|
|
 |
While the Parsons-era Burritos were never the tightest live band, ARCHIVES VOLUME ONE captures the one short era during which everyone in the band was together, getting along, and feeling great about the music they had discovered. You can hear it in the tracks: Chris Hillman's delicate harmony on "Dark End of the Street," Sneaky Pete Kleinow's pedal steel pyrotechnics on Waylon Jennings's "Mental Revenge," and Parsons's lovely tenor on a devastating version of "Hot Burrito #1." This is the band's finest hour; it didn't last long, but thankfully for fans, it is thrillingly captured here.
At the time of this incredible two-disc set's release in 2007, the Gram Parsons rarities well had run so dry that Amoeba Records co-founder Dave Pinz had to nose around another band's vaults (the notoriously deep archives of the Grateful Dead) for these Flying Burrito Brothers tapes. The material--recorded by Bear Stanley, the Grateful Dead's legendary live engineer--comprises two honky tonk-heavy sets from April 4, 1969, and April 6, 1969, when the Burritos opened for the Dead at San Francisco's Avalon Ballroom.
Personnel: Gram Parsons (vocals, guitar, piano); Chris Hillman (vocals, guitar); Sneaky Pete Kleinow (pedal steel guitar); Chris Ethridge (bass guitar); Michael Clarke (drums); The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Rolling Stone (p.199) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[A] pair of shows that capture Parsons' dream -- a new American union of R&B, psychedelic rebellion and rock's country roots..."
Entertainment Weekly (p.79) - "[This] live set features Parsons, the late country-rock trailblazer, at his prime." -- Grade: B+
Dirty Linen (p.55) - "[T]hey are focused and on top of their game here, with Michael Clarke's crisp drumming, Sneaky Pete Kleinow's stunning steel guitar, and the sublime harmonies of Parsons and Hillman."
No Depression (p.67) - "[With] nuggets such as Mel Tillis' 'Mental Revenge' and a chugging cover of Roy Orbison's 'Dream Baby' earns an encore."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.120) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[A] raucous cover of Mel Tillis' 'Mental Revenge' is the sound of the birth of alt-country."
Harp (magazine) (p.111) - "[T]he band displays its stunning ability to merge country, soul and folk-rock into something uniquely its own."
Gram Parsons Archive, Vol. 1: Live At The Avalon Ballroom 1969 Music
Gram Parsons Archive, Vol. 1: Live At The Avalon Ballroom 1969 Music Review
Average Rating: (4.6 out of 5 stars)    You cant miss this one....
This is an absolutely must have for any Gram Parsons fan.The version of "Long Black Limousine" on the first disc is so powerful it will bring you to tears.It sure brought them to my eyes,and it sure is a shame that this talented artist did not stick around longer.The music that he would have made(that we will never know)makes him one of the most fasinating artists of our time.
Submitted by Jaybyrd243 (new york) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 2 of 2 found this helpful.
A Must For Any GP fan
Any Gram Parsons fan will cherish this recording. Gram and the Burritos sound great on these crisp recordings made when the Burritos supported the 'Dead' in 1969 at the Avalon Ballroom. The recordings from the tape archive of Owsley 'Bear' Stanley, and the first recordings he has authorised since 1970. Gram fans have David Grisman (Old And In the Way with Jerry Garcia) and his manager to thank for these recordings reaching the light of day.
A fantastic addition to the collection of any GP or Burritos fan.
Submitted by its4bob (Wilmington, NC, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 2 found this helpful.  Great show, bad packaging!
I just scored a copy of this & scratched the 2nd disc before I even got a chance to hear it, cause the packaging is terrible. They are made like the Bowie Book Deluxe Editions of Ziggy & Aladdin Sane from a few years back. You can't remove the CD's w/o scratching them a little more, so I don't use the original covers anymore. Other than that complaint, the music is spectacular, which I guess is all that matters. God bless ya, Gram RIP. Gram & the Fallen Angels Live '73 is another great CD to get. I managed to find a used copy when I got this, so I'm giddy as a kid.
Submitted by billkey (rogers, ar usa)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
Nostalgia +
A 5 start historical record and three star recording quality. This is a reminder of just how great Gram could have been and what we have subsequently missed.
Submitted by toby (Peterborough, England)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 0 of 1 found this helpful. Great performances and sound quality!
This new 2-CD set features great sounding live performances of the original Flying Burrito Bros. at San Francisco's Avalon Ballroom back in April 4th&6th,1969. The shows were recorded by Grateful Dead friend and SanFranciscan hippie chemist-inventer Stanley Owsley(Bear).As mentioned,the sound quality is excellant(especially compared to previous bootlegs of these shows)and Gram was singing at his emotive best."She Once Lived Here" "Long Black Limousine" and Delaney&Bonnies'"We Got To Get Ourselves Togther" are great renditions that were never recorded by Gram or the Burritos. It should be mentioned that all of the Burrito Bros. shine as well and"Train Song" is both a better performance and sounds better than the original studio single version of the tune. Also, the packaging is first-rate with many never seen before photos of Gram and the Burritos by Andee Nathanson. So any fan of The Byrds,Flying Burrito Bros.,Gram Parsons or just Cosmic American music will really enjoy this labor of love set.
Submitted by Dennis (Naperville,Illinois)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 0 of 1 found this helpful. | Have you heard this album? |  |
Purchase Gram Parsons Archive, Vol. 1: Live At The Avalon Ballroom 1969 CD
To buy, Click on price to add to cart
|
|
|
|
|
Share this Product