Chuck HinsonThe Byrds: Eight Miles High
October 27th 2008 07:52
Yet, the song Eight Miles High by The Byrds (Jim [now Roger] McGuinn, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, the late Gene Clark and the late Michael Clarke) wasn't inspired by drugs or orgies ...
but by a simple airplane trip! Y'see, what happened was, while on the plane, Gene Clark (their tambourinist/vocalist) asked McGuinn how far up they were. Jim answered, "I guess about six miles high!"
But, since The Beatles had just hit with Eight Days A Week, he changed the title to sorta ride that song's coat-tails.
Secondly, you'll hear Jim's twelve-string Rickenbacker sounding very sitar-like. Actually, they'd planned to use the Indian instrument on record, but the standard electric guitar was much easier to play (they'd tried takes with the sitar, but they just didn't 'work' in the song).
Of course, the trademark Byrds harmonies were evident throughout the song -- one that was a distinct departure from their earlier material. And it's lasted throughout the course of rock history, and is now considered an indelible part of the progression of rock-and-roll.
Incidentally: Didja know that The Byrds also sang backup with the Monkees on the latter's What Am I Doin' Hangin' Round? Or that their hit Feel A Whole Lot Better was released because the "A" side of the record -- All I Really Want To Do -- had just been released by Sonny and Cher, and DJs didn't want to confuse the two when they were played? So the jocks flipped the disk over ... and another Byrds hit was born!!
Well, that's all the time we have for this episode, but stay tuned .. more is coming up in less than 24. So ...
I'll see ya on the flip side!
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