Byrds
Preflyte
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1973 Original in shrink. The Byrds’ "Preflyte" album, released in 1969 by Together Records, is a compilation of early demos and rehearsal recordings from 1964, made before the band officially adopted the Byrds name and signed with Columbia Records. These tracks, laid down at World Pacific Studios in Los Angeles, capture the formative stages of the group—then known as The Jet Set or The Beefeaters—as they honed their blend of folk and rock influences. The original lineup featuring Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke is present, experimenting with harmonies and arrangements that would soon evolve into their breakthrough 1965 sound. Although the recordings predate the band’s commercial success, songs like "You Showed Me" and early versions of "Mr. Tambourine Man" reveal the group’s nascent chemistry and songwriting prowess. "Preflyte" offers a revealing snapshot of the Byrds’ creative genesis, documenting their transition from folk revivalists to architects of folk-rock. The album’s release came at a time when interest in the band’s roots had grown, offering fans and historians a chance to hear the embryonic stages of songs that would later become iconic. It also demonstrates the band’s receptivity to new influences, particularly the impact of the Beatles and electric instrumentation on their sound.