The Byrds – Mr. Tambourine Man

Vinyl 12"

Few debut singles in the history of rock and roll have had the immediate and overwhelming impact of The Byrds' version of Bob Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man. Marrying Beatles-like electric jangle with Dylan's lyrical insight and folk-inspired melody, the song not only helped break Dylan into the pop market but also forecast The Byrds' profound influence on the future of popular music. It re-established an American rock and roll presence in the face of the British Invasion.

Released in June 1965, the album of the same name was a shotgun blast before the cannon roar that Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited, released just two months later, would become. Although Bob Dylan was a major influence on the young Byrds—four of the album's twelve tracks are Dylan compositions—his songs were only part of what made the band so distinctive.

Roger McGuinn's shimmering 12-string guitar provided the group's unmistakable signature sound, while Gene Clark proved himself to be a formidable songwriter in his own right. I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better has arguably stood the test of time better than any other track on the album.

Ultimately, what set The Byrds and Mr. Tambourine Man apart was their refusal to be confined to a single style. Blending diverse musical influences and reimagining everything from the British wartime standard We'll Meet Again to Jackie DeShannon's Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe through their own innovative lens, The Byrds helped define a revolutionary new genre: folk rock. Countless artists would soon follow in their wake.