Lady Friend

Last updated
"Lady Friend"
TheByrdsLadyFriend.jpg
West German picture sleeve
Single by the Byrds
B-side
ReleasedJuly 13, 1967
RecordedApril 26, June 14 and 21, 1967
Studio Columbia, Hollywood
Genre Rock, pop
Length2:30
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) David Crosby
Producer(s) Gary Usher
The Byrds USsingles chronology
"Have You Seen Her Face"
(1967)		"Lady Friend"
(1967)		"Goin' Back"
(1967)
The Byrds UKsingles chronology
"My Back Pages"
(1967)		"Lady Friend"
(1967)		"Goin' Back"
(1967)

"Lady Friend" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds, written by band member David Crosby and released as a single on July 13, 1967. [1] [2] The single was commercially unsuccessful, only charting at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and failing to chart in the United Kingdom at all. [3] [4]

Contents

Composition and recording

The song was written by Crosby in early 1967 at his home in Beverly Glen in Los Angeles. [5] A demo of the song dating from this period, featuring Crosby accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, was included in the KPFA program The Crosby Connection, during the radio station's February 3, 2001 Grateful Dead marathon. [6]

The Byrds' recording of the song has been described by Tim Connors as having a quick tempo and featuring a chiming guitar riff, while band biographer Johnny Rogan made note of its complex vocal harmonies and brass instrumentation. [7] [5] Rogan also described it as the fastest and rockiest single the Byrds had released up to that point. [5] Crosby closely oversaw the protracted recording of the song, much to the consternation of his bandmates Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman. [8] [9] Tensions in the band increased in the late stages of production when Crosby replaced Hillman and McGuinn's backing vocals with his own vocal overdubs. [9]

Release and reception

"Lady Friend" was released as a single on Columbia Records on July 13, 1967. [2] Crosby was hopeful that the single would return the Byrds to the upper reaches of the chart, but the record received insufficient airplay and media exposure, despite the band appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to perform it. [5] Ultimately, the single failed commercially, reaching number 82 on the Billboard charts and failing to reach the charts in the United Kingdom. [3] [4] Crosby was bitterly disappointed by the single's lack of success and cited producer Gary Usher's mixing of the song as a contributing factor, stating in a contemporary interview with disc jockey B. Mitchel Reed, "The final mix of 'Lady Friend' sounds like mush." [5] "Lady Friend" is the only song penned solely by Crosby to appear on the A-side of a Byrds' single. [5]

In the press, Billboard magazine described "Lady Friend" as an "infectious wild rocker" with a "strong dance beat" and predicted that it would climb the Billboard Hot 100 "in short order". [10] Cash Box said that it "crams exciting instrumental work with snappy vocals." [11] Record World said that the Byrds "play their instruments with effect and their song builds into quite an experience." [12]

The Byrds performed the song during their appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival and a recording of this performance can be found on the 1992 The Monterey International Pop Festival CD box set. [13] The song was omitted from the Byrds' next album, The Notorious Byrd Brothers, partly due to its lack of commercial success as a single and partly due to Crosby having been fired from the band by McGuinn and Hillman midway through the recording of the album. [7] [8]

Stereo mixes

Having initially been mixed in mono for its release as a single in 1967, "Lady Friend" wasn't released in stereo until its inclusion on the 1987 compilation album, Never Before . [14] However, this version of the song also featured the addition of overdubbed drums, played by an unnamed session musician during preparation of the album. [15] [16] Rogan has described fan reaction to the new drumming as almost universally negative, with many listeners feeling that the addition of then-modern sounding drums was completely inappropriate and incongruous. [15] Subsequently, this doctored version of the song has not appeared on any other album release.

A new stereo remix of the song, without the drum overdubs, was released on The Byrds box set in 1990. [17] The song was also added as a bonus track to the 1996 Columbia/Legacy reissue of the Younger Than Yesterday album. [18] In addition to its appearance on the expanded reissue of Younger Than Yesterday, "Lady Friend" also appears on several Byrds' compilations, including History of The Byrds , The Original Singles: 1967–1969, Volume 2 , The Essential Byrds , and There Is a Season . [19]

Cover versions

"Lady Friend" has been covered by a number of bands and artists, including Bill Plummer and the Cosmic Brotherhood on their 1968 self-titled album, [20] Little John on their self-titled 1971 album, the Flamin' Groovies on their 1979 album Jumpin' in the Night , [21] and the Posies on their Nice Cheekbones and a Ph.D EP in 2001. [21] The song was also covered by Static on the 1989 Byrds' tribute album, Time Between – A Tribute to The Byrds . [22] In addition, Kenny Howes has also recorded a version of the song as the title track of his 2004 album, Lady Friend. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Byrds</span> American rock band

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 remaining the sole consistent member. Although their time as one of the most popular groups in the world only lasted for a short period in the mid-1960s, the Byrds are today considered by critics to be among the most influential rock acts of their era. Their signature blend of clear harmony singing and McGuinn's jangly 12-string Rickenbacker guitar was "absorbed into the vocabulary of rock" and has continued to be influential.

<i>Younger Than Yesterday</i> 1967 studio album by the Byrds

Younger Than Yesterday is the fourth studio album by the American rock band the Byrds and was released on February 6, 1967, on Columbia Records. It saw the band continuing to integrate elements of psychedelia and jazz into their music, a process they had begun on their previous album, Fifth Dimension. In addition, the album captured the band and record producer Gary Usher experimenting with new musical textures, including brass instruments, reverse tape effects and an electronic oscillator.

<i>The Notorious Byrd Brothers</i> 1968 studio album by the Byrds

The Notorious Byrd Brothers is the fifth album by the American rock band the Byrds, and was released in January 1968, on Columbia Records. The album represents the pinnacle of the Byrds' late-‘60s musical experimentation, with the band blending together elements of psychedelia, folk rock, country, electronic music, baroque pop, and jazz. With producer Gary Usher, they made extensive use of a number of studio effects and production techniques, including phasing, flanging, and spatial panning. The Byrds also introduced the sound of the pedal steel guitar and the Moog modular synthesizer into their music, making it one of the first LP releases on which the Moog appears.

<i>Fifth Dimension</i> (album) 1966 studio album by the Byrds

Fifth Dimension is the third album by the American rock band the Byrds and was released in July 1966 on Columbia Records. Most of the album was recorded following the February 1966 departure of the band's principal songwriter Gene Clark. In an attempt to compensate for Clark's absence, guitarists Jim McGuinn and David Crosby increased their songwriting output. In spite of this, the loss of Clark resulted in an album with four cover versions and an instrumental, which critics have described as "wildly uneven" and "awkward and scattered". However, it was the first Byrds album not to include any songs written by Bob Dylan, whose material had previously been a mainstay of the band's repertoire.

<i>The Byrds Greatest Hits</i> 1967 greatest hits album by the Byrds

The Byrds' Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album by the American rock band the Byrds and was released in August 1967 on Columbia Records. It is the top-selling album in the Byrds' catalogue and reached number 6 on the Billboard Top LPs chart, but failed to chart in the UK.

<i>Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde</i> 1969 studio album by the Byrds

Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde is the seventh studio album by the American rock band the Byrds and was released in March 1969 on Columbia Records. The album was produced by Bob Johnston and saw the band juxtaposing country rock material with psychedelic rock, giving the album a stylistic split-personality that was alluded to in its title. It was the first album to feature the new band line-up of Clarence White (guitar), Gene Parsons (drums), John York (bass), and founding member Roger McGuinn (guitar). Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde is unique within the band's discography for being the only album on which McGuinn sings the lead vocal on every track.

<i>Byrds</i> (album) 1973 studio album by the Byrds

Byrds is the twelfth and final studio album by the American rock band the Byrds and was released in March 1973 on Asylum Records. It was recorded as the centerpiece of a reunion among the five original band members: Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke. The last time that all five members had worked together as the Byrds was in 1966, prior to Clark's departure from the band. During the reunion, the current, latter-day lineup of the band continued to make live appearances until February 1973, with McGuinn being the only member common to both versions of the group.

<i>The Byrds</i> (box set) 1990 box set by the Byrds

The Byrds is a four-CD box set by the American rock band the Byrds. It features music that had previously been released between the mid-1960s and early 1970s, along with a number of previously unreleased tracks and some new recordings from 1990. The box set was issued on October 19, 1990, by Columbia/Legacy and reached number 151 on the Billboard albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eight Miles High</span> 1966 single by the Byrds

"Eight Miles High" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds, written by Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn, and David Crosby. It was first released as a single on March 14, 1966. Musically influenced by sitar player Ravi Shankar and jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, the song was influential in developing the musical styles of psychedelia and raga rock. Accordingly, critics often cite "Eight Miles High" as being the first bona fide psychedelic rock song, as well as a classic of the counterculture era.

<i>The Original Singles: 1967–1969, Volume 2</i> 1982 compilation album by the Byrds

The Original Singles: 1967–1969, Volume 2 is a compilation album by American rock band the Byrds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5D (Fifth Dimension)</span> 1966 single by the Byrds

"5D (Fifth Dimension)" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds, written by band member Jim McGuinn. It was released as a single in June 1966, and also included as the title track on the Byrds' third album, Fifth Dimension.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star</span> 1967 single by the Byrds

"So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds, written by Jim McGuinn and Chris Hillman and included on the band's 1967 album, Younger Than Yesterday. The song was inspired by the manufactured nature of the Monkees and was released as a single on January 9, 1967, reaching number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, but failing to chart in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Won't Be Wrong</span> 1966 single by the Byrds

"It Won't Be Wrong" is a song by the American folk rock band the Byrds, which appeared as the second track on their 1965 album, Turn! Turn! Turn! It was also coupled with the song "Set You Free This Time" for a single release in 1966, resulting in "It Won't Be Wrong" charting at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Byrds band member Jim McGuinn and his friend Harvey Gerst in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Spaceman</span> 1966 single by the Byrds

"Mr. Spaceman" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds and was the third track on their 1966 album, Fifth Dimension. It was released as the third single from the album in September 1966, reaching number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, but failing to chart in the United Kingdom. Upon its release as a single, the music press coined the term "space-rock" to describe it, although since then, this term has come to refer to a genre of rock music originating from 1970s progressive and psychedelic music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Have You Seen Her Face</span> 1967 single by the Byrds

"Have You Seen Her Face" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds, written by the group's bass player Chris Hillman and included on their 1967 album Younger Than Yesterday.

<i>Preflyte</i> 1969 compilation album by the Byrds

Preflyte is a compilation album by the American folk rock band the Byrds and was released in July 1969 on Together Records. The album is a collection of demos recorded by the Byrds at World Pacific Studios in Los Angeles during late 1964, before the band had signed to Columbia Records and become famous. It includes early demo versions of the songs "Here Without You", "You Won't Have to Cry", "I Knew I'd Want You", and "Mr. Tambourine Man", all of which appeared in re-recorded form on the band's 1965 debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why (The Byrds song)</span> 1966 song by the Byrds

"Why" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds, written by David Crosby and Jim McGuinn and first released as the B-side of the band's "Eight Miles High" single in March 1966. The song was re-recorded in December 1966 and released for a second time as part of the band's Younger Than Yesterday album.

<i>History of The Byrds</i> 1973 greatest hits album by the Byrds

History of The Byrds is a double album compilation by the American rock band the Byrds and was released on May 18, 1973 by CBS Records. The compilation was released exclusively in Europe and the UK, peaking at number 47 on the UK Albums Chart, but it was also available in the United States as an import.

<i>Never Before</i> (The Byrds album) 1987 compilation album by the Byrds

Never Before is a compilation album by the American rock band the Byrds, consisting of previously unreleased outtakes, alternate versions, and rarities. It was initially released by Re-Flyte Records in December 1987 and was subsequently reissued on CD in 1989, with an additional seven bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old John Robertson</span> 1967 single by the Byrds

"Old John Robertson" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds, written by band members Chris Hillman and Roger McGuinn, and first released in July 1967, as the B-side to the non-album single "Lady Friend". It was also later included on the band's 1968 album, The Notorious Byrd Brothers. The version of "Old John Robertson" featured on the single is a substantially different mix from the version that appeared on The Notorious Byrd Brothers.

References

  1. ↑ "Lady Friend review". Allmusic . Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  2. 1 2 Rogan, Johnny. (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. pp. 541–544. ISBN   0-9529540-1-X.
  3. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel. (2008). Top Pop Singles 1955–2006. Record Research Inc. p. 130. ISBN   978-0-89820-172-7.
  4. 1 2 Brown, Tony. (2000). The Complete Book of the British Charts. Omnibus Press. p. 130. ISBN   0-7119-7670-8.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rogan, Johnny. (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. pp. 223–224. ISBN   0-9529540-1-X.
  6. ↑ "KPFA Grateful Dead Marathon playlist". The Grateful Dead Hour. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  7. 1 2 "Younger Than Yesterday". ByrdWatcher: A Field Guide to the Byrds of Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  8. 1 2 Menck, Ric. (2007). The Notorious Byrd Brothers. 33 1/3 series. Continuum Books. pp. 129–130. ISBN   978-0-8264-1717-6.
  9. 1 2 Hjort, Christopher. (2008). So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-By-Day (1965–1973). Jawbone Press. p. 134. ISBN   978-1-906002-15-2.
  10. ↑ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. July 29, 1967. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  11. ↑ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. July 29, 1967. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  12. ↑ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Record World. July 29, 1967. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  13. ↑ "The Monterey International Pop Festival box set review". Allmusic . Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  14. ↑ Hyde, Bob. (1987). Never Before (1987 LP liner notes).
  15. 1 2 Rogan, Johnny. (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. p. 420. ISBN   0-9529540-1-X.
  16. ↑ "Never Before review". Allmusic . Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  17. ↑ "The Byrds box set". ByrdWatcher: A Field Guide to the Byrds of Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  18. ↑ "Younger Than Yesterday (Bonus Tracks) review". Allmusic . Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  19. ↑ "Lady Friend by The Byrds album appearances". Allmusic . Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  20. ↑ "Bill Plummer And The Cosmic Brotherhood -[6]- Lady Friend". YouTube. 2011-12-15. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  21. 1 2 "CSN contributions and cover versions". 4waysite.com. Archived from the original on 2010-05-24. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  22. ↑ "Time Between - A Tribute to The Byrds review". Allmusic . Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  23. ↑ "Lady Friend by Kenny Howes". Allmusic . Retrieved 2010-04-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.