I'm not here to argue against that, actually. There's some truth in it. But it's funny how that sometimes happens, when really 'Grievous Angel', released after Gram's death, was a bit of a rush-job, patched up mish-mash, a commercial nothing, not much of an actual album at all. It's full of covers, old songs and out-takes, made by an artist so strung out that most of his mojo had gone.
But it's still flippin' marvellous.
Gram Parsons was just 26 when he died but for, a dissolute drugged-up waster, he managed to do an awful lot. Born of wealthy tragedy, he dropped out of Harvard, was a folk singer, was in something called the International Submarine Band, joined and influenced the Byrds, did two classic albums with the Flying Burrito Brothers, hung out with and heavily influenced the Rolling Stones on one or two of their classic albums, then released two great albums of his own which are seen as massively influential in the country-rock sphere.
You know that border between country and rock? Well, it would be a lie to say Gram Parsons was the first to pass across it - surely Dylan did in various way in the late 60s, and surely Elvis and Buddy Holly were doing it in the late 50s and Ray Charles too, but Gram Parsons was intent on harnessing all the sweet sounds of America, from country to soul to rock to folk, and he did so splendidly.
Strange thing is, his voice is a bit weak and whiny, but it's just got something. Even more so when paired with his life and legacy's secret weapon, Emmylou Harris - who wouldn't be seen as a legend when they have such an eloquent spokesperson preaching their cause for the 40 years after death?
'Grievous Angel' is the Gram Parsons album where Gram and Emmylou really sing together as equals (she'd been more of a backing singer on his first LP, 'GP'). Indeed, apparently it was his wife's suspicions of their relationship which kept her from being fully credited.
And these are some of the most beautiful duets in the history of popular music. They really are.(Which is what makes it so fitting that another pair of voices born to sing together, First Aid Kit, paid tribute to Gram and Emmylou on their 2012 song 'Emmylou').
I bought 'Grievous Angel' as a double album with 'GP' in 1999 - in my first blast of CD (as opposed to cassette) purchases. And I got it. Got it instantly. It helps that the first song is one of the two best on the album, a glorious country travelogue with beautiful guitar from James Burton (who was Elvis' guitarist) and lyrics written by a poet called Thomas Brown. But it's the singing! When Emmylou joins in. Jeez.
And despite it's being cobbled together after Gram Parsons' death (which was weird and sad and I won't dwell on), the rest of the album is almost as good. There are covers where again the singing just knocks you out - Hearts on Fire and, most famously, Love Hurts, and songs Parsons dredged up from his past given new life. 'Brass Buttons' about his mother's death, is heartbreaking enough, but the real jawdropper is '$1000 Wedding' - the lyricism and the storytelling and the melody and, guess what, the singing again. It's one of my favourite songs in the world.
He was so short of material he even used an old Byrds song 'Hickory Wind' but it all just comes together and makes a great album, the album he seemed born to make.
This album was in 1974 and, like I say, is heavily cited, though it's hard to see its influence in the intervening years - not till you get to Uncle Tupelo and Cowboy Junkies and Whiskeytown and Drive-By Truckers and Fleet Foxes and all that. Ryan Adams seems an obvious heir, both in intent and vocal style. One of his greatest moments is his duet with Emmylou Harris on his finest album 'Heartbreaker', 'O My Sweet Carolina' which really couldn't sound much more like an outtake from 'Grievous Angel'.
So, 1974, a bit of an all-over-the-place year in the history of music - pre-punk but there was already some important stuff going on with the likes of New York Dolls, Stevie Wonder was on it, Dylan was doing Blood on the Tracks, glam was top of the charts, Bohemian Rhapsody, quietly influential stuff from Big Star, shit, this was the year after Kool Herc invented hip-hop too. The early 70s were great weren't they? I was brought up to think the 60s died then it was shit and then punk saved everything, but the truth's nothing like that.
But, in terms of my personal musical taste, this was the most important album of that year (I'm just about confident in that as Blood on the Tracks was 20th January 1975 ...)
Here's a Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris related compilation - only fair to give them equal standing, as this album would not be half of what it is without Emmylou ...
Return of the Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris
Hot Burrito #1 - Flying Burrito Brothers
$1000 Wedding - Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris
Hickory Wind - They Byrds
Brass Buttons - Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris
Boulder to Birmingham - Emmylou Harris
The Road - Emmylou Harris
She - Gram Parsons
Hot Burrito #2 - Flying Burrito Brothers
A Song for You - Gram Parsons
O My Sweet Carolina - Ryan Adams and Emmylou Harris
How She Would Sing the Wildwood Flower - Emmylou Harris
Dark End of the Street - Flying Burrito Brothers
Love Hurts - Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris
Michelangelo - Emmylou Harris
In My Hour of Darkness - Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris
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