That is the point. It was because of White's talent that the Byrds could explore a different direction. If you don't like it, then you don't like it.

It was the Byrds that brought something new to the table, twice — Cosby-era and the post-Cosby era. And the later Byrds is more than just Country, the music was a blend of Folk, Acid Rock/Psychedelia, etc.

Bernie Leadon guitar playing playing was influenced by Clarence White. Harmonies have always been a tradition in Country music. There were other Country-Rock bands when they started out as a band. Eagles are very much a product of their time music-wise.

I'm not a huge Byrds fan but most of the Byrds tracks that I do really like are the more southern styled post-Crosby tunes. Likewise, most of the tracks from The Notorious Byrd Brothers that I do like don't credit Crosby as the songwriter. I really like about half of the tracks on Ballad of Easy Rider, half of the tracks on Sweetheart of the Rodeo, and a handful from Untitled. One Hundred Years From Now, You Ain't Going Nowhere, Gunga Din, Fido, Build It Up, Artificial Energy, Natural Harmony, Draft Morning, Wasn't Born to Follow, Way Beyond the Sun, Lover of the Bayou, and Jesus Is Just Alright are all stand out tracks to me.

That one sounds a lot like The Dead.

Dire Wolf springs to mind, if it were a bit slower the similarities would be pretty clear. No wonder I love both songs so much.

I haven't heard anything from The Dead. I didn't seek out their music because I was much of a Grateful Dead fan to begin with, and didn't bother with The Other Ones either. I thought it was cool that they changed their to "The Dead" and not distances themselves from "The Grateful Dead" name because Jerry Garcia passed. (Though I would understand if the remaining members didn't want to use the name.) I wouldn't know if The Dead sounded like The Byrds or even The Grateful Dead for that matter.

I don't hear the similarity, from the video Clarence White is clearly playing a B-bender Telecaster and brilliantly I might add. I couldn't really listen to the Grateful Dead for too long. It sounds like the Grateful Dead is using a pedal steel - in my opinion. The style is a bit run-of-mill pedal steel that was prevalent in Country Pop at the time

Yeah that's a good example. Till the Morning Comes is another one that kinda-sorta comes to mind, though this Dead song is more upbeat/quicker. Though to be honest it's similar to quite a few Dead songs. Sugar Magnolia and even Uncle John's Band are other possibilities.



Obviously I don't mean the songs sound completely alike, just saying they're pretty similar.

And come to think of it, to some extent I think the Dead's "country" era might have been at least a bit copy of the Byrds (though they're immediate inspiration was CSN). Hope I didn't give the impression the Byrds were copying the Dead, was just noting that song had a similar sound to the early-70's Dead.

Sorry guys, but that Grateful Dead was a bit too weird sounding to me, however at some point it did remind me of the Monkees for some reason. I guess Till the Morning Comes sounded odd from the fact I haven't heard it before. You guys can continue with you Grateful Deadfest. I'll just go a different route.

I don't know whether The Byrds were influence by The Searchers or not, but they share that bright jangle guitar sound. The other bands have guitar close to The Byrds, whether they were directly influence or somehow sound similar I'm not sure either. I think it would be interesting to know. The last two are 80s tunes, but have the jangley 12 string Rics that remind me of Roger McGuinn. I tend to think that about any guitar player with a 12 string Ric.

The Searchers - Needles and Pins


The Byrds - "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" - 9/16/65


The Monkees-What Am I Doing Hangin' Round


The Plimsouls - A Million Miles Away


The Church - Almost With You (Video)

Actually it's funny you mentioned the Monkees because I was thinking about them last night too when I posted that stuff. And that Byrds song reminded me of this:

Douglas Dillard played banjo on The Monkees, What Am I Doing Hangin' Round (Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.)

Dooley-The Dillards/The Darlings-The Andy Griffith Show


Clarence White together with his brother, Roland, also appeared on the Andy Griffith Show.

Andy Griffith - Whoa Mule


Jim ("Roger") McGuinn can play a pretty decent banjo.
Ramblin' Banjo

Wasn't Born to follow is a favourite of mine! Easy Rider is one hell of a movie