GP - GRAM PARSONS***

Still Feeling Blue/We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning/A Song For You/Streets Of Baltimore/She/That's All It Took/The New Soft Shoe/Kiss The Children/Cry One More Time/How Much I've Lied/Big Mouth Blues

Gram Parsons is sometimes credited with creating country-rock and during his time with The Byrds he certainly took the group in a country direction. On his solo debut album GP he duets with Emmylou Harris, who would soon pursue her own successful country music career.

“Not every song is a gem but the ensemble playing is tasteful enough to carry the weaker moments and Parsons emotional delivery is irresistible throughout. What's more, the album is beautifully produced and although the vocal is up-front on every song, the instrumental breaks are well thought out and executed to perfection.”

“Rather than crediting Gram Parsons with creating country rock, I'd rather just praise this record as being a most agreeable blend of pop, rock, and country, tied together with heavenly backup vocals from Emmylou Harris. I especially love the song She, and hold it as one of the most beautiful love songs ever penned.”

“Parsons found a musical soul mate in Emmylou Harris and it is her angelic voice that really lifts this album. Her duet with Parsons on the cheating song We’ll Sweep Out The Ashes expresses the vulnerability of such a fragile relationship. I caught myself yearning for her harmonies and wishing there were more examples here.”

“Yes, the songs are simple and sometimes Gram can't hit perfect. But the band is hot, the stories are direct and compelling, and the entire album, with all its twists and turns, is cohesive, danceable and often beautiful.”

“It is most definitely a grower of an album, but once it gets its hooks into you, you'll want to listen to it more and more. The musicianship is unbelievable and the harmonies are some of the best I've heard.”

“One can't be sure exactly what Parsons is writing about, but the lyrics pack an emotional punch far beyond their literal meaning. The duet singing of Gram with a very young Emmylou Harris could bring tears to the eyes of a statue. Gram worked in the country rock genre, but his aim was to weave American myths and dreams into songs. He succeeded. These are songs that get under your skin and stay there.”

“On this album, Parsons veers from country rock to something closer to the mainstream country music of the day. He brought in some musicians with real country experience, and Emmylou Harris as a duet singer.”