The Byrds – Alternate Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde Album

The Byrds – Alternate Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde Album

Vintage Masters VMCDR-531 (Japan? 2020)

“Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde” alternate mixes

Roger McGuinn (guitar, vocals)

Clarence White (guitar, mandolin, vocals)

Gene Parsons (drums, harmonica, vocals)

John York (bass, vocals)

An alternate album based on an acetate LP of the late 1969 Byrds album, with tracks before later work was done on them. An image of the acetate appears on the front cover of this CDR.

The Byrds – Unreleased Alternate “Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde” LP Acetate

An ultra rare acetate containing a completely alternate version of The Byrds 1969 album Dr. Byrds & Mr Hyde, taken exclusively from the initial recording sessions at Columbia Studios in Nashville (and dated October 16, 1968, before the band began further sessions in Nashville on 10/28/68).

From Wiki: 

An acetate version of Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde, dated October 16, 1968 and containing a seven-track programme for the album is known to exist^.  At this point the album consisted of the songs “Old Blue”, “King Apathy III”, “Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man” and “This Wheel’s on Fire” on side one, with “Your Gentle Way of Loving Me”, “Nashville West” and “Bad Night at the Whiskey” on side two.


This acetate contains alternate and unreleased versions of every song that appears on the final album, as follows:

Side 1

Old Blue
Very different mix, without acoustic guitar overdubs, and much more prominent drums and handclaps
King Apathy 111
3:27 on Acetate, vs 2:56 on LP. Very different mix, possibly different guitar and bass parts
Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man
Very different mix, much clearer, more bass and drums, different guitar parts, possibly different vocals; no “This one’s for you Ralph” spoken overdub, 5 seconds longer than LP version
This Wheels on Fire
An alternate and unreleased version; 3:56 vs. 4:40 on LP, different tempo, very different throughout. Acetate version ends with guitar drone ending with almost cartoon like voiceings, not present here. No bomb explosion at end.  The Byrds re-recorded this song 12/4/68, after this acetate was cut.

Side 2

Your Gentle Way of Loving me
Very different mix
Nashville West
Alternate version or very different mix without drums, woodblock, or vocals, different guitar
Bad Night at The Whiskey
Very different mix

This is a 1968 acetate cut before The Byrds reentered the studio in late October 1968 to remix/overdub/record and in the case of This Wheel’s On Fire, re-record. 

1. This Wheel's On Fire (5:02)
2. Old Blue (3:33)
3. Your Gentle Way Of Loving Me (2:42)
4. Child Of The Universe (3:26)
5. Nashville West (2:51)
6. Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man (4:02)
7. King Apathy III (4:07)
8. Candy (3:45)
9. Bad Night At The Whiskey (3:27)

Artwork Included (front, back)