Results? Pretty good, on the whole. "Kathleen's Song" (held over from UNTITLED) is all the better for Melcher's overdubs - it's achingly beautiful - as is the not-dissimilar "Pale Blue". Other highlights include Skip Battin's "Absolute Happiness" and the Clarence White sung "Jamaica (Say you Will)". Other tracks ain't so wonderful, but the album's far from being the dog it's been rumoured to be for so long.

The bonus tracks consist of another UNTITLED-era recording ("Just Like a Woman"), an alternate version ("Pale Blue") and an out-take - a version of Gene Clark's "Think I'm Gonna Feel Better"*. What we don't get is the rumoured alternate take of "Jamaica" which Clarence White always said to be vastly superior to the album version.

* At least I think it's the Gene Clark song, I haven't heard it yet!


Flawed masterpiece   December 12, 1999
Burritoman
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

"Byrdmaniax" is a marvelous late-period Byrds album, with some stellar songs and affecting performances. In fact, there are several all- time Byrds classics to be found: 'Pale Blue', 'I Wanna Grow Up To Be A Politician' and 'Glory, Glory'. The very best tracks, though, are better than anything The Byrds had ever come up with to that time. McGuinn's amazing 'I Trust' and Skip Battin's strange ode to old Hollywood, 'Citizen Kane' (the guitars on that track, along with the raw attack of Gene Parson's drumming, seems to predict grunge...I'm just babbling now). Then there's Skip's pastoral 'Absolute Happiness' which is not at all bad. Actually, all of the material in "Byrdmaniax" is downright great; the only flaw--and this is a big one-- is the overproduction. The Byrds were at their height at this point, with the McGuinn-Battin-Parsons-White lineup; and yet they're buried underneith tons of ridiculous strings. That pretty much destroyed the wonderful 'Kathleen's Song' (without the kitchen sink it is included on the 1990 Byrds box set) and vastly diminishes the power of 'Pale Blue' and 'My Destiny'. It should be noted that The Byrds were not responsible for this and were incensed tremendously that their producer would screw them so badly; as a direct result the band itself produced the next lp, "Farther Along". That album has the edge over "Byrdmaniax" due to it's amazingly quiet and clean simplicity of both material and production. But don't pass up "Byrdmaniax". There are several great cuts that didn't make the box set (why in the world was 'Citizen Kane' not included in the box? ) and that are necessary for anyone wishing to gain a complete understanding of one of America's greatest and most influential country-rock bands. While "Byrdmaniax" is not currently in print in the US, it should be reissued soon.


rediscover the byrds   February 9, 2002
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

The repackaging and remastering of the byrds catalog has been done superbly. This is how it should be done. Great sound, additional tracks that are not throwaways, and individual song explanations.
First of all I am not a huge fan of the psychodelic Byrds era (first four albums). The first byrds cd I purchased was the 20 Essential tracks (from the byrds box) followed quickly by the classic Gram Parson's led Sweethearts of the Rodeo. Then came Farther Along, Live at the Fillmore, Untitled/Unissued/ NOtorious Byrd Bros., and Ballad of Easy Rider. All great, GREAT, cd's with countrified, rock, folk textures. The guitar work of the much underrated, and sadly missed, Clarence White. I stayed away from Byrdmanix at first due to reviews that seemed to downgrade it as overly produced, missguided fluff. Thank goodness I do not listen for long to all reviewers. This is good Byrds stuff. It doesn't match Sweethearts, Ballad, Untitled, or Farther Along, but it does surpass Notorious and Live. In other words, instead of getting an 'A', it only recieves a 'B+'! If you like the later day Byrds sound, this cd will complete your collection. And no true music fan should be without a little Byrds.
Glory, Glory, Pale Blue, I Trust, Tunnel of Love, Citizen KAne, Absolute HAppiness, My Destiny, Jamaica Say You Will, Just Like a Woman are all top line Byrds songs. The other few songs not included in that list are B level songs, meaning, better than most artists A list songs of today. This is great music.
Rediscover the Byrds and soar into muscial paradise!


Beats the Hell out of Full Circle   August 30, 2001
P. K MADEIRA (Chronosynclastic infundibulum)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I'm pretty die-hard when it comes to the Byrds. My favorite eras of this band (or should I say "these bands?") are the first 2 records with Gene Clark and the last few records with Clarence, Gene Parsons, and Skip.
On Byrdmaniax, there are some flaws, to be sure. Some of the writing, particularly Battin's, is overly campy. And I've read that most of the band hated the strings that Terry Melcher soaked some of these pieces in. But honestly, I never thought about the strings as hampering things- I think they're gorgeous on "Pale Blue" and totally compliment Parson's harp playing.
My favorite things on this disc: "GLORY GLORY" "I TRUST" and "MY DESTINY". This era of the Byrds shows McGuinn & Co at the top of their game as virtuoso players. Followers of the band might agree that the writing was never as good as the Gene Clark era Byrds, but the playing was never better than the "UNTITLED" era.
When Roger McGuinn closed this version down and reunited all 5 original Byrds under Crosby's production, the line up didn't live up to their TURN TURN TURN glory nor did it hold a candle to the latter day Byrds. It was clearly Crosby's triumph and last laugh, but at the price of the music. In terms of The Byrds being a great band, the Byrdmaniax quartet is unparalleled.


Eclectic Masterpiece   November 8, 2000
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

Upon first hearing this recording in '71, having already been a fan of the early and middle Byrd line-ups and a recent devotee to the then newest "Untitled" line-up, I admit I was challenged by the eclectic, richly produced, and varied song repertoire of "Byrdmaniax"... but not for long. This wonderful recording soon became and has long been one of my favorite Byrds albums... not for its traditional, predictable or comfortable nature... but because of the depth of material, spirit of adventure, and the overwhelmingly beautiful, haunting and spiritual quality of almost every song on the album. "Tunnel of Love" and "My Destiny" are soulfully disturbing tracks... "Tunnel of Love" utilizing a healthy dose of tongue in cheek, but when the organ and horns kick in at fever pitch at song's end atop the incessant, lumbering piano riff... you know you've died and gone to carnival heaven. And if I have Terry Melcher to thank for the rich arrangements, so be it... "My Destiny" is the Byrds answer to Ray Charles' "Goin' Down Slow" from the "Cryin Time" sessions... "I Trust" is a wonderful gospel number that never fails to lift the spirits... "Kathleen's Song", "Pale Blue" and their version of "Jamaica Say You Will" engulf the senses like a rich tapestry... these songs are simply beautiful. "Citizen Kane" is offbeat and infectious... Overall, the album works on the strength of its rich and varied content... This re-release is true to the original.. the sound quality is exceptional... and the extra tracks are a special bonus. I encourage those of you with a wide palette and ear for the uniquely beautiful to indulge yourself the opportunity to discover a grossly under appreciated recording that saturates the senses with a thick dose of soulful melancholy, pastoral space cowboy, and playful acerbic wit... And hey, if you don't like it, you've got all of those other great Byrds, Burrito and Parsons albums to listen to.