Gram Parsons – Cosmic American Music

Gram Parsons died in hotel room 8 at The Joshua Tree Inn 26 years after being born into a wealthy  typically southern family in rural Waycross, Georgia. Parsons singlehandedly married country music to rock and worked with some of the biggest names in rock music of the late sixties and early seventies. He also married the hippie ethos of peace, love and understanding to what was  previously recognised as redneck only country music. His death was not a noteworthy event in the newspapers of the time yet his legacy as the godfather of country rock, Americana or alt-country is now evident.

In 1968, feeling homesick for The Deep South Gram when studying at Harvard, picked up the guitar and turned his hand to recreating the sound of his rural childhood. He formed a band called The International Submarine Band releasing the album Safe At Home in 1968.

The song I Still Miss Someone, originally recorded by Johnny Cash, features on the only The International Submarine Band album and you can find it here.

Also in 1968, with this “debut” album under his belt Gram successfully auditioned to join the Byrds. Joining Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman, The Byrds went into the studio, and it was here that Gram’s ability to influence other musicians came to the fore for the first time. He quickly transformed from newcomer to bandleader and guided The Byrds towards what many consider their masterpiece, Sweetheart of the Rodeo.

Here is a Gram in one of his first historic and amazing performances with The Byrds in Rome's Piper Club singing the classic Hickory Wind from Sweetheart of the Rodeo.

But The Byrds was never going to be a permanent band for Parsons. Taking a break after leaving them he became great friends with Keith Richards and spent much time jamming with “Keef” in his exile at Nellcote, in the South of France. Unfortunately, Gram also became a heavier heroin user during this period and was eventually asked to leave. But not before steering Keith towards adding more country twang to his playing which features heavily on The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street which was recorded at Nellcote. Keith has admitted that Gram can be heard in the chorus of Sweet Virginia.

Here are the Stones bringing the sweet Southern sound of Sweet Virginia on Exile in Main Street. Can you hear Gram in the chorus?

Parsons formed the Flying Burrito Brothers with Hillman in L.A. in 1969 and they returned to the studio to produce the sprawling classic LP The Gilded Palace of Sin. In 1970, the less notable Burrito Deluxe was recorded which included the Rolling Stone’s Wild Horses. Here are some highlights.

Listen to the amazingly searing vocal track of Hot Burrito #1 straight off a vinyl copy of The Gilded Palace of Sin here.

The closing track of Burrito Deluxe is Wild Horses the song made famous by The Rolling Stones off their Sticky Fingers album of 1971. There is much conjecture that Parsons had penned this song when at Nellcote when with Keith Richards.

At the conclusion of Gram’s work with the Burritos and his dalliance with the Stones, Gram would meet the individual who would most impact his legacy. He was looking for a female vocalist to work with and Chris Hillman from the Byrds recommended Gram visit a bar in Washington D.C. where a girl called Emmylou Harris was singing in a bars. Gram asked Emmylou to travel to L.A. to work on his first solo record, G.P. which would be released in 1973.

Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris in harmony would forever be considered the prince and princess of americana; the first and most important reference point for country duet. Emmylou would later work with the who’s who of country rock including Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams, Steve Earle, Willie Nelson and many many more.

Knock yourself out with any of the tracks from GP but my favourites are Streets of Baltimore and Cry One More Time where Gram’s voice is just amazing.

Gram’s final album release posthumously, Grievous Angel is considered his best by many fans and includes Brass Buttons, one of his most heartfelt ballads, $1000 Wedding, an incredibly emotive song about a groom stranded at the altar, and the song that this column is named after Return of the Grievous Angel. The harmonies with Emmylou Harris in this last track are incredible.

Throughout his career Gram Parsons voice was at once simple, warm, rich, searing, emotive and honest. It is so good I frequently come back to it and marvel at how such simple musicianship can also be so rich, beautiful and heartfelt yet also encapsulate such a complex, troubled man.