The Byrds - sweethearts of the rodeo

"Sweethearts of the rodeo" is a highly influential album from 1968, it saw the Byrds develop a full country rock sound and was one of the first major label albums of its type. The album bought recent band recruit Gram Parsons to the fore and while commercially unsuccessful it is considered a highly influential album, even inspiring the band name of 80s country act Sweethearts of the Rodeo.

But is it any good? Actually its brilliant though it is pretty uncompromising in its love of country music, if you don't like that genre you might find the album a bit hard to get into. This is no parody or post-modern smug fest, they meant it maaaan.

The cover of Bob Dylan's "You ain't going nowhere" is a wonderful opener, the steel guitars searing through. "This Christian life" is as back to basics as you can imagine. "You don't miss your water" has wonderful harmonies.

Overall its simply beautiful music. Its the sound of the saloon doors, honey tonks, rodeos and the frontier.