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On Demand

Rock's "Grievous Angel"

Friday, March 14, 2008

Singer and songwriter Gram Parsons infused country sounds into rock during the 1960s and early ‘70s, both as a solo artist and a member of the Flying Burrito Brothers, the International Submarine Band and The Byrds. (Some credit Parsons with the countrified sounds on the Rolling Stones’ "Exile on Main Street.") We talk with David N. Meyer, author of the a new Parsons biography, Twenty Thousand Roads.


Comments

  • [1] george from brooklyn March 14, 2008 - 12:05PM

    I love Gram Parsons, but in my opinion no talk about the origination of country/rock is complete without a mention of Michael Nesmith. I don't think he gets credit because he was a Monkee and he's still alive thus he's not as romantic as Parsons but I'd wager Nesmith started the trend before anyone (1965).

    I'm curious though if Gram ever said anything about Nesmith or noted his work?

    in my opinion Nesmith started country-rock and Parsons started alt-country.

    they both rule though...

    see Nemsith songs:

    PaPa Gene's Blues

    Carlisle Wheeling

    Listen to the Band

    the Crippled Lion

    Some of Shelly's Blues

    Nevada Fighter

    Yellow Butterfly


  • [2] Stepehn from brooklyn March 14, 2008 - 01:32PM

    Country and Rock were not so separate. How do you explain, Blonde on Blonde, Nashville Skyline or Credence Clearwter Revival?


  • [3] Brad from Bronx March 14, 2008 - 02:17PM

    What about first record from The Band?


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