The Byrds

A funny thing happened on the way to the '70s. The Byrds became the Beards. They loosened up, and their jingle jangle electric folk-pop passed through Gram Parsons, landing smack-dab in the middle of peaceful easy canyon country. "Chestnut Mare" is a romantic metaphorical narrative, and the late, great Clarence White bends that B-string all over this awesome compilation.

If their first greatest hits was (in Paul Williams's deathless phrase) "an essay into rediscovery," this one's a product into recouping. Thing is, a good statement could have been constructed. Let Notorious and Sweetheart stand on their own (though one song apiece is acceptable anyway), leave the anachronistic "He Was a Friend of Mine" in the dustbin of history, and tell Skip Battin to make his own album. Then pick a few more cuts--"Deportee," "Old Blue," "Child of the Universe"--from Easy Rider and Dr. Byrds. Presto: Roger McGuinn's Greatest Quirks. The original space cowboy deserves a testament, not an olio. (Grade - B)