Turn! Turn! Turn!

iTunes Review

The Byrds’ second album, Turn! Turn! Turn!, in many ways exceeds the expectations of their debut, Mr. Tambourine Man. While the formula had been established with their 12-string, harmony-laden version of the Dylan tune, the band still had plenty of variations to work over. This time, the title track is a Pete Seeger adaptation of Biblical verse given the Byrds’ trademarked electricity, while the traditional folk song, “He Was A Friend Of Mine,” is updated by Roger McGuinn to be a tribute to the late President Kennedy. As with Dylan (represented here with covers of “Lay Down You Weary Tune,” “The Times They Are A-Changin’”), the Byrds manage to effortlessly make it pop music without sacrificing the song’s artistic merit. But it’s the group’s original compositions that lead the charge. McGuinn’s “It Won’t Be Wrong,” Gene Clark’s “The World Turns All Around Her” and “If You’re Gone” are among the band’s most enduring tracks. A cover of the Porter Wagoner hit “Satisfied Mind” points towards bassist Chris Hillman’s interest in country music that would eventually take the group into a new direction. The deluxe edition includes several different mixes and alternate versions of songs, including a cover of Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.”