Sound Advice: CD Reviews - Gram Parsons (GP)

CD Review:
After stints in bands like The Byrds, International Submarine Band and The Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram decided to get a group together (as a backing band) and release some solo albums. He made it to two and died of a drug overdose a few weeks after finishing the second.

Spending more of his time consuming alcohol and drugs rather than concentrating on a recording career Gram wasted what might have been a great solo career. I say "might" because an argument could be made that because of his early death at 27, like so many other musicians, his music was given high marks out of sympathy. That is until you listen to it. Gram never sold too many records whether in collaboration with others or on his own, so his talent remained alive through word of mouth from other musicians and the repeated covers done by them of his songs.

Where Gram made his name in musical circles and then later with the wider and posthumous fan base was his pioneering work in the fusion of rock and country. The Gram Parsons' sound can be heard in too many artists works to mention here (The Byrds and The Rolling Stones would be two obvious examples). When you listen to his music for the first time you will hear things that sound familiar. Then you realize that many artists have used his art as a starting point for their own careers. Emmylou Harris can thank Gram for her start in the music industry and you will hear her voice on this album as well as his next. If you are a fan of hers, then checking out GP and Grievous Angel is another reason to introduce yourself to Gram.

I'm not a big fan of country, or country influenced bands, but I heard so many good things about Gram that I decided to buy the re-issued albums in 1990, both on one CD. It was a great purchase.

Full Spectrum Staff