 Between June and December 1967 , the Byrds worked on completing their fifth album , The Notorious Byrd Brothers . The lead single from the album was a cover of the Gerry Goffin and Carole King song " Goin ' Back " , which was released in October 1967 and peaked at number 89 on the Billboard chart . Despite this lack of commercial success , the Byrds ' rendition of " Goin ' Back " featured a band performance that author Ric Menck has described as " a beautiful recording " , while music critic Richie Unterberger has called it " a magnificent and melodic cover ... that should have been a big hit . " The song found the Byrds successfully blending their signature harmonies and chiming 12 @-@ string guitar playing with the sound of the pedal steel guitar for the first time , foreshadowing their extensive use of the instrument on their next album , Sweetheart of the Rodeo . 
