Comments on: Byrds: Mr Spaceman

By: PK

PK — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:55:15 +0000

The term "space country" only barely rings a bell. At the time, I thought of the Byrds as more of a US rip of the English Invasion, until Clarence White joined and started twisting strings. I guess I tended to differentiate folk and country, and their strumming guitars and Dylan material painted it a bit more folk to me. I remember seeing Chris Hillman with the Flying Burrito Brothers, playing at a club called Stonehenge in Ipswich, MA circa winter 70/71. Between Sneaky Pete and the wild Nudie clothing, they were definitely country (and then I think of Kind Woman by Buffalo Springfield). My date was there simply for their version of Jagger/Richards Wild Horses which they released first. Candy!!!!! Wow. I have to see this, thanks for the tip, although it appears to be rare as hen's teeth.

By: Roger Bourland

Roger Bourland — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 17:07:46 +0000

Brad: Yeah, 8 miles High is SUCH a cool song! Still get goose bumps from it.

PK: Wasn’t this stuff called “Space Country?” Did you ever hear McGuinn’s “Candy” for the 60s movie by the same name? I think Peter Fonda was in it but not sure. NOTORIOUS BYRD BROS had a lot of Space Country in it.

By: PK

PK — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:48:05 +0000

That song has appeared in my brain at the oddest moments of the last forty years, thanks for the refresher. It is also nice, how short and concise it is. People often think singles equal three minutes, but they were often a good deal less.

Now I flash on Omaha by Moby Grape, another quick ditty.

Somehow the basic harmonic movement seems misleadingly (nyuck-nyuck) simple, when you take into account all the passing suspensions.

By: Brad Wood

Brad Wood — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 02:58:16 +0000

Great fun. By coincidence today, as a test disc for some A/V equipment I’m evaluating I selected my DVD of The Day the Earth Stood Still. Bernie Hermann’s score (complete with theremin) really works to make the movie special, and overall I can almost forgive the complete mutilation of the classic Harry Bates short story Farewell to the Master upon which the movie is said to be based.

Back to the Byrds. To this day I still get very much into flashback land when I happen to hear Eight Miles High. Actually, just thinking about it now is enough.