Grievous Angel

Petition to have Emmylou Harris' name added to the album. Best track: In My Hour of Darkness

The story of his wife not liking his singing with Emmy Lou Harris, enough so to remove her picture from the cover, was WAY more interesting than this album.

is it really that hard to pronounce graham?

I’ll fight y’all.

The swan song for Gram Parsons is also the coming out party for one Emmylou Harris. Their version of "Love Hurts" is the standard. You can't help but imagine the sort of future they would have had together, nevermind the fact that the great Emmylou went on to a legendary country music career that Gram Parsons could have enjoyed had not had so many demons frighten him. As it is, we have Parsons to thank for giving us the best Byrds album, The Flying Burrito Brothers, the Nudie Suit, and Emmylou Harris.

I am not a country fan but I think I have developed some appreciation for Gram Parsons, what he represents and all the lore surrounding him: what’s true, what’s not, the times he delighted his audience, the times he embarrassed himself. Grievous Angel is a great album, full of energy, heart, and passion. The voices arrangements are charming and the instrumentation is outstanding. In general, it’s a unpretentious record that doesn’t take a lot of time from your life and makes you happy.

A bit too twangy country for me. I do like Emmylou, but have never been able to enjoy country Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers or solo Gram Parsons. Nothing wrong with this, I just don’t care for the style.

Parsons' vocals are emotive and genuine, perfectly suited to the lyrical themes. The harmonies, particularly with Emmylou Harris, are a standout feature, adding depth and resonance to the tracks.

GP is a better record, straight-up, though this is awfully good and highly polished perhaps excessively so. “Brass Buttons” and “Hickory Wind” are best cuts. There's just the slightest feel of this being a lark that keeps it from top rank of records.

Not really my thing and it was heading for a 1, but I thought the album finished strongly with the last few tracks. 4.5/10

Sad country music

Country nope

Fairly uninspiring, twee and forgettable.

The absolute best thing I can say about this album is that its mercifully short. Its all uninspired slide guitar and country twangs which is so far from my jam they aren't even on the same continent. I thought there was a little bit of potential with the rock and roll bits but even that comes across as uninspired to me. I've given some country albums a 2 in the past because they are exceptionally charming but I don't feel any personality from this. Its a matter of perspective of course and I'm sure for people who like this genre it works but I can't see how, even if you are a country fan, that this sets its self apart from a sea of other "kinda ok albums" Nothing here for me, 1/10

Day83 - i’m glad to see this album on here. truly one that should be heard

Grievous Angel is a bit too apt of a descriptor for Gram Parsons. For all his tragically short life, he had accomplished so much: reinventing country music by fitting it into a rock and roll sized hole and thus altering the trajectories of the varying bands that he spent time in. By the time he started going solo, he was already a legend in the making. His prior album, GP, stands as one of the all time great debut albums and his collaborations with an emerging Emmylou Harris remain songs worth celebrating. Grievous Angel, as posthumous as it may be, picks up where GP left off by giving the listener an equally melodic and compelling set of songs that drew from the well that Gram created. An absolute shame that his light burned out quick, for we may have been witnesses to what he could have been capable of.

I try to be as open as I can when it comes to listening to music. I enjoy lots of different genres and I want to enjoy as many different kinds of music as I can. That is really the whole reason I'm doing this 1001 albums thing in the first place. But one genre I've always stayed away from was country. I think I've realized after listening to this that I just don't like modern 21st century country music. Country music that is designed entirely to top charts. They all sing about the same things. Their voices all sound the same, and the music all sounds the same. It is just drab to me. I couldn't care less for it. But thankfully, I can say that this Gram Parsons album displays none of those characteristics. It does pretty much the opposite of everything I just said, and I love it for that. Gram has a wonderful voice that still has a country twang to it. And his guitar work along with James Burton is fantastic. Each song on this has plenty of heart to it, and you can tell there is real passion behind these songs. Although he may be singing about similar topics to those in modern country music, like love, religion, and heartbreak, the grace and soul he puts into it makes it far better. "$1000 Wedding", for example, is a beautiful song led by the piano. Also, can I just say that the pedal steel guitar is one of the coolest instruments ever, and it sounds awesome. Gram Parsons and this album give me hope there is more country music out there I can enjoy, because there is truly something great here, and I would love to hear more of it.

Enjoyable country rock with a light psychedelic tinge. I could probably write an essay on the reasons why country isn’t necessarily for me, but ultimately this was an enjoyable listening experience.

No. 65/1001 Return of the Grievous Angel 4/5 Hearts on Fire 2/5 I Can't Dance 3/5 Brass Buttons 4/5 1000$ Wedding 4/5 Medley 3/5 Love Hurts 3/5 Ooh Las Vegas 2/5 In My Hour of Darkness 3/5 Average: 3,11 Okay-ish country rock

After the first two tracks, I was about to say that "Grievous Angel" should be taken out to the California desert, doused with gasoline, and set ablaze. But then it got a little better, with some decent bluegrass moments, and I found out that the desert cremation routine was actually undertaken when a couple of Parsons' confidants stole his body from the Los Angeles airport following his death. So maybe that joke would be in poor taste? Parsons' story is certainly a turbulent one, and not just the events that followed his death. If he'd succumbed to his demons just two months later, Parsons would be a member of the infamous 27 Club. But listening to "Grievous Angel," I never would have guessed that his youth included his father's suicide two days before Christmas or his mother's death from cirrhosis on the day of his high school graduation. I never would have guessed that he was a trust-fund kid who's grandfather owned 1/3 of the citrus farms in Florida. I never would have guessed that he went to Harvard (well, only for a few months and likely only on his family's connections). I never would have guessed that he did many, many drugs with Keith Richards. Because there is no sign of that darkness and turmoil on "Grievous Angel." It's a pretty boring country and bluegrass album. Nothing particularly stands out. Nothing feels like "cosmic American music," as he dubbed his style that was allegedly a hybrid of country and rock.

Not into country at all... This is probably the best sounding country we've had so far, but the bar was low. I thought "ooh Lad Vegas" was the only track I really enjoyed. Can leave the rest

A clear case of, this is completely unacceptable. I can't stand it. Country music can hardly get any worse.

Country - the annoying kind

"Love is like a stove. It burns you when it's hot." Lord protect this man from the things I want to say.

Absolute classic. Without Gram Parsons there isn't alt-country (though some may see that as a good thing) and Ryan Adams essentially made his first album sound very close to the sound here. I mentioned in my review for the Flying Burrito Brothers and Sweetheart of the Rodeo that I preferred Gram Parsons solo material to those albums and that stands true. Parsons and Emmylou Harris sound great together and it's hard to replicate what is on this album, as still feels very original.

It's really good to see Gram Parsons on this list. His vocals combined with Emmylou Harris on 'love hurts' and 'in my hour of darkness' are sublime.

Great retrospective of a great artist gone too soon.

Turns out I love this guy. Already had his albums w the Byrd's and the Flying Burrito Brothers, just didn't know either was him. Also had Emmylou's debut album too, I think I'd given them all 5s, and here I'm doing it again. Something about the slide guitar, the harmonies, that western rock fell good feeling. This is a top genre for me

The country entries on the list so far have been very hit or miss, but this one is 100% a big hit. Great songwriting, love the combination of their voices.

I feel like I am 100% the intended audience for this album. Emmylou Harris is the best part and most definitely what takes it from 4 to 5 stars.

Who dafuq is this guy

Solid country music album

As my 4-year old says, “oh my jeez”! Where has this gem been hiding? Maybe it never stuck out to me because of the terrible album cover his widow chose. I think every album needs a steel guitar and Emmy Lou Harris harmonies. Standouts: “I Can’t Dance”, “Brass Buttons”, “Love Hurts”, “Ooh Las Vegas”

all time fav country

This was really good. I had the other Gram Parsons album, "GP". It seems like I had the wrong one! Nearly every track on this album is recognisable and familiar, and rather beautiful if you can get into the countryness of it.

Great example of early country rock. Excellent songs and a fantastic vocal partner (Emmylou Harris). Not as successful as the Eagles, but clearly this album helped pave the way for an entire genre.

Unexpected as I had never heard of Gram. Loved this album.

‘I can’t dance / I guess, I’m just one of the unfortunate few,’ sings Parsons. I guess we’re some of the fortunate many who have discovered this artist. I’m not so sure I care that it’s a fusion of rock and country - big deal - that’s not his (or hers, Emmylou's) genius. It’s that it’s got soul, humor, voice, pluck. And he can sing, just enough, intimately, consistently, quietly. These songs story so much really - for that, it gets my appreciation.

Pretty excellent, I enjoyed the country sound but it wasn't completely over powering

Loved. Sweet country lilts and harmony with young Emmylou Harris. So much hope.

Where do I start. This is the album that gave me an appreciation of old country. It is timeles and perfect. I had not listened to it for years but as each song came on , it produced a smile to my face. One of those albums I don't own but absolutely must

A triumph in the country rock genre.

Heck yeah! GP and Emmylou's voices together is a thing of magic. Love these songs.

Discovered this dude while on a patio in big sur with hanna and the parker-zimmermans. A band playing slide guitar under redwoods with sun splitting thru the tree fronds onto the deck. 5 STARS

A rare gift of musical greatness enhanced by the addition of Emmylou Harris vocals makes this an enchanting treat.

The Roots. Where have you been all my life? Love their mix of live instrumentation plus some drum and bass elements. I even hear traces of Bad Brains on a couple tracks. Wonderful, vital, revolutionary.

Thoroughly enjoyed this all the way through. I love the male female harmonies. This guy is described as the father of country rock, but I didn't see as much Rock influence as folk and country. Maybe my concept of country has rock elements in it.

10

Emmylou Harris!

Gram Parsons was one of the godfathers of mixing country and rock music. Reminds me a lot of The Eagles. Dude was responsible for changing the trajectory of The Byrds from rock to more country oriented during his time with the band. He was also in The Flying Burrito Brothers (amazing band name), and The International Submarine Band. Emmylou Harris got her start with Gram. She went on to become a star after Gram died of an overdose. This album, to me, is fantastic. Dude had a hell of a career in his short 27 years. Favourite songs: I Can't Dance, Ooh Las Vegas, Love Hurts, Return of the Grievous Angel, In My Hour of Darkness, Hearts on Fire, Medley Live from Northern Quebec Least favourite songs: Brass Buttons 5/5

Great songwriting, sad story. Crazy how someone could live such an eventful life in such a short time. Makes you wonder if the most talented are the most tormented, therefore self destruct, or if we idolize the self destructive and in turn make their art into more than it is. Would Nirvana be as popular if Cobain hadn't died?

I’m at a 4.5 that I’m gonna bump up to a 5 with incredibly naked bias. I’ve said it a million times; I’m a sucker for the soundscape of 50s/60s country because it’s partially what I grew up on. This album takes those soundscapes and blends them really well with 70s rock sensibilities, and it does it in a way where I truly think the best of both shine throughout here. Vocally, Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris play off of each other so fucking well that it’s kind of mesmerizing to listen to. Lyrically, I thought a lot of these songs, while a little corny or cheesy at times, did a great job of storytelling and capturing moods. Brass Buttons in particular got me damn good. I just thought this was a damn good album from start to finish – Return of the Grievous Angel is one hell of an opener, and the only track where I kind of shrugged was Love Hurts. Other than that, I just deeply enjoyed it. I’m really glad this is here, and it feels like it should be on the list. No problems with going up to a 5.

As luck would have it, I listened to uncle tom’s vinyl of sweetheart of the rodeo yesterday! The only Byrds album he played on, and today had an album of his! Both are fantastic

Got to say it's pretty cool seeing musical connections as I go through this list. Gram Parsons formed the Flying Burrito Brothers, who I loved, and Emmylou Harris, who I also loved, was promoted from background singer to duetist in this album. Pretty awesome stuff. Posthumous albums are also interesting as you listen to subtext in the songs. The original songs here, Return of the Grevious Angel and In My Hour of Darkness are both dark but sound good. The covers are fun with standouts in Love Hurts and Cash On the Barrelhead. I liked this a lot.

I love everything he ever did. This is a beautiful album.

Country folksy goodness plus Emmylou Harris. What's not to like?

On some days, this work probably be a bit too twangy for me to love, but today it suited me just fine.

This is exactly the kind of album I want in this project: an album by an artist whose name is more familiar to me than their music. And it's a bonus when the music is this good. Emmylou Harris is a bonus here. Very, very fine.

Really lovely and kind of sad knowing the background of this album. Emmylou Harris complements Gram Parsons beautifully. Special.

I used to be against any music with any amount of twang in it. Then I got into old Wilco and that was my gateway to country and Americana. I’m so glad because it opened me up to Gram Parsons, and this is one of my favorite albums now.

You'd give 5 stars just for Gram and Emmy-Lou's heart rending performance of Love Hurts. Actually you'd give 5 stars just for that last exhalation of those two words. But it's backed up by a glorious collection of what makes country great.

An manchen Tagen braucht man genau diese Musik, nichts anderes. Hervorragend!

Oh Emmylou, when you come in after the first two bars! Such a great duo, wonderfully complimentary voices. Hell of a band, great songs.

Excellent album. Probably the best of the Parsons repertoire, and really shows what a musical loss he was. The band, mostly Elvis's TCB rhythm section, minus Jerry Schett, cooks. The guests, including future Eagle Bernie Leadon, Linda Ronstadt, and legendary fiddler Byron Berline are inspired. Parsons and Emmy Lou were magic together. Parsons wife was suspicious and so excised Emmy Lou from the cover. She really shouldn’t have done that. It’s really as much an Emmy Lou album as a Gram one. And that makes it terrific.

This was his second solo album, but it was the one I heard first. It’s important to note here that when you flip the original album cover over, the biggest words are “with Emmylou Harris” at the top of the sleeve. This was the first time I ever heard Emmylou, and there’s absolutely no doubt that she embellishes the album considerably. I know this record like the back of my hand. She isn’t listed as a backup singer. It says “Vocals-Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris.” There are beautiful ballads (Hearts On Fire, the oft-covered Love Hurts, originally an Everly Brothers’ hit, Brass Buttons & $1000 Wedding). Every track’s a winner, but the 2 absolute highlights for me are Las Vegas (which Parsons co-wrote with ex- Blind Faith & Traffic bassist, Ric Grech) & the Medley Live from Northern Quebec : (a)Cash On The Barrelhead (a Louvin Brothers’ classic) & the great Hickory Wind (co-written by Parsons & ex-bandmate Bob Buchanan). This stands beside Iris Dement’s Our Town as one of the very great “hometown” songs. (And the medley wasn’t sung live. The applause was fake). A great album.

I was not a fan of country music at all. But I used to read a lot of those expensive UK-import music mags. Around the year 2000 it seemed like every magazine I picked up over a six month period had an article about how amazing and influential Gram parsons was. Article after article. So, when I stumbled across a budget CD release of GP and Grevious Angel on a single disc, I thought "hell, I should give this a shot." I took it home and threw it on the player, and out came... country music. "Blergh," I thought "country music!" and nearly turned it off. But I didn't. In fact, I played to it on repeat for a couple of weeks, and then one day the penny dropped. I could hear past the aesthetic trappings of the genre and hear the actual songs. And the songs are really great, particularly on this album. I was surprised to read that he was under-prepared with material for the sessions, so it was a bit of a grab-bag of a few new songs (hastily compiled), covers and older tracks that from Parsons' previous bands. He was not in a good way drug and alcohol wise, and in fact died before this could be released. That said, he is in better voice than on GP where you can hear the DTs. He's a soulful singer, which overcomes his technical shortcomings. And he is superbly supported by Emmylou Harris, whose harmony singing is beyond sublime on both albums. It's a crack band too, based around Elvis's TCB band, with appearances by Bernie Leadon, Byron Berline and Linda Ronstadt. I gather Gram was so distracted that he basically let the band arrange themselves, which was a good call. I find it hard to split between this album and its predecessor, GP, as inevitably listened to them both together, being on a single CD. They are masterpieces, although they reflect the flaws of their author (and substantial flaws they were). But those imperfections make it a more human expression and easier to love. I have since learned to appreciate and sometimes even love country music, and these albums were my gateway into that whole genre. For that, I am ever grateful.

Ken Burns seems to be doing his job as I appreciated this a lot more than I expected. The hoedown situation in the Medley was particularly enjoyable, sounds like a party I want to be at. Also had a thought that at it's happiest, country could be up there with the most unselfconsciously danceable music ever.

One of my all-time favorites. Too bad he didn’t make it past 27, can only imagine what his career would have been.

Perfect psych country

A gem of an album

I had never heard of this artist before. Not sure why it is described as rock country... sounds all country to me. Loved the album. I went and listened to his first album which is awesome too. 5/5

Loved this and went down a rabbit hole on his bio, then binged on Emmy Lou as a follow-up.

Very pleasant and melodious!

Cosmic Americana. Sick.

I was surprised. I didn't expect this to be a country album. It was a great change of pace, and right in my wheelhouse. Very enjoyable!!

Wonderful songs, sung beautifully, with a lovely cameo from Emmylou Harris. Flawless alt-country / Americana / folk-rock. Right up my street, and a huge influence on many artists I love.

Amazing

Fucking incredible.

Taken too soon, he's a country rock genius and this album is fantastic. Great Emmylou Harris vocals as well. 5 stars.

love it

Own on Vinyl

Very sweet

7/10 Favorites: Return of the Grievous Angel, Hearts on Fire, Love Hurts

This is a work of beauty.

Good album that successfully mixes traditional country with 60s-70s folk rock, though it can be lacking in energy and melody. Best song: Brass Buttons

It’s the year of our lord 2025 and the handful of artists who could conceivably scrounge a living wage from music wouldn’t have to worry about doing so even if they had to. It’s always been a privilege to have the time and space to create. Before it was unit sales it was patronage; even if it was limited to just one, an artist has always needed a public. A scan across the charts today reveals a heavy tilt toward another kind of privilege. You need a public far less than you need a public school education. That said, I suppose I should have a problem with Gram Parsons – third generation zesty trust fund kid. Whether it’s because of a statute of limitations on such matters, the incredible tragedy that stalked Gram (third generation wealth carries a certain creed of curse), or the sheer quality of the songs, I don’t know … but I can’t muster the energy to dislike Parsons. Not on principle nor in fact. I first listened to this record after enjoying Malkmus’ “Traditional Techniques” a few years ago and following up on its influences. Then as now, I marvelled at the steady confidence and cleverness of “Return of the Grievous Angel”, a song that teases and pulls its punches in all the right places, waiting until seconds before the bell to land its haymakers. I let myself be swayed by his arrangement of “Love Hurts”; bopped along to “Ooh Las Vegas” and “I can’t dance” (a Tabby favourite). It might be full of wonderfully crafted, beautifully performed (Emmylou Harris is a phenomenal talent of course, and ideal foil to Parsons) archetypal country rock but “Grevious Angel” doesn’t feel like a complete album somehow; it feels short another song or two. Working through it track by track, you soon come to realise that that can’t be true; this record’s short of nothing else but a follow-up. It’s a bittersweet feeling – and one that matches the sentimental tone of what you’re hearing perfectly. Enough so that you might fall a little bit more in love with Gram Parsons again. In principle and in fact.

Very great country album. It's a shame that Gram Parsons didn't get to see its release.

Great country album! I thoroughly enjoyed all of the tracks. Highlight: In My Hour of Darkness, Return of the Grievous Angel, Hearts on Fire and Love Hurts!

Wasn't really feeling country when this was suggested. We'll see how it goes. Wait lol this is the guy behind that awful byrds country album. Listening thoughts: -Good sad country opener. Emmylou Harris really elevates this. -Alt country vibes help a little. I thought we were headed for trad country, but I can probably roll with this. (On the other hand, how much trad or pop country has made this list? Just Willie Nelson? Not that I'm complaining; most of it's bad. But seems like an oversight) -nice slow country on brass buttons -Love the energy on ooh las vegas -I like how grave he gets ("In my hour of darkness" without embraces the full minor key bluesiness of Townes). Does this album tell a story, wherein he gets increasingly desperate? Something to listen for on a second listening. -Updating: yeah it seems to capture the feeling of returning home at the end of your rope, and being confronted with a lot of things you did wrong. As your demons begin to drag you down, you try to run away (Ooh Las Vegas). Ultimately, it's not enough and you hope for external salvation--which for Gram Parsons didn't arrive (at least not in a temporal sense: he died like a year after this album) Review: This is pretty good old alt-country. There's none of the Townes van Zandt spark or John Prine brilliance, but its good. I'm tempted to round my low three point something to a four just because it's fun to reward new out-of-the-blue discoveries. But I think it's hard to imagine coming back here much. It's definitely got more soul to it than the Byrds album where they couldn't decide if they were watery soft rock or watery country. The near cohesive storyline, I've decided on the second listen, is good enough, alongside Oooh Las Vegas and Emmylou Harris, to round it up to 4 stars. But it's close and he doesn't even get three without Emmylou Harris.

I enjoyed this very much- even more after I discovered Emmy Lou was doing the female vocals. Very good album.

This was surprisingly very good. Country as it should be.

Solid country influenced rock, will return.

clearly an album of a relationship. Less Byrds more Burritos

Knew nothing about this one as well and really loved it. Felt like a time capsule

Pleasantly surprised by this album, unsure of what I was expecting but it’s a good collection of country songs. Nice melodies and instrumentation. Easy to listen with chilled vibes. Will delve further into Gram Parsons’ discography!

Quick little Americana album. Lots of country twang to it without being too country. Love the duets with Emmylou. Very enjoyable album

Man this is really good. Emmylou not being credited is fucked up. I wish it had a few more bangers, I think that’s what’s holding it back from being a 5

I like his voice. Sounds refreshing. I love the fiddle. Reminds me of summer. I Can't Dance is super fun. Brass Buttons is so pretty. Medley Live from Northern Quebec is fye i liked the yodeling. I like this album. its pretty. ooh las vegas is fun af. hour of darkness reminds me of a lot music its gotta be major inspo. fire album.

The sounds feels a little like if the rolling stones went country instead of with the blues. Emmys backing vocals are sublime. Highlights include "I can't dance" and "medley live from northern Quebec"

Pretty good! Parsons and Harris make a nice vocal duo, with his rich baritone and her twangy southern twang balancing each other nicely. The lyrics are melancholic and sad, which is about what one would expect from an album called Grievous Angel.