Byrds for Proto-Prog

I thought I had already suggested them and many people had disagreed, but it doesn't seem to be the case. In any case I write a bit more

My pro arguments:

The Byrds have always been a band that loved to experiment with new sounds and compositions which weren't typical of the time when they were active (1964 until 1972).

Mr. Tambourine Man (1965):
The first record on the first look isn't really prog-related, but when you look closer you'll find some aspects which are quite progressive.
For example, the Byrds first used the electric 12 string guitar and by doing that were (with Bob Dylan) the first musicians to cross folk (sophisticated harmony vocals) and rock music, influencing many proto-prog (Beatles) or prog bands.
Especially the bass guitar and the rhythm electric guitar are well-arranged and collaborate as a rhythm unit, for example in "You Won't Have To Cry" where the faintly-odd metre is underlined by nearly funky chords of bass and electric guitar.
"It's No Use" features jazzy chord progressions (1:10-1:13) which could be described as very progressive, a short bridge in the piece sounds like being influenced by John Coltrane or someone like that.

Turn Turn Turn (1965):
Here, the band made their first step in the direction of mantra/Asian music and thus also proto-psychedelia. Check out the constant backing vocals on "If You're Gone" or the epic/symphonic sound of "He Was A Friend Of Mine" due to rapid 12 string picking (compare with Genesis' Trespass), Hammond organ, interesting harmony vocals and chunking bass guitar; as far as I know, no other popular rock band before gave the bass guitar this prominence; later this should be usual in progressive rock music (Yes or ELP).
Jazz/blues-related walking bass melodies can also be seen in "Lay Down Your Weary Tune".

5D (1966):
The band's first contact to avantgarde and sciencefiction and the first psychedelic album, in a way.
From mighty hymns (title track) to folk songs with exciting string arrangements and/or electric folk attitudes (Wild Mountain Thyme and John Riley) the pop music branch is given a new sound.
The soul/rock rework "Hey Joe" brings the next type of innovation: rapid electric guitar and bass soloing in the background with strong jazz influences, just like the Coltrane- or Asian music-influenced psychedelic solos and breaks in "Eight Miles High", "What's Happening?" the single "Why" and "I See You" with frantic trills and odd rhythms - as such "Eight Miles High" and "Why" have already been recorded in late 1965 (!) and can be heard in the bonus tracks section.  "Captain Soul" is a blues improvisation piece.
"Mr. Spaceman" combines country and rock music while the "Lear Jet Song" uses sound effects of planes before any other rock band did so (the album was recorded before the Beatles' Revolver).
The outtake "Psychodrama City" may actually not be included in my argumentation, but this piece is nearly undescribable with its hectic sounds and strange harmonies.

Younger Than Yesterday (1967)

Here, nearly every song has its innovations.  "So You Wanna..." features a ska brass section and lyrics criticizing hypes around commercially orientated bands (The Monkees),  "CTA102" includes sound effects with synthesizers and oscillators and science-fiction-orientated lyrics while David Crosby composes a somber/psychedelic song (Everybody Has Been Burned), a track with frantic crying vocals and backwards-played guitars (Mind Gardens) and the psychfolk-tune "Renaissance Fair".
Chris Hillman wrote a drug-influenced song (Thoughts and Words) and some country pieces while "Time Between" features (as far as I know) the technical innovation of the B bender on his guitar.

Notorious Byrd Brothers (1967)

Apart from the features of the previous album we find Moog synthesizer pieces here (Moog Raga, Space Odyssey),  the drone-based song "Change is Now" (with alternating country/psych parts),  baroque influences in "Get To You" and "Old John Robertson" with string quartets.  "Tribal Gathering" is written in a 5/4 measure and also features strange chord progressions.
Other sound effects:  guns in "Draft Morning", dolphn sounds imitated by a guitar in "Dolphin's Smile".

Afterwards the band went over to country music although the album "Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde" still featured interesting effects;  "Untitled/Unissued" is a live album where some improvisations are also at least prog-related.




Edited by Einsetumadur - April 12 2010 at 13:21