By the time Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke
entered the studio to begin work on this album, they were falling apart at the
seams. The fact that it turned out to be one of the defining albums of the 60s
psychedelic pop experience was either a sheer stroke of luck, or testament to
McGuinn and Hillman's determination.By the time Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke
entered the studio to begin work on this album, they were basically falling
apart at the seams. 'Ladyfriend', a song written by Crosby, had just failed
miserably as a chart single despite the fact that he lobbied hard to get it
released. This - coupled with the fact that he made what the rest of the band
considered an embarrassing political speech onstage during their set at the
Monterey Pop Festival, and then sat in with rivals the Buffalo Springfield the
following day - pushed McGuinn and Hillman in particular to the limits of their
patience. A few too many studio flare-ups later, and McGuinn and Hillman
finally screeched up into the Hollywood Hills in their Jaguars and fired Crosby
on the spot. Also brooding during this period was drummer Michael Clarke, who
had always borne the brunt of the other band members' rage while recording.; He was by far the least accomplished member of the band musically, and when
they suggested bringing in a studio drummer to embellish some tracks (Jim
Gordon, later of Derek and the Dominos fame), he finally declared he'd had
enough and moved to Hawaii to get away from the music scene altogether. So,
McGuinn and Hillman were left to cobble together an album with the help of
producer Gary Usher (known for his work with Brian Wilson, the Millennium,
Sagittarius and many others). The fact that it turned out to be one of the
defining albums of the 60s psychedelic pop experience was either a sheer stroke
of luck, or testament to McGuinn and Hillman's determination to prove that they
didn't need Crosby'
