What songs did the Byrds make popular?
Dickson had heard of a Bob Dylan song that Dylan wasn’t going to use on his next record because someone was singing out of tune on the track. The song was a folk style tune in 2/4 time with four verses. It ran about five minutes long. Dickson made the Byrds line up in front of the studio monitor and listen to “Mr. Tambourine Man.” Crosby said, “I don’t like it man! It’s too folksy with that 2/4 time and all those verses. Radio will never play a song like that!” David was right. Radio wanted what sounded like Beatles’ songs and had a strict time limit of two minutes and thirty seconds for a single record. McGuinn had an idea for a new arrangement. He added a Bach-like intro on his Rickenbacker 12-string guitar and changed the time signature to 4/4 time like a Beatles’ song. Then they all auditioned for the lead vocal part. First Gene sang it, then David and finally McGuinn. Dickson liked the way McGuinn sounded on the lead and gave him the part. McGuinn also suggested that they use only
