GRAM PARSONS - GRIEVOUS ANGEL 1974. Gram Parsons is one of those guys who probably died perfectly. His relatively scant discography (.4 Byrds albums, 1.4 Flying Burrito Brothers albums, an International Submarine Band album, and 2 solo albums) was just enough to cement his legacy before he died in a delightfully decadent desert-themed drug demise in 1973, well before the disco LP would have doomed everything. That said, the version of Boudleaux Bryant’s “Love Hurts” on this album is the real deal. For real. While I suppose all copies of this LP are technically posthumous, this one is among the leastest posthumousest. If you have heard the hype, but not wiped the wipe, you may want to consider making the trip to verdant New Jersey for this Saturday’s Second Saturday Record and CD Show, and snag this slab of timeless ‘70s twangrock.
-John G.
Bad Kitty Music #13: Sleepy Hollow
Bad Kitty Music #12: The Everly Brothers
Bad Kitty Music #11: Albert King/Otis Rush
Bad Kitty Music #10: Uriah Heep
Bad Kitty Music #9: George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Bad Kitty Music #8: Bob(by) Darin
Bad Kitty Music #7: Todd Rundgren
Bad Kitty Music #6: The Rockets
Bad Kitty Music #5: Rush
Bad Kitty Music #4: Dr. John
Bad Kitty Music #3: Terry Reid
Bad Kitty Music #2: Roy Buchanan
Bad Kitty Music #1: Bobby "Blue"Bland
5 comments:
Yes to all he said. My gateway was a jukebox 45 of Love Hurts backed with In My Hour Of Darkness, bought at a swap meet in the early 80s (along with a mono jukebox 45 of Blinded By The Light!), and I still have it because, even with (or especially because)its scratchy sound, it evokes the biggest heartache. I've kept it even tho I of course have clean and digital copies of all the stuff.
C in California
my gateway was the Burritos' cover of "Wild Horses," otherwise it would have probably taken until a cousin turned me on to Emmylou Harris to give him his due. I was actually put off when the Stones finally released their version ("what did they do to that pretty song?").
I got to interview Chris Hillman in the 70's. One of the nicest guys. He claimed to "discover" Harris first and pushed her and Parsons together. Harris' "Return of the Grievous Angel" compilation and Sessions at West 54th tribute to him are favorites. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LX_G0Qffz4
Not to derail this, but since we are talking about departed musicians: I'm very sad about this bit of news:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nicky-wonder-brian-wilson-wondermints-guitarist-dead-at-59-obituary-868888/
I'd always hoped the Wondermints would make one more album after Brian WIlson retired for good. :-(. "Mind If We Make Love To You" is one of my favorite albums of all time.
"Gram Parsons is one of those guys who probably died perfectly. His relatively scant discography (.4 Byrds albums, 1.4 Flying Burrito Brothers albums, an International Submarine Band album, and 2 solo albums) was just enough to cement his legacy before he died in a delightfully decadent desert-themed drug demise in 1973, well before the disco LP would have doomed everything."
A big "OUCH" to that. Just a tad smug for my taste, just saying, a real waste and not some perfect death. And nothing would convince me that he would have wound up doing anything remotely disco. Country/alt-country/soul country/etc. would have been the place for Gram to fill up his legacy. Sorry, I just found this whole comment rather disconcerting.
--Muzak McMusicks
Mr. McMusicks,
It was written by a fan with a sense of humor. Maybe McLighten up.
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