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Length: 3:32
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And when you touch down
You'll find that it's stranger than known
Signs in the street
That say where you're going
Are somewhere just being their own
Nowhere is
There warmth to be found
Among those afraid of losing their ground
Rain-gray town
Known for its sound
In places, small faces unbound
Round the squares
Huddled in storms
Some laughing, some just shapeless forms
Sidewalk scenes
And black limousines
Some living, some standing alone
The best intro ....
The best track (along with some Beatles goodies) .....
The best band (not forgetting The Beatles) ......
I still love this as much as I did when I bought it back in the 60's - and indeed I still have it, single and album.
A wonderful time to be alive - I was 17 and loved my life .... looks for that magic carpet to take me back.
✌️ and ❤️
They copied the Byrds.
I did not yet exist when this was released, but to me this sounds like this just encapsulates all that dissonant, psychedelic, mystical promise of the era. It makes me wish I was there. What an exciting time for rock. Fantastic.
Oh, it was, believe me...
The best track (along with some Beatles goodies) .....
The best band (not forgetting The Beatles) ......
I still love this as much as I did when I bought it back in the 60's - and indeed I still have it, single and album.
A wonderful time to be alive - I was 17 and loved my life .... looks for that magic carpet to take me back.
✌️ and ❤️
I used to unconsciously judge a song on its melody, lyrics and prominenet features alone. Incrementally I've moved on to trying to hear every instrument and the way they all work together. With its disonant bass and guitar parts, this one is fascinating. And way beyond most of the rock from its era. An era in which it was possible to be dissonant and still popular. Sad we aren't there anymore.
The secret, I think, is not wanting to sound dissonant, but giving a fuck about being popular or not.
The track sounds just as good today - doesn't date.
Thanks to wonderful Radio Paradise for the music they put out there ...........
Yeah, feels more like '68 or so...
Nope, in '65 I was traveling across country with my family and this was so big it got on the radio wherever in the Midwest we were.
In '68, we had just moved again, so I was stuck at home with the Chicago police riot, developing a giant chip on my shoulder that still surfaces occasionally.
I was 8-9 in that year, so this goes way back for me. As awesome* now as then.
*real awesome, not the causal millennial awesome of today
casual, I know what you mean
I used to unconsciously judge a song on its melody, lyrics and prominenet features alone. Incrementally I've moved on to trying to hear every instrument and the way they all work together. With its disonant bass and guitar parts, this one is fascinating. And way beyond most of the rock from its era. An era in which it was possible to be dissonant and still popular. Sad we aren't there anymore.
Oddly, I chose this time to try to listen just to the drums. some of it. is buried in the mix, so I'll try again in a moment with headphones, but what I heard was outstanding.
*real awesome, not the causal millennial awesome of today
Love the overwhelming tsunami of sound this song is. Just incredible music imo.
I AGREE!!!
Yeah, feels more like '68 or so...
capandjudy wrote:
I read that Roger McGuinn used a lot of compression on his Rickenbacker 12 string to get that Byrds guitar sound.
As I caught the last part of this playing, I JUST finished listening to a 1966 interview of McGuinn and Crosby talk about writing 8 Miles High, choosing the Byrds name, and just finishing the whole Fifth Dimension album. I also listened to the whole album for the first time. The album was the Columbia "Legacy" version @1996 by Sony.com. It appears to have come from a single CD, ripped at 256k but I don't think it was remastered. Further, I just listened to RP's FLAC version. RP's version I just heard was "many miles higher" in quality. I was not impressed with the 256k CD quality of 8 Miles High at all. The mixing on the rest of the album, as much of that era's music was not great. But then most listening was done on mono AM radio. RP's version made me feel better about me rating this cut as a 10, and well worthy.
The album came with 5 bonus tracks, which included that interview. McGuinn and Crosby sounded just like any kids that were on 18-20 years old in the 60's. What was very cool, is the album came with 18 pages of commentary and pics. There's also a FLAC version of the 11 track original out there, which is what RP just played?
McGuinn lives locally here in Orlando and is still playing gigs nationwide. He's got a special 6 string he co-produced that supposedly can provide the sound of the 12 string RB... and, is only about $5,600!
cely wrote:
Pretty much how I felt. I was 14 in L A then and this was a game changer. This weren't surf music. Then a few months later at Christmas of 66, L A 's other house band, The Doors released Light My Fire and the lid was off of the box.
13 when it came out. I remember it so well. And the Doors. Set me up for Are You Experienced. It was all good..
Pretty much how I felt. I was 14 in L A then and this was a game changer. This weren't surf music. Then a few months later at Christmas of 66, L A 's other house band, The Doors released Light My Fire and the lid was off of the box.
Yes, it's an interesting story:
"'Eight Miles High' actually came about as a tribute to John Coltrane. It was our attempt to play jazz." - Roger McGuinn
Yea, first time I heard it when I was 12 I just sat there going, "What is this?"
Yes, it contributes to the unique sonic space of this song.
Folks like to argue whether this song is about doing "drugs" or flying in a jet airliner but I would like to think it is a celebration of astral travelling.
I read that Roger McGuinn used a lot of compression on his Rickenbacker 12 string to get that Byrds guitar sound.
It is a pretty sloppy recording overall (especially the lead guitar) - probably somewhat deliberate, but that's always been part of its appeal to me. One of the few tunes of theirs that I can still listen to.
The lead guitar is an homage to John Coltrane. Tasty licks.
Must be memories of flying over Greenland.
cactus wrote:
sorry the Byrds copied the Beatles
Uh, yeah, riiiight. And the Beatles never copied anybody.
They copied the Byrds.
Everybody in my elevator loves this elevating classic song... we be dancing like happy hippies... love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll... hope you are having a blast right this minute, LowPhreak!
Yeah but no. The song is about flying to London (eight miles high) and dealing with the British press and fans. I've heard that yes, the song didn't get much airplay when it was first released because people thought it was about getting high...Gene Clark (who wrote much of the song) and David Crosby both now admit that the song was partly influenced by drug use.
Eight miles high, emitting large amounts of carbon......
It is a pretty sloppy recording overall (especially the lead guitar) - probably somewhat deliberate, but that's always been part of its appeal to me. One of the few tunes of theirs that I can still listen to.
*ding* "Going UP"
Had to go find out... Like private planes, like London... Hard not to like London. Lived there for a while. Now, I'd be hard pressed to afford Tea or Coffee... Recently listed as Most Expensive... Course, there is more than London... altho that too has changed with their immigration policies. Another subject, another forum, another time.
Really liked the 12 string.... and always the harmonies
I remembered it in '65...but that was when regions released music at different times...
Now it's all timed for the Grammies and the bump that a nomination receives in sales, play, etc.
Funny, I did the exact same thing!
...... what he said
the Byrds suffered a major loss right after "Eight Miles High" with the departure of Gene Clark, their primary songwriter and, along with McGuinn, chief lead vocalist. The reason for his resignation, ironically, was fear of flying . . .
Gotta love it.
Oops, sorry, just looked back and I said the same thing in 2005.
You know you're getting old when you start repeating yourself.
cactus wrote:
sorry the Byrds copied the Beatles
Uh, yeah, riiiight. And the Beatles never copied anybody.
Everyone suffering with me in my cube here at work just "lifted off" and are now floating up near the light fixtures...
That sounds supernatural! Everybody in my church loves this elevating song...
sorry the Byrds copied the Beatles
Uh, yeah, riiiight. And the Beatles never copied anybody.
Everybody in my hotel room loves this song...
Everyone suffering with me in my cube here at work just "lifted off" and are now floating up near the light fixtures...
Yeah, well some people are still listening to Mozart's 40th symphony as well. Music's not like food - it doesn't go off as it ages.
A great deal of music "goes off" as it ages - (especially many tunes by The Byrds) - not this tune so much, though. Anyhow, it doesn't mean that one should not listen to it, but Roger McGuinn is not Mozart.
Agreed.
The Byrds influenced the Beatles. That is a claim to fame.
I love watching snow-covered mountain ranges from airplanes. ;-)
What a maroon!
One of the first.
Saw them do it in LA with Stipe singing.
Here is the correct cover art and it came out in '66 first as a single and then included on this '66 LP, not in '80