Turn, Turn, Turn by the Byrds-Rayman’s Song of the Day [VIDEO]

The first long-haired American group to compete with the British Invasion bands visually as well as musically, the Byrds were soon anointed as the American counterpart to the Beatles by the press, legions of fans, and George Harrison himself.

Formerly the Beefeaters, the Byrds were so lacking in equipment and experience in their early stages that Mike Clarke played on cardboard boxes during their first rehearsals, my friend Chris Hillman was a polished mandolin player, but had never played a bass guitar before.

Despite it all, the Byrds rose to dizzying heights both instrumentally and musically, even overcoming the departure of Gene Clark (who wrote most of their songs) to become the kings of folk-rock in America.

On this day in 1965, the Byrds recorded Turn, Turn, Turn which became their last number one hit in America.