cue up "What's Happening?!" when this thread came up cuz I didn't remember a single goddamn thing about it. It's nice I guess. But the singles on this album were singles for a reason, so probably voting one of them.

“I See You” is a great song that’s not a single! Still pretty ‘66, but already has a little Notorious Byrd Brothers in it.

the first of many odious "I've got it all figured out, and you'd better heed my ineffable wisdom" jeremiads

by far my least favorite mode of mid to late 60s lyric writing. more often than not directed toward a woman who just needs to see infinity in a wild flower aka let the lyricist fuck her

ugh yeah and from Crosby it's just extra insufferable

Younger Than Yesterday is the best Byrds record - certainly the most consistent, at least.

Nah imago otm

I kind of want to vote for John Riley because I really am that much of a sap but will prob go for Spirit-of-66 mainstay Eight Miles High because I'm actually even more of a sap than that

Not voting for ICU hurt my heart a little bit but 8 Miles High is one of the crowning glories of 60s guitar music imo so that

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Wow! It's certainly a great song...

WMT #2 - I wonder if the strings are more prominent on the stereo version. I don't remember them!

“I See You” is fantastic

Wow, when I saw this poll I had expected EMH to win but I wouldn't have thought it would be by this margin - also, from the posts I would have thought What's Happening would end up ahead of it!
Happy to see my favourite placed second. Bit sad to see zero votes for John Riley.
If I would not have gone for WMT, I might have gone for I See You.