Probably not knowing what they were getting themselves into, A&M Records recently went on a binge of signing country-rock artists, several of whom have been with the Byrds in the past.

Specifically, A&M now has as many ex-Byrds under contract as Columbia has current Byrds; there are the Flying Burrito Brothers, with Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, and the Fantastic Expedition of Dillard and Clark...