Like most people who know of Gram Parsons at all, I first heard of Parsons from his one-album tenure in the Byrds for Sweetheart of the Rodeo. Gram Parsons is an iconic figure in popular music history, regarded as the father of country rock and a genius whose life was tragically cut short.
I’m not convinced, entirely. I picked up the Rhino 2CD compilation Sacred Hearts & Fallen Angels: The Gram Parsons Anthology when it came out in 2001, and I find about half of it thoroughly disposable.
I find many of Parsons’ upbeat, truly country-sounding songs to be irresistibly charming. But his slower stuff can bore me. Slow, sad songs are a tricky thing, for me. A certain type of melancholy song just touches a nerve, and I’m captivated. But other slow, sad songs just feel dreary, and those don’t do much for me—they have more drag than despair. I find Parsons more convincing when he camouflages his darker thoughts behind a lively tune and witty lyrics than when he reveals them directly.
But a well-chosen selection of Parsons’ work is certainly worth getting to know. Here’s the cream of the crop. The playlist chronicles Parsons from his early days in the International Submarine Band, his stint with the Byrds, his time in the Flying Burrito Brothers, and his solo work. Enjoy.
Cover Art Citation:
- GP: Source, Discogs.com
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