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?

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’ll fight y’all.

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.

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.

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.

Sad country music

Country nope

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.

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.

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

Fairly uninspiring, twee and forgettable.

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

Wow, this was really good!

A lot of really impressive music and wholesome vibes that I, as a European, have no way of relating to.

I've gotten way into country music over the past few years, and one of my big hopes was that I would learn a lot about some older country to check out. Mission accomplished here. 8/10

This was a nice calm country record. I really enjoyed. Not too many country albums on this list and I fucking love Emmylou. Good range, writing, lyrics, vocals, instrumentation, production, and arrangement. Just a really solid project. 4/5

It was actually really good

first listen i like it but flying burrito brothers is best

This was a very enjoyable country album. Gram Parsons has a very nice voice and Emmylou Harris adds a great element with her backing vocals. It's strongest in the middle of the album, wow what a stretch of good songs

Wasn’t very familiar w gram parsons other than the fact that he was a good friend of Keith Richard’s. I like his sound

4.1 - I know this won't be for everyone with the very distinctive style, but I think with more listening I could enjoy this even more

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this as it’s not my genre of choice but this is a lovely album. Even the covers are rendered beautifully and the contrast of f the two voices is bliss

good country rock combo

Favorite Track: Love Hurts

Sounds interesting

Some good songs and overall easy to listen to

I am not a country fan, but I really enjoyed this album. This album is the epitome of that early 70s grimy, gritty Americana feel. Makes me want to drive a convoy through Tennessee.

This was some good country— something I could hear on Mojave Radio

I have a sudden urge to head south

Quite the irony here that most of the negative reviews on this album come from people that give five stars to the boring, pablum laced unoriginal pop of the modern era. Without irony. I don't need to defend this work, other reviewers do a better job. I'll just add that Emmylou Harris' addition is nothing less than spectacular. I'll just close with a recommendation from Tyler Mahon Coe - "If You Don't Like Gram Parsons Then Fuck You."

This was good - country is a genre with massive peaks and crushing troughs. This is peak, great lyrics and melodies, some haunting lyrics

pretty cool. i had listened to The Silver Tongued Devil and I right before this and they worked well together

A back loaded album. The first part is good but from the live medley on it is just fantastic. He gets to retain a sort of cool factor because he played in the Byrds and hung out with the Rolling Stones but I wonder if he would have had more success in his lifetime if he had aligned himself with country musicians more. It's not like his sound is that different.

Godfather of AltCountry! Own it!

I've never really taken to Gram but listening to this today it's pretty good to listen to- progressive Country I'd say. Musically diverse and well produced it holds your attention. Emmylou Harris is a major part in this and I'm an instant fan. Shame he died so young.

Classic music

I instantly knew I was gonna like this one. Old country sound? Check. Vocal harmonies? Check. Rock 'n' roll? Check. None of the songs sound like the song before, which I feel like can happen on albums like this. I especially thought the scenery around me while listening to this complemented the sound well. Driving through Chillicothe on a gravel road while pretty tired. The Rolling songs were lively and entertaining, and the softer songs were sweet and captivating. This isn't a country album, but it is folk. I will surely return to this artist.

Really like the country instrumentals, especially the steel guitar parts. I liked this album overall, but I couldn't help feeling something was missing. I'm not sure if it was just the songwriting in general or the production, but something was keeping me from loving this album. Maybe it's the thought that he sounds like a slightly discounted John Denver. I may relisten and change my mind, but I'm keeping the 4 star rating for now.

Great album. Putting aside the myth and legends surrounding Gram Parsons' wild lifestyle. The facts are he wrote great songs, could sing beautifully, and had put together one hell of a backing band - Emmy Lou Harris, Robbie Tut, James Burton amongst other names. Talk about a red hot band! Gone too soon, RIP

This is another one where the songs I like on here I really like a lot but the rest leave me kind of ambivalent. I would say overall I like the blend of country and rock on this album. I also love the sound of his voice with Emmylou Harris'. "Ooh Las Vegas" is probably my favorite on the album. 3* feels much too low, and 4* feels too high. Once again I would love to have a half point system. I'll go with a 4* though because it's nice to find some country on the list that I enjoy.

man released his best album after he died

I generally don’t go for “country” style albums, but this had a surprising number of tracks that I vibed with due to the strong song-writing. “I Can’t Dance”, “Brass Buttons”, and “$1,000 Wedding” are a great three track run, and even the fake “live” recording aspect of “Cash On the Barrelhead/Hickory Wind” didn’t really get on my nerves.

A sneaky one that was more fun than anticipated.

This is a really nice country album. It benefits a lot from the presence of Emmylou Harris, since her vocals are a great complement for Parsons's. Very chill, pleasant country 4/5

This album, like Parsons’ life, seems too short. Released after his death and compiled from various sessions, including a fake live medley, it feels incomplete. With that said, the songwriting, the emotive singing, and the magic mystery of Parsons can’t be denied. All the songs are great, but especially the three Parsons’ penned tracks on side 1: Return of the Grevious Angel, Brass Buttons, and $1000 Wedding. Emmylou Harris’s harmonies are also fantastic and add an additional layer to an already beautiful set of songs. I Can’t Dance and Ooh Las Vegas are solid burners that mix in well with the ballads. It’s not a perfectly executed compilation, but it’s one of the best documents we have for a talent that left too soon.

I wasn't expecting good country music, so this was a surprise. 3.5 stars.

Gram Parsons! 1974! I like “Return of the Grievous Angel” a good amount. I really like the medley and “Love Hurts” is also great. Emmylou feature is a slay. It’s very country but I like the vibes and the twang.

The man can holler really liked a lot of this. Short album too so I wasn't bored. 8/10

Good lyrics. Tangy music.

*{clicks fingers, finger guns}* That's country, alright! I'unno. I guess I just don't hear the "Cosmic American Music"-ness about it that makes it so important. To me it just sounds like early 70's country, which, hey, I can dig. I'll be generous enough to strike it a 4