01 Artifical energy 00:0002 Goin' back 02:1903 Natural harmony 05:4504 Draft morning 08:0005 Wasn't born to follow 10:4006 Get to you 12:4207 Change is now 15:2108 Old John Robertson 18:4309 Tribal gathering 20:3210 Dolphin's smile 22:3611 Space odyssey 24:36BONUS TRACKS12 Moog raga [instrumental] 28:2713 Bound to fall [instrumental] 31:5414 Triad 34:0515 Goin' back [version one] 37:3716 Draft morning [alternate end] 41:3517 Universal mind decoder [take 1] 44:3418 Gary Usher speech 49:0619 The Byrds in studio 51:15----------------------------------------­--------------------------RECORDED: June 21 - December 6, 1967 in Columbia Studios, Hollywood, CaliforniaRELEASED: January 15, 1968PRODUCER: Gary UsherPERSONNEL: Roger McGuinn – lead guitar, Moog synthesizer, vocalsDavid Crosby – rhythm guitar, electric bass, vocalsChris Hillman – electric bass, mandolin (on "Draft Morning"), vocalsMichael Clarke – drums on tracks 1, 4, 8, 9, 10 (plus bonus tracks 16–17)Gene Clark – possible backing vocal on tracks 2 and 11Due to his departure from the group, David Crosby appears only on tracks 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 (plus bonus tracks 13–17).Additional PersonnelClarence White, James Burton – guitarRed Rhodes – pedal steel guitarPaul Beaver, Terry Trotter – pianoPaul Beaver, Gary Usher – Moog synthesizerBarry Goldberg – organDennis McCarthy – celesteJim Gordon – drums (tracks 2, 3, 5, bonus tracks 13–15)Hal Blaine – drums (tracks 6–7)Lester Harris, Raymond Kelley, Paul Bergstrom, Jacqueline Lustgarten – celloVictor Sazer, Carl West, William Armstrong – violinAlfred McKibbon – double bass (bowed)Ann Stockton – harpRichard Hyde – tromboneJay Migliori – saxophoneRoy Caron, Virgil Fums, Gary Weber – brassDennis Faust, Gary Usher – percussionCurt Boettcher, Gary Usher – backing vocalsFiresign Theatre – sound effectsunknown musicians – trumpet ("Draft Morning"), string quartet and additional fiddle ("Old John Robertson")INFO: The recording sessions for the Byrds' fifth album, The Notorious Byrd Brothers, were conducted in the midst of internal turmoil that found them reduced to a duo by the time the record was completed. That wasn't evident from listening to the results, which showed the group continuing to expand the parameters of their eclecticism while retaining their hallmark guitar jangle and harmonies. With assistance from producer Gary Usher, they took more chances in the studio, enhancing the spacy quality of tracks like "Natural Harmony" and Goffin & King's "Wasn't Born to Follow" with electronic phasing. Washes of Moog synthesizer formed the eerie backdrop for "Space Odyssey," and the songs were craftily and unobtrusively linked with segues and fades. But the Byrds did not bury the essential strengths of their tunes in effects: "Goin' Back" (also written by Goffin & King) was a magnificent and melodic cover with the expected tasteful 12-string guitar runs that should have been a big hit. "Tribal Gathering" has some of the band's most effervescent harmonies; "Draft Morning" is a subtle and effective reflection of the horrors of the Vietnam War; and "Old John Robertson" looks forward to the country-rock that would soon dominate their repertoire. [The CD reissue adds six bonus tracks, including different versions of "Goin' Back" and "Draft Morning," a few instrumentals, and David Crosby's controversial "Triad"; unlisted on the sleeve is a rehearsal outtake which captures comically vitriolic arguments among the band.] [review by Richie Unterberger - allmusic.com