When I first heard it I thought it was good, but not a classic. Now, 5 listens later, I have realized its one of the greatest albums of all time, and deserves its status as such. The quality of material is really high.

This Byrds creation came as a surprise to me back when it was released. I thought the Byrds were done with after hearing of Crosby being out and of course Clark had become a complete non-player. I bought this on a whim and the cover was inviting. I remember listening to it in my room at my parents house and I felt comfort from the mood of the album. The sweet Byrds, the serenity of the mood. I have this one on CD and still get it out on occasion and feel mysef "goin back" to a time and place that I wish would never have ended. I recommend this to everyone.

Replaces a worn out LP. Actually a 4.25 on the star scale but there is not that choice!

THis is the sound of the Byrds imploding while at the same time throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the mix. Hints of their eventual country turn sit inside burbling moogs and mellotrons- (Yes spacey keyboards)- backwards phrasing- flanged guitars and vocals - swirling inside the classic Byrds sound. The guitars still chime but this is very much a pyschedelic and one of the most unique i might add records from the era. Dont be fooled by the negative reviews this is right up there with piper-sgts peppers-( beatlesque horns at times) and for my money it may not be the best Byrds record(though i think it is)most interesting and rewarding listen. It also doesnt sound as dated as most pyschedelia. SOme of the bonus material is good (triad a crosby penned tune is very good and should have made the album originally). Crosby was booted during the recording but despite the problems internally this is a stunning album. And for the price you cant beat it.

though mr tambourine man, younger than yesterday, and sweetheart of the rodeo are usually regarded as the best byrds albums, it is the notorious byrd brothers that i find myself returning to most often. i never tire of this great album. it's spacey psychedelicism is mesmerizing. the songs abound with wonderful floating melodies and stunning harmonics. horn and string arrangements are added to the byrd arsenal of sound here, and the rythmic shifts, abrupt tempo-changes, and various psych touches leave one wondering what sonic surprise might happen next. two slow numbers, "goin' back," and "draft morning," are particularly gorgeous, while "old john robertson" and "change is now" foreshadow the country leanings their music would later acquire. this is a great album, beginning to end. the bonus tracks on the cd do not, however, add anything worthy of the original recording, and would have been best left off. anyway, the remastered version from 1997 (which contains the six bonus tracks) is a big improvement in sound over the first cd version, so if you get this, make sure you get the '97 remastered disc.