The Gilded Palace of Sin (1969) The Flying Burrito Brothers
I was in the Boy Scouts, an Eagle, to be exact, when I came home September 23, 1973, from a weekend camping trip in Joshua Tree. My mom asked me if I'd heard about some rock star's body being burned out there. At 429,690 acres (671.4 sq mi; 1,738.9 km2), Joshua Tree is a pretty big place."No", I replied. At the time I didn't know Gram Parsons, or his music.
During the Summer of '78, I taped my room mate's copy of "Grievous Angel"(1973). By the time I heard "Cash on the Barrelhead", I was hooked. I'd read a lengthy article about him in one of the magazines (Creem, Crawdaddy?) entitled "Gram Finale", which included details about what happened in Joshua Tree.
An incendiary end to a short, fascinating, and largely tragic life.
There is a high lonesome authenticity in his voice, and music, throughout his career.
I picked up a used copy of "The Gilded Palace Of Sin" in the early '80's, and pretty much everything else since.
He was my gateway into Country Music, and a huge influence on several levels. He and Chris Hillman wrote some great songs together, and Gram continued to until his unfortunate demise.
I bought this 2017 repress from from my buddy Sal earlier this year. Sounds much better than my scratchy original.
You might notice that bassist Chris Ethridge switched instruments with drummer Michael Clarke for the video shoot.
An incendiary end to a short, fascinating, and largely tragic life.
There is a high lonesome authenticity in his voice, and music, throughout his career.
I picked up a used copy of "The Gilded Palace Of Sin" in the early '80's, and pretty much everything else since.
He was my gateway into Country Music, and a huge influence on several levels. He and Chris Hillman wrote some great songs together, and Gram continued to until his unfortunate demise.
I bought this 2017 repress from from my buddy Sal earlier this year. Sounds much better than my scratchy original.
-BBJ
6 comments:
The FBB and Gram Parsons put out some wonderful music. Tragic is an apt word to describe Gram's life, but fortunately for us, there is all the beautiful music he and his pals created.
- Paul in DK
Man, I just listened to Gram's records and the Burritos this last week! Emmylou at Hardly Strictly played a short set recognizing the 50th anniversary of Grievious Angel. As a teenager, I'd heard the name but it was a Black Crowes concert in May 1995 that I heard Hot Burrito #2 and I was hooked.
what set the hook for me was the Brothers' cover "Wild Horses"
The music is Jesus. With goosebumps. From Golgotha to Cap Rock.
VR
My gateway to Gram was through the Stones. I remember seeing Gram and the Burritos in the brief sequence in Gimmie Shelter when I went to the original showing in 1970. That was in the beginning of my Stones fascination so the Burritos were a blip on my radar at 12 years old. Fast forward a couple of years and this guy named Gram Parsons is showing up in photos of Keith and then I find out he’s has an album out. That was the beginning of the six degrees of Gram. Emmylou, Guilded Palace and its cool cover. Then “what’s this?” Sweetheart Of The Rodeo . Missed that one because I was only 10 in 1968. Then realizing his influence on the whole country rock movement. It’s no coincidence the Eagles first lp cover was shot in Joshua Tree. I always wondered why Linda Ronstadt didn’t do any Gram songs. She did so many great interpretations of other’s work but I guess she didn’t want to tread on Emmy’s history. Emmy has told the story of how Linda had her move in with her for a short time after Gram’s death to help her get through it. I have visited his grave in NOLA and stayed at the Joshua Tree Inn where he passed. The oldest tree in the Joshua Tree park is named Gram!! Anyway Gram’s legacy continues through docs , books , reissues, tributes, and newly discovered live shows. Thanks for letting me ramble and thanks to everyone who keeps his spirit and memory alive!!
Spinster
Back in the early 70's, I would make these reel to reel mix tapes to listen to after football practice - there were tunes by everyone from Blind Boy Fuller and the Stones to Broadway stuff and the Burritos.....and even tho' no one had listened to Gram - it was always a 'hit' with "the guys". I still have my pristine copies of ALL his albums and am grateful for his work~ GMB
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