I didn't doubt Hillman's grievances while reading that book, I'm sure Gram could be a complete b*****d. That said his writing off of Gram's post-Burrito work as amateurish is way off the mark.
I’ll agree with that - though I feel like the first solo record is just average (aside from a few stellar tunes, like “She”), but the second one deserves the praise it gets from all quarters.
I love Gram Parsons. Sure, he had his short comings but who doesn't, especially among rock stars. He introduced me to real country music for which I'm eternally grateful. He's definitely in my top 3 artists of all time. Even if he'd only written "Hickory Wind" he'd deserve his place among country rock giants. His story is a tragic, especially since it was brought about by his self. Still, I can always listen to Gram and enjoy it.
Love me some Gram. He lived more in 26 years than most people do in 80. Not tragic to me, I’d rather take a ton of drugs and be a country/rock star for a few years then sit in a cubicle for 45...nudie suits over khakis any day. You wanna add years to your life, or life to your years? Instead of obsessing over the 19th reissue of some old record or cataloging every fart the Beatles ever ripped he was making tunes that’ll outlive us all.
Blessed with a lot of talent, decided he wanted to be Keith Richards. That was, as Keith would remind us all who at one time or another tried to do the same thing, a fatal mistake. Bad career and life move. That said, he was responsible for 3 amazing lp's, and a big part of a fourth. Not bad for a guy who died young and left a good looking corpse.
There are a lot of bands I have to be in the right mood to enjoy their music to the fullest. The great thing about Gram is that I'm always in the mood to listen to him. I love his work, doesn't matter if it's with a band or solo. I just really love how much feeling he conveys through his voice.
You can hear Gram’s vision of “Cosmic American Music” all over Exile on Main Street. Hanging with the Stones in France while they were recording rubbed off.
Sweetheart, Gilded, GP and Grievous Angel are essential and always will be IMO. Sad he's been gone so long.
Sorry just can't help it. Prophetic, huh? It all might happen aaagggaaaaaaiiiiiiiinnnnnnn! One hundred years from this time would anybody change their minds And find out one thing or two about life But people are always talking You know they're always talking Everybody's so wrong that i know it's gonna work out right Nobody knows what kind of trouble we're in Nobody seems to think it all might happen again
Does anyone have any info on The Byrds (presumably w/Gram) appearing on American Bandstand on May 11, 1968? They apparently did "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" This site claims they also did "8 Miles High", but they may be confusing this appearance w/the one from the year before (w/Crosby): American Bandstand: The Byrds (May 11, 1968)
Yes but i would choose to know and love my family and friends for 76 not 26 years! Life ain't no movie!
Aside from his best known cuts i heard some sort of brief rehearsal of Dylan's I Shall Be Released. Can someone tell me about the circumstances of this recording and sessions please?
Cecil Ingram Connor III at school 1965, both contemplating his next move and thoughtlessly blocking the path of the lady behind him. Ohhhh, if looks could kill!
"One Hundred Years" is my favorite Gram song and maybe just my favorite song. It is prophetic. Listened to it many thousands of times since I first heard it a thousand years ago. Brilliant writing and singing, pedal steel by Lloyd and guitar by Clarence. I used to be able to play Clarence's part on my tele. As to who's coming back, I think based on his southern upbringing he may be talking religion. Gram had Merle's soulfulness but more youthful with some fragility added in. I have a fairly sizable music collection and about a month ago I did something I thought I would never do---I threw out a couple of CD's. The musician who recorded them had done something so reprehensible I simply couldn't listen to them any more. Gram's excesses are no where in that league. Generally its a good idea not to look to closely at the personal lives of musicians you admire. Usually I have no problem separating the enjoyment I get from the music from everything else.
There came a time when I wanted to buy one book, and one book only, that would tell me more about Mr. Parsons than I knew before, not needing to buy another book about his life. Over the years, I've had tremendous success, or luck, with this approach. In this particular case, my fortuitous find? Twenty Thousand Roads: The Ballad of Gram Parsons and His Cosmic American Music - David N. Meyer. Walking away away from the then-burgeoning folk music scene to eventually create what would later be referred to as his "Cosmic American Music" was, to say the least, quite a trip. His was both an incredibly fascinating and death. I would highly recommend this bio.
