The Flying Burrito Brothers

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 10 Dec 2000 2:50 pm

Thanks, Joe,

I just ordered "Magnetic South/Loose Salute" on one CD from Amazon, I am really looking forward to hearing it.
I also think another much over-looked person from that era was Rick Nelson. There are two great compilation CDs on Edsel that cover most of the stuff he did with the 'Stone Canyon Band' Thanks again

P.S. Also ordered Dire Straits' 'On the night'VHS starring P.F.

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Regards, Craig

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 10 Dec 2000 2:52 pm

I'd have to say that Nesmith was definately one of the top performers in the country-rock field, Gram Parsons, Dillard & Clark, The Byrds were all hot.
If you want another side of country rock which is much more experimental West coast twang you should try the Nashville West CD with Clarence White, but for singers, I think Nez, Gram and Gene Clark are brilliant.
But then of course there's Michael Martin Murphey, Chris Darrow and Steve Young.

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 10 Dec 2000 6:10 pm

This is great timing, I'm just hanging out with my drummer (and music writer) buddy John Cody (formerly of Ray Condo and his Ricochets), showing him the Forum and we came across this thread.

Right on about Nez - note an album -not ‘country’ per se save for a few tasty guitar licks - called "Wichita Train Whistle" that Mike did in 1967, while he was still in the Monkees.

In June 1968 Nez recorded, IMHO, the template for what would become country rock, "Listen to the Band" in Nashville with musicians (including Lloyd Green on steel), Some of whom would go on to form Area Code 615.

Other albums that predate the Burritos were Rick Nelson's "Bright Lights and Country Music" in 1966 and "Country Fever" in 1967, both of course pre Stone Canyon (formed in May 1969)

Also, a highly underrated artist (inexplicably so) and a significant influence on country rock would be John Stewart. "California Bloodlines" by John Stewart was released in 1968

IMHO the whole Gram Parsons mystique is extremely overrated - largely due to the mythology surrounding his extracurricular activities/early demise. He definitely had an enormous talent, but people like Mike Nesmith, Chris Hillman, Rick Nelson and John Stewart were artistically every bit his equal, if not more so - they just didn't happen to die young. What if Parsons were still around, wasted but still alive, recycling the tunes with a bunch of pickup musicians at some dive. Geez, he couldn't even squeeze into the Nudie suit

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Greg Simmons
Custodian of the Official Sho~Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Website
shobud.cjb.net

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 10 Dec 2000 6:53 pm

Gram Parsons was a great songwriter. If he were alive today, he might still be writing great songs. Who can say?

I was a big fan of Gram's long before he died. I like to think that maybe we'll shake hands someday in the hereafter, where no one is wasted and we all fit into our Nudie suits!

Since this topic isn't about steel guitarists, I'm moving it to the more general "Music" part of the forum.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session S-12 (E9), Speedy West D-10 (E9, D6),
Sierra 8 Laptop (D13), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (D13, A6)

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 10 Dec 2000 7:20 pm

No argument there Bob - it's the hype - not the man (who hands down was a major talent, bringing real country to a whole new audience) - that I find annoying.

Case in point, I'm a huge Emmylou Harris fan, and we all know the Gram connection/influence on her.

I wanted to note that this genre didn't arise out of a vacuum or from a single source - hopefully people who only know of GP will search out and listen to the other artists mentioned as well.

Hey, even if I had a Nudie suit, I probably couldn't get into it - and I don't look to hot in my "original nudie suit that I got for my birthday" either

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Greg Simmons
Custodian of the Official Sho~Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Website
shobud.cjb.net

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 10 Dec 2000 8:32 pm

Yeah, the site is due for some update work. I'm on vacation till after Christmas, so I hope to take some time and add some of the pics people have sent to the gallery. I also need to get in touch with Duane Becker and see if we can add some more content re: Sho-Bud history etc.

Thanks for the reminder

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 14 Dec 2000 7:44 am

Gram Parsons, etc. are wonderful, but let's not forget Clarence White, who crossed a lot of boundries, but let's not forget that Jerry Lee Lewis also had a fine country album in 1965 that was a big influence on Gram Parsons, not too mention Johnny Cash.

Rick Nelson's 1966 and 1967 albums are truly tastey, with Clarence White on rhythm and James Burton on lead. Only downside is that there's no steel.

By 1969 there were country-rock bands not only all over L.A, but in Australia, the U.K and even as far flung as Nashville.

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The future ain't what it used to be

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 14 Dec 2000 7:46 am

Opps I forgot.. John Beland officially ended the Flying Burrito Brothers this year.