In particular Johnny Rogan stated in his biography Timeless Flight that the elaboration of the lyrics were in anticipation of Clark's later work and were a "fascinating apotheosis in which naturalistic detail and abstraction coalesced".

[5] Musically, the recording featured a guitar solo patterned after by Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring".

[6][7] The Byrds' recording of "Mr. Tambourine Man" opens with a similar and distinctive, Bach-inspired guitar riff played by Jim McGuinn.

Upon the release of the Beatles' Rubber Soul album, he sent a letter to the group's publicist Derek Taylor, stating: "Tell Jim [McGuinn] and David [Crosby] that 'If I Needed Someone' is the riff from 'The Bells Of Rhymney' and the drumming from 'She Don't Care About Time', or my impression of it.

"[11][12] David Crosby and Chris Hillman were also big advocates of song, praising its importance in many interviews since Clark's death.

"[15] AllMusic critic Matthew Greenwald considers it to be "one of the early Byrds' finest records" and that the Bach-inspired guitar lines (from "Joy of Man's Desiring") "took the song to even greater heights".

[4] The song is also available on the There Is a Season boxset, which comprises 99 tracks and includes material from each of the band's twelve studio albums, presented in roughly chronological order.