Gram Parsons (1982) liner notes: Difference between revisions

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Sleevenote to a Gram Parsons compilation
{{Bibliography header}}
{{:Bibliography index}}
{{:Elvis on index}}
{{:Liner notes index}}
{{Bibliography article header}}
<center><h3> Gram Parsons </h3></center>
----
<center> Elvis Costello </center>
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{{Bibliography text}}


Gram Parsons
There are those better qualified than I to tell Gram Parsons' story. But as a fan of the man, I think you should own this record .{{nb}}.{{nb}}.{{nb}}. this is why.


Original release date: 1982 (Britain)
In the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons had helped create a Frankenstein's Monster — country rock. But his first Warner Brothers album ''G.P.'' paid no allegiance to this style. With an impressive back-up band it was a traditional sounding album, mercifully free of gimmicks like fuzz-tone steel guitar. The songs are of lost or stolen love, crossed only occasionally with an R'n'B beat. But most importantly it featured some of the finest duet singing ever put on record. There is something about the combination of Parson's frail and not always perfect pitching and Emmylou Harris's pure and true voice. If it should fail to move you — then you have a big problem. I would say that Emmylou Harris's solo verse on "We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning" matches anything in her excellent solo catalogue.


Of course for the followers of Frankie's Monster in California and the Formula Kings of Nashville, this was much too close to real emotion and sales did not fare well.


Side One
On ''Return Of The Grevious Angel,'' Parsons, the co-billed Harris and the soon-to-be Hot Band continued their devastating duets — most notably "Hearts On Fire" and the much crucified "Love Hurts." But Parsons also returned to the mysterious, almost philosophical tones of his "Sin City" days. The title track "$1000 Wedding" and "In My Hour Of Darkness" have a dense and ominous sound. Gram Parsons died soon after making these tracks.


1.We'll Sweep Out the Ashes in the Morning
I'd be the last to romanticise his death, and I wish he had avoided his apparent self-destruction and continued to make music as great as this.


2.Hearts on Fire
But it's hard to deny the irony of hearing the beautiful "Hickory Wind" accompanied by the mock-adulation of a phony audience track — a bitter little comment on scant commercial success. It will be doubly ironic if you stop reading this sleeve note and actually buy the record. I promise you will not be disappointed.


3.Kiss the Children
::Elvis Costello <br> February 1982


4.That's All It Took
P.S. In these cases somebody's favourite is bound to be omitted; but I hope you approve of this re-presentation, with the duets on Side One and the songs and performances which to my mind put Gram Parsons up there with Hank Williams. If you've never heard the man before do seek out his other recordings. — you won't regret it.


5.Love Hurts
{{cx}}


6.In My Hour of Darkness
{{Bibliography notes header}}


7.Return of the Grievous Angel
{{Bibliography notes}}
'''Gram Parsons liner notes
----
Elvis Costello's sleeve note to the 1982  compilation ''Gram Parsons''.


{{Bibliography images}}


Side Two
[[image:Gram Parsons (1982) album cover.jpg|240px]]
<br><small>LP cover.</small>


1.Still Feeling Blue


2.$1000 Wedding
<small>LP back.</small><br>
[[image:Gram Parsons (1982) album back.jpg|240px]]


3.Ooh, Las Vegas


4.The New Soft Shoe
<small>Cassette insert.</small><br>
[[image:Gram Parsons (1982) cassette insert.jpg|240px]]


5.How Much I've Lied


6.Cash on the Barrelhead
<br>
{{Bibliography box}}


7.Hickory Wind
'''Side One <br>
1. We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning<br>
2. Hearts On Fire <br>
3. Kiss The Children <br>
4. That's All It Took <br>
5. [[Love Hurts]] <br>
6. In My Hour Of Darkness <br>
7. Return Of The Grievous Angel <br>


'''Side Two <br>
1. [[Still Feeling Blue]] <br>
2. $1000 Wedding <br>
3. Ooh, Las Vegas <br>
4. The New Soft Shoe <br>
5. [[How Much I Lied|How Much I've Lied]] <br>
6. Cash On The Barrelhead <br>
7. [[Hickory Wind]] <br>


There are those better qualified than I to tell Gram
{{cx}}
Parson`s story. But as a fan of the man, I think you
should own this record . . . this is why.


In [[The Byrds|the Byrds]] and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram
{{Bibliography notes footer}}
Parsons had helped create a Frankenstein`s Monster -
country rock. But his first Warner Brothers album
"G.P." paid no allegiance to this style. With an
impressive back-up band it was a traditional sounding
album, mercifully free of gimmicks like fuzz-tone
steel guitar. The songs are of lost or stolen love,
crossed only occasionally with an R'n'B beat. But
most importantly it featured some of the finest duet
singing ever put on record. There is something about
the combination of Parson`s frail and not always
perfect pitching and Emmylou Harris`s pure and true
voice. It it should fail to move you - then you have a
big problem. I would say that Emmylou Harris`s solo
verse on "We'll Sweep Out The ashes In The Morning"
matches anything in her excellent solo catalogue.


Of course for the followers of Frankie's Monster
{{Bibliography footer}}
in California and the Formula Kings of Nashville,
this was much too close to real emotion and sales did
not fare well.


On "Return Of The Grevious Angel," Parsons,
==Internal links==
the co-billed Harris and the soon-to-be Hot Band
*[[New Musical Express, August 21, 1982]]
continued their devastating duets - most notably
"Hearts On Fire" and the much crucified "Love Hurts".
But Parsons also returned to the mysterious, almost
philosophical tones of his "Sin City" days. The title
track "$1000 Wedding" and "In My Hour Of Darkness"
have a dense and ominous sound. Gram Parsons died soon
after making these tracks.
 
I`d be the last to romanticise his death, and I
wish he had avoided his apparent self-destruction and
continued to make music as great as this.
 
But it`s hard to deny the irony of hearing the
beautiful "[[Hickory Wind]]" accompanied by the
mock-adulation of a phony audience track - a bitter
little comment on scant commercial success. It will be
doubly ironic if you stop reading this sleeve note and
actually buy the record. I promise you will not be
disappinted.
 
Elvis Costello, February 1982
 
P.S. In these cases somebody’s favourite is bound to be omitted, but I hope you approve of this re-presentation, with the duets on Side One and the songs and performances which to my mind put Gram Parsons up there with Hank Williams. If you’ve never heard the man before do seek out his other recordings. – you won’t regret it.


==External links==
*[http://www.allmusic.com/album/gram-parsons-mw0000858919/credits AllMusic]
*[http://www.discogs.com/Gram-Parsons-Gram-Parsons/master/322684 Discogs]
*[http://www.elviscostellofans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1596 Elvis Costello Fan Forum]


[[Category:Bibliography]]
[[Category:Bibliography]]
[[Category:Bibliography 1982]]
[[Category:Bibliography 1982]]
[[Category:Liner notes]]
[[Category:Liner notes|_1982]]
[[Category:Elvis writes]]
[[Category:Elvis writes]]

Revision as of 21:00, 11 September 2022

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Liner notes 
—
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Gram Parsons

Elvis Costello

There are those better qualified than I to tell Gram Parsons' story. But as a fan of the man, I think you should own this record . . . . this is why.

In the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons had helped create a Frankenstein's Monster — country rock. But his first Warner Brothers album G.P. paid no allegiance to this style. With an impressive back-up band it was a traditional sounding album, mercifully free of gimmicks like fuzz-tone steel guitar. The songs are of lost or stolen love, crossed only occasionally with an R'n'B beat. But most importantly it featured some of the finest duet singing ever put on record. There is something about the combination of Parson's frail and not always perfect pitching and Emmylou Harris's pure and true voice. If it should fail to move you — then you have a big problem. I would say that Emmylou Harris's solo verse on "We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning" matches anything in her excellent solo catalogue.

Of course for the followers of Frankie's Monster in California and the Formula Kings of Nashville, this was much too close to real emotion and sales did not fare well.

On Return Of The Grevious Angel, Parsons, the co-billed Harris and the soon-to-be Hot Band continued their devastating duets — most notably "Hearts On Fire" and the much crucified "Love Hurts." But Parsons also returned to the mysterious, almost philosophical tones of his "Sin City" days. The title track "$1000 Wedding" and "In My Hour Of Darkness" have a dense and ominous sound. Gram Parsons died soon after making these tracks.

I'd be the last to romanticise his death, and I wish he had avoided his apparent self-destruction and continued to make music as great as this.

But it's hard to deny the irony of hearing the beautiful "Hickory Wind" accompanied by the mock-adulation of a phony audience track — a bitter little comment on scant commercial success. It will be doubly ironic if you stop reading this sleeve note and actually buy the record. I promise you will not be disappointed.

Elvis Costello
February 1982

P.S. In these cases somebody's favourite is bound to be omitted; but I hope you approve of this re-presentation, with the duets on Side One and the songs and performances which to my mind put Gram Parsons up there with Hank Williams. If you've never heard the man before do seek out his other recordings. — you won't regret it.

-

Gram Parsons liner notes

Elvis Costello's sleeve note to the 1982 compilation Gram Parsons.

Images

Gram Parsons (1982) album cover.jpg
LP cover.


LP back.
Gram Parsons (1982) album back.jpg


Cassette insert.
Gram Parsons (1982) cassette insert.jpg



Side One
1. We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning
2. Hearts On Fire
3. Kiss The Children
4. That's All It Took
5. Love Hurts
6. In My Hour Of Darkness
7. Return Of The Grievous Angel

Side Two
1. Still Feeling Blue
2. $1000 Wedding
3. Ooh, Las Vegas
4. The New Soft Shoe
5. How Much I've Lied
6. Cash On The Barrelhead
7. Hickory Wind

-


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