Gram Parsons - Another Side of This Life

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Music reviews of Another Side of This Life

Music Review: Previously Unreleased Early Reocrdings of Gram Parsons
Rating: 4 Stars

This is a significant release because of relatively limited number of recordings made by Gram Parsons, but fans eager to trace the origins of country rock will be somewhat disappointed. This is a folk album, pure and simple, featuring Gram and his guitar recorded at a friend's home. The songs are a mix of familiar folk revival tunes and a few originals. The most surprising aspect here is that Parsons sings in the very proper and stagy style favored by most folkies at the time, devoid of individuality and emotion. He had recently spent time in New York's Greenwich Village, and it appears that he was influenced by the then-thriving folk movement, in terms of both repertoire and performing style. Its interesting to hear him sing in such a formal manner, because it is the antithesis of the highly emotional if sometimes sloppy vocal style that was one of the most obvious characteristics of his later work.

Several of the originals on this CD would reappear later. "Reputation" was recorded by the Byrds for their landmark "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" album in 1968, although it wasn't released until the expanded CD reissue of the mid-'90's. More significantly, "Brass Buttons," which Parsons recorded for his final album, "Grievous Angel", in 1973, is included in a nice version that hints at Parsons' future musical direction, and it is clearly the highlight of "Another Side of This Life."

Fans of Gram Parsons will certainly want to hear this, and probably even own it. It is definitely not the place to start, though, it you want to discover what made his music so special.

Description of Another Side of This Life

Country CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop
• Rock