The Byrds - Sweetheart of the Rodeo Album

In its time, the Sweetheart of the Rodeo album was revolutionary—imagine a rock band recording a country album—but now it would fit easily into the country alternative genre. Still, this album was the inspiration for such groups as the Eagles and Poco. There are some great tunes here including definitive covers of songs by Bob Dylan ("You Ain't Going Nowhere"), Guthrie ("Pretty Boy Floyd"), and the Louvin Brothers ("The Christian Life"), but the standouts on the album are Parsons’ originals, especially the incomparable "Hickory Wind." Not only did the Byrds give us one of the first country rock albums, it gave us the best one, too.