This is one of all time favorite albums, one that I've never gotten tired playing. It is also, I believe, the best album the Byrds ever put out. It gets labeled country rock, but to me, it is country music, pure and simple. It's not an album of a rock band dabbling around with country music, it's an album of a rock band actually playing it and playing it superbly. The feeling and love of this music comes through every note. If you didn't know better, you could have sworn this album was made by a real country band performing at the Grand Ole Opry.

The opener, You Ain't Going Nowhere, is one of the best Dylan covers the Byrds ever did. The song wasn't even recorded by Dylan by this time (it eventually appeared on Dylan's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 in a vastly inferior version to the Byrds's rendition). I always think of it as a Byrds song first. The version of the folk classic I Am a Pilgrim is the best I've ever heard. I love The Christian Life. Gram Parsons's vocal is so heartfelt that even non-believers can enjoy the song. Their rendition of You Don't Miss Your Water (a blues/country classic) is the best I've heard as well. Otis Redding covered this song too, but the Byrds give it more soul than Otis (which is not easy to do). I could go on praising every song, but I'll digress for now.

This is as great as any classic country album out there. It's a really special, moving, heartfelt, and beautiful album, made by a very underrated band. It's their best album, and one that grows even more profound and gorgeous everytime you listen to it.

Sweetheart of the Rodeo
I was 14 when this LP was released. 40 years hence, I buy the CD. Loved it then; love it just as much now. The Byrds in their Nashville period. Simply great; 'nuf said.

I prefer a harder country sound, but my wife enjoys this CD and plays it often

Like the review says, this a full immersion into the Bakersfield sound and big departure from the Byrds work to date. This Buck Owens sound in heavy doses like this can be overwhelming to those not expecting it. Use with caution,

This is great country rock. While I believe the Byrds never truly recovered after they lost Crosby, they did have Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons on this record, which is great! Its very southern gospel/countryish, but the music is fairly diverse, including some Dylan covers. I'd say its pretty Dylanesque country rock.