 By mid @-@ 1967 , Jim McGuinn had changed his first name to Roger , as a result of his interest in the Indonesian religion Subud , into which he had been initiated in January 1965 . The adoption of a new name was common among followers of the religion and served to signify a spiritual rebirth for the participant . Shortly after McGuinn 's name change , the band entered the studio to record the Crosby @-@ penned , non @-@ album single " Lady Friend " , which was released on July 13 , 1967 . The Byrds ' biographer Johnny Rogan has described " Lady Friend " as " a work of great maturity " and " the loudest , fastest and rockiest Byrds ' single to date . " Regardless of its artistic merits , however , the single stalled at a disappointing number 82 on the Billboard chart , despite the band making a number of high @-@ profile television appearances to promote the record . Crosby , who had closely overseen the recording of the song , was bitterly disappointed by the single 's lack of success and blamed Gary Usher 's mixing of the song as a factor in its commercial failure . 
