A genie gives you the chance to resurrect a singer that died to soon

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by vaticanplum

Oh, I would have loved you, Roy.

That first Flying Burrito Brothers album is still so good. That whole second side, especially both the Hot Burritos, the songs are just so strong structurally and so well done. Gram's voice, the pedal steel guitar...I don't know the second album as well, but that first one is almost perfect.

edit: For the record, I'm pretty sure that hearing Parsons sing "I'm your toy, I'm your old boy, and I don't want no one but you to love me" at an impressionable age set me back on the healthy relationship track by at least 10 years.

I agree with you about Parson's influence, however I believe that even without him the country twang sound would have found rock n roll sooner or later, Willie's Red Headed Stranger in itself was likely the biggest example of the stark country sound without the strings that prominent of that era or the Hee Haw hokum that was in the business... but I digress.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Roy Tucker

I was a huge Flying Burrito Brothers and Byrds "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" era fan back in the day. Used to put my ponytail up in my hat and stand at the back of country music bars. Hippies got the severe skunk eye back then.

Ya think?

I went as far as I could and when I stopped the car
It was right in front of this little bar
Kind of a red-neck lookin joint called the Dew Drop Inn

I stuffed my hair up under my hat
And told the bartender that I had a flat
And ywould he be kind enough to give me change for a one

There was one thing I was sure proud to see
There wasn't a soul in the place except for him and me
He just looked disgusted and pointed toward the telephone

[coachpipe]

Cant we just have the genie take some (or all) of the current "artists" away ?

[RichRed]

Originally Posted by OldRightHander

I was just listening to Croce and the thing that always gets me is how old he looked for his age. Can you imagine what he would look like today if he was still kicking?

I always thought the same thing. I was shocked when I learned he was only 30 when he died.



By the way, Sasha Baron Cohen would have to be the choice to play Croce in the biopic.

[vaticanplum]

Originally Posted by westofyou

I agree with you about Parson's influence, however I believe that even without him the country twang sound would have found rock n roll sooner or later, Willie's Red Headed Stranger in itself was likely the biggest example of the stark country sound without the strings that prominent of that era or the Hee Haw hokum that was in the business... but I digress.

I just think that the Byrds et al. made it so accessible, and it was such a shift from what they were already known for, bringing in people who were following...whatever that had been (groovy music? psychedelia?) Willie Nelson had, and still does have, to a degree, more of a stigma attached to him, deserved or not. I mean, my mom, for example, not being a self-declared country fan, would never listen to Willie Nelson, but she used to play the Byrds for me all the time.

But that's all just my impressions...I wasn't there, I dunno for sure. Certainly Willie is ungodly talented and, in the long run, way more influential than Gram Parsons across the board.

[REDREAD]

Originally Posted by Wonderful Monds

Lennon would've been irrelevant. Yoko ruined him.

I really liked the Beatles, but Lennon's solo career was pretty disappointing.
He had a few nice singles, but it IMO, Paul and George had much better solo work post-Beatles.

Honestly, Lennon was already irrelevant when he died.

YEa, I know this thread is a year old

[Roy Tucker]

Originally Posted by vaticanplum

I just think that the Byrds et al. made it so accessible, and it was such a shift from what they were already known for, bringing in people who were following...whatever that had been (groovy music? psychedelia?) Willie Nelson had, and still does have, to a degree, more of a stigma attached to him, deserved or not. I mean, my mom, for example, not being a self-declared country fan, would never listen to Willie Nelson, but she used to play the Byrds for me all the time.

But that's all just my impressions...I wasn't there, I dunno for sure. Certainly Willie is ungodly talented and, in the long run, way more influential than Gram Parsons across the board.

Like many things in history, it's difficult to discern what's happening when you're living it in real time. I loved the whole sub-genre of Parsons and Byrds and the FBB (and even further into country like Charlie Rich and Merle Haggard), but like what woy said, there was so much more going on.

Dylan was doing his Nashville Skyline/Blonde on Blonde thing, the Beatles with Let It Be and George Harrisons All Things Must Pass, the Dead's country side and the NRPS spinoff and Commander Cody (go listen to Mama Hated Diesels), Waylon and Willie (Red Headed Strangers is the ultimate), Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the Stones could have quite the twang, the Band defined the current Americana, Emmylou and Linda Ronstadt (who I wanted to run away with me and have my babies, god she was gorgeous), the whole Poco/Eagles/Loggins+Messina/Pure Prarie League (saw them many times in Athens) axis, and on and on. Parsons perhaps was the most pure of the genre, but it was all going to happen anyhow.

I regularly rant about modern "country" music saying "this isn't anything new, its just pop with a twang and NASCAR lyrics" and saying "that ain't real country" and play my old Merle and Johnny and Dolly and Hank and whoever records. Your note a a few back is what I say all the damn time.

(oh, and I would have broken your heart back then... I was a testosterone-ridden early 20's dope and didn't have the faintest idea what I was doing).

[Jefferson24]

Dennis Wilson, for me. He had more to offer than most realized. Too bad drugs and alcohol took their toll.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Jefferson24

Dennis Wilson, for me. He had more to offer than most realized. Too bad drugs and alcohol took their toll.

Yep he was just finding his wings

[GAC]

Originally Posted by RichRed

I always thought the same thing. I was shocked when I learned he was only 30 when he died.

I always thought he looked like Groucho Marx LOL

[GAC]

Originally Posted by REDREAD

I really liked the Beatles, but Lennon's solo career was pretty disappointing.
He had a few nice singles, but it IMO, Paul and George had much better solo work post-Beatles.

Honestly, Lennon was already irrelevant when he died.

I respect your opinion RR, and while it may be true that Lennon, as far as his solo career went, didn't have the commercial success of McCartney and Harrison, and even Ringo, is that really the best way to measure the success of an artist? Even an ex-Beatle? IMO, Lennon wasn't about writing "pop hits", which was more MCartney's forte. Both of their solo careers showed how much they needed each other to bounce off of and smooth the "rough edges". They both tried to use their wives to be replace that collaboration they had, and it didn't work.

John wanted everyone to love, understand, and accept Yoko. from an artistic perspective, like he did, and it wasn't going to happen. My feeling was always - "You married her, you live with her, fine, but don't expect me to like her crap." She was an irritant.

But I really enjoyed a lot of Lennon's solo music, especially his first solo album "Plastic Ono Band", because I looked at John's music on a much deeper, more complex, level then I did Paul's. If I was in the mood for a pop song (ditty) I listen to Paul. Lennon's music was more personal, soul-bearing (wrenching) to me.

[marcshoe]

David Foster Wallace?

Okay, so technically he wasn't a "singer".

[hairmetalfreek]

Hendrix, but not because of his singing. His career was still on the rise and was an amazing guitar player. All the others had their best years behind them, in some cases far behind them.