You’re 80% correct
On the first single or two Melcher had the wrecking crew lay down the instruments and the Byrds vocalized over later
Except Roger McGuinn who could really play well even then on that Rickenbacker 12 string
I grew up on the Byrds
For me I prefer Sweetheart which is Graham mostly
But especially Untitled......where they really rocked .....man what a great version of that band
Lover of the Bayou is a great song best turned up loud outside around a campfire properly buzzed
Those were good days
That little album ....their final which was a reunion I liked as well
1973
The mid 60s albums were mostly about the single
Buffalo Springfield albums had more depth and texture
But Untitled is one of my favorite albums of all time...a top 20 for sure...especially the live recorded side
Yep...Gram Parsons took over the Byrds basically in the wake of Gene Clark leaving in 65 then David Crosby getting fired for being an absolute prick (by Chris Hillman and Roger McGuinn at his own house).
Gene Clark was the Byrds heart and soul...wrote the songs and everybody got pissed because he was getting $80,000 checks and they were getting $5000 checks. He was a tough ass Ozark grew up without running water or indoor utilities and wasn’t up for playing games with Cali boys. In around 1970 he almost choked David Geffen to death in a restaurant because of his doubledealing and that really cost him no matter how much talent he had.
Back to Gram-what an unusual legacy. Southern Gothic Fatalistic upbringing being born unto immense wealth but both parents had committed suicide or drank themselves to death before he graduated HS.
Discovered Emmylou Harris, recorded his two solo albums with Elvis‘s band, left the Byrds to hang out with Keith Richards, legendary run with flying burrito Brothers only to be kicked out because of his multiple polytoxin lifestyle, was way too wasted during the exile on Main Street sessions and was asked to leave by Keith Richards when Keith was at the Zenith of his heroin habit himself...tough ass road he made not unlike Townes.
Tell you what-that man had heart and didn’t care if his fusion of Country with Rock sold quick as he and people around him knew he was doing something significant. He was still alive while the Eagles got popular and really resented it calling them a ‘dry plastic f*ck’...hard to disagree if you ever really listen to gram.
He wrote and sang this song on one of the Byrds albums. He didn't lack talent, he's just a jerk.