Younger Than Yesterday brought yet another producer in Gary Usher, a Latin beat, mariachi trumpet, and trenchant rock game cynicism to "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star," an emerging Chris Hillman on "Have You Seen Her Face," and more Dylan exemplification on "My Back Pages."

The Notorious Byrd Brothers yielded a lush cushion of young man's nostalgia in a glorious version of King and Goffin's "Goin' Back," and a countrified take on their "Wasn't Born to Follow."

Sweetheart of the Rodeo saw a commitment to country rock with the addition of the brilliant but doomed Gram Parsons (who would go on to lead the Flying Burrito Brothers) and his jaunty pedal steel guitar on Dylan's (here is a measure of the Byrd's greatness - every single Dylan song they recorded was the definitive version) "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." Parson's straight country poignance shines on "Hickory Wind." On Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde tough psychedelia returned for (Dylan's, again) "This Wheel's On Fire" and the McGuinn-Parsons satiric waltz "Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man."

After four years, Melcher and the Byrds reconciled in '69 for Ballad of Easy Rider, by which time the country-rock was second nature. By Ballad, McGuinn was the only original Byrd remaining and the three-and-four part harmony of the early sound had largely been replaced by solo vocal leads from McGuinn, bassist John York, and tasty country-rocking lead guitarist Clarence White. The title track is a bluegrassy McGuinn great. "Jesus Is Just Alright" is the original gospel-rock recording of an arrangement the Doobie Brothers had a hit with three years later.

(Untitled) is better still. A double-album set, record one is a live recording of spiky, rock arrangements of Byrds standards including "Lover Of the Bayou," The studio disc contains some great country rock moments, especially McGuinn's poignant sagebrush ode to a wild horse, "Chestnut Mare."

The Byrds soldiered on for two more albums, Byrdmaniax and Farther Along, but the magic was gone. It's back on this collection.

Richie Unterberger's Eight Miles High: Folf-Rock's Flight from Haight-Ashbury to Woodstock has more on the Byrds, and the Byrds-Dylan connection.

Ed Driscoll has a fascinating post here on the "B-Bender" invention, designed and built by Gene Parsons and the late Clarence White for White's Fender Telecaster electric guitar.