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Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons with the Flying Burrito Brothers
Live at the Avalon Ballroom, 1969
Amoeba Records
Gram Parson's fans are an unusually diverse bunch (I count myself among them, having slept in the bed where he drew his last breath and stood in the desert at Joshua Tree, watching a crow lazily circle above the spot where Gram's trusty road manager set flame to his remains). Over the years, I've met Gram fans barely old enough to operate a vehicle and others old enough to have marched in protest of the Vietnam War. I've met fans from Iceland and Alabama, Japan and Nashville. Regardless of age and origin, one thing that that Gram fans all seem to have in common is their fierce and steadfast devotion to him and what he created during his very short but magical time on this earth.
Gram devotees will be happy to hear that Christmas has come early for them this year. This two CD set (a.k.a. "one and a bonus"), unearthed from the Dead Vault by Amoeba Records and lovingly re-mastered in the capable hands of Paul Stubblebine is, without a doubt, one of the most satisfying collections of Gram and the Burritos you'll ever encounter. Recorded by Owsley Stanley (Bear) at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco on two separate nights in April, 1969, this treasure has been sitting on a shelf in the vault for thirty-eight years, waiting patiently for a chance to unleash on the world the essence of Gram at his best. Of particular note is "Hot Burrito #1", which appears on both discs, a very intimate, moving version of the song and listening to both versions will transport you back to 1969. "Sin City" on both discs is breathtaking and a particularly wobbly version of "Do Right Woman" on disc two is a treat for fans who might think they've heard it all. "She Once Lived Here," a George Jones favorite, on both discs is downright pretty. Rounding out the package are two previously unreleased home recordings: A spare piano version of "Thousand Dollar Wedding" (recorded in LA, 1969) and "When Will I Be Loved" by Gram and "friends" (NYC, 1967) and a twenty page booklet of never before published photos of Gram and the band taken by Andee Nathanson who deftly and tenderly captured Gram and his band in countless private and public moments.
This collection is the ultimate treat for every Gram fan who ever uttered the words: "Man, I wish I'd been there."
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