Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
by The Byrds

Depending on your personal taste, if you like country music this album is four you.

From VictorVale 01/28/2023 22:36 | #293347

Grande homenagem, de muita competência.

A couple of slower and average tracks keep this fantastic record from being the truly incredible album it should be. With that being said it is still a great listen with its short and sweet run time and catchy country hooks. It did take me quite a few listens to get into this record as it really is a grower but once you allow those choruses, instrumentation and vocal to infect you then there is no coming back and you soon fall in love with this album. Instrumentally, it is classic country with a Byrds twist that makes it more of an enjoyable listen for me and then you add the fantastic vocal performances on top making a deadly fusion that is like bliss. The atmosphere and style are well maintained as well with the whole record feeling extremely cohesive due to the great song writing, instrumental performances and clever cover song selections. Musically, it obviously isn't that complex and there is more experimental Byrds albums which are a lot more intelligent and in depth but this is just so much fun to listen to and so it makes it one of my favourites. Overall, if given time this could be one of your favourite records to spin as I didn't rate it very highly at first but I kept putting it on time and time again as it just makes me happy and I couldn't resist it.

From TheDude85 06/13/2022 16:11 | #286344

I was not a fan of this turn from psychedelic Rickenbacker guitar driven repertoire to a more straight ahead country feel. Just not my style, and to me they missed Crosby.

Con la entrada de Gram Parsons en el grupo y un mayor protagonismo de Hillman, los Byrds crean la piedra angular del country rock.

From Boltzmann 07/21/2021 01:02 | #271787

Even though the US's soft power has made country instantly recognizable by cityfolk in Europe, this is bound to scare off everyone who's not from the wild west, unless the US propaganda has been very succesful on you. Call me close-minded all you want, but I don't see you listening to "smartlappen" or "λαικά". Huh, what? Exactly. Anyway, this band's career has consisted of almost only ballsy moves, and even though I couldn't care less about this one, I respect them still. Plus there are some gems, "The Christian Life" is hilarious. And even though it's not about who did it first but who did it right, being first should earn you some honor.

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From planetneutral 12/22/2020 04:40 | #263047

My perception of this album is hurt by my long familiarity with (and vast preference for) Dylan's '71 version of the opening track. And, tepid as the rest is, that's pretty much still the highlight.

Only recently getting round to Byrds albums - initially I pretty much hated this album. Thought it was country - which it is - but it is growing on me with each listen. Still prefer the two preceding albums but surprised at this growing like for this album!

From buzzdainer 11/17/2019 16:35 | #244950

Gram Parsons only stuck around to make a single record with the Byrds, but it was far and away the best thing the Byrds ever did, and that includes "Eight Miles High" and the other iconic Roger McGuinn-penned Byrds songs of the sixties. Sweetheart of the Rodeo never attained quite the same commercial success of the Byrds' other work, but it's some of the finest and most influential country rock ever recorded. For me there's not a bad song on the whole album, but any discussion of Sweetheart of the Rodeo has to begin with "You Ain't Going Nowhere," probably the song I've played on more porches in Georgia and North Carolina than any other, ever. Just one of those great, simple, timeless tunes that everyone knows, even when they're not quite sure how or when or where they heard it first.