Gilded Palace of Sin
Alot has been said about the importance and impact that this record gave upon the future of popular music, and the cross-lateralization or pollination of country music and R&B/Rock, which came, in hindsight, at the appropriate point in time. Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons were involved previously with the Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo set(influenced by Parsons), which actually threw caution to the wind and saw the group completely alter their musical style in favor of a more roots oriented authentic country sounding album. The uncertainty of this direction caused major upheavels amongst the listening public, critics and the band themselves, causing a major breakdown and leaving Roger McGuinn as the sole leader of future Byrds related projects. Hillman joined Parsons to start a new band and after hooking up with local musicians Sneeky Pete Kleinow(pedal steel) and bassist Chris Etheridge, the Flying Burrito Bros. were born. The band hadn't secured a proper drummer as of yet and so 4 different drummers adorn the credits of the record; featuring mostly Jon Corneal and Popeye Phillips on the majority of the tracks, after the release, another ex-Byrd Michael Clarke, would be the Burritos main man behind the kit.
Opening with Christine's Tune(aka Devil in Disguise), the Burritos are off and runnin' with a finely established blend of Bakersfield-style West Coast Country and the force of rock and roll style chord progressions, coupled with the Everly Bros.-like harmonizing from Hillman and Parsons, making this track a very positive, strong and breathtaking opener. Sin City follows and is more of a deep-rooted country number with the inimitable vocalizing and harmony of the Hillman/Pasons duo which is the main strength of the sound of the band, not to mention Sneeky Pete's unorthodox pedal steel playing. The songwriting duo of Parsons/Hillman is paramount throughout this recording and the album boasts only two covers in Do Right Woman(recorded previously by Aretha Franklin) and James Carr's Dark End of the Street, which are wildly different versions as these songs were originally rendered in an R&B flavor; the Burritos twist and bend these songs into a more country tinged direction, and ultimately, make them their own.
My Uncle has elements of bluegrass with some fine mandolin playing courtesy of Chris Hillman and makes for a bouncy upbeat number about dodging the draft. Wheels is a laidback tune about the love of motorcycles which has a nice arrangement interlaid with Sneeky's lazy pedal steel and tinkling piano lines. Juanita is another lazy shuffle which is very countrified in its lyrical voicings and ensemble interpretations, coupled again, with the signature Hillman/Parsons extraordinary vocal harmonies. Chris Etheridge and Gram Parsons collaborate on two numbers known as Hot Burrito #1 & 2; the first being a softer styled ballad that features Parsons' dynamic heartfelt vocal performance which really cuts through the listener compellingly, and the latter which is more R&B flavored with a slight gospel tinge in its organ and vocal harmonies. Do You Know How It Feels is a Parsons original from one of his earlier bands and is a track that has a great feel and showcases Parsons' talents for writing quality songs that pay special homage to country music ala in George Jones and Merle Haggard fashion. Gilded Palace closes with Hippie Boy which melds Peace in the Valley at its end, featuring Hillman speaking the lyrics of the number and telling the tale of the "little Hippie Boy on his way to town". The purpose of the Burritos back then, was to meld the Country music lovers with the Rock crowd and it was above all, Parsons' grand vision and quest to accomplish this. For the time period, Gilded Palace was not very popular and no one knew quite what to make of it; but in later years, hindsight has been kind to this first efort of the Burritos and this release belongs right up there with Sweetheart of the Rodeo, the first Crazy Horse album and Little Feat's Debut as groundbreaking releases which tick off the possibilities of melding different styles of music and coming off with an exciting and new hybrid of interpretation and style. Parsons and Hillman create an unknowing masterpiece here, and it should always be regarded as such. 5 Legendary Stars
Opening with Christine's Tune(aka Devil in Disguise), the Burritos are off and runnin' with a finely established blend of Bakersfield-style West Coast Country and the force of rock and roll style chord progressions, coupled with the Everly Bros.-like harmonizing from Hillman and Parsons, making this track a very positive, strong and breathtaking opener. Sin City follows and is more of a deep-rooted country number with the inimitable vocalizing and harmony of the Hillman/Pasons duo which is the main strength of the sound of the band, not to mention Sneeky Pete's unorthodox pedal steel playing. The songwriting duo of Parsons/Hillman is paramount throughout this recording and the album boasts only two covers in Do Right Woman(recorded previously by Aretha Franklin) and James Carr's Dark End of the Street, which are wildly different versions as these songs were originally rendered in an R&B flavor; the Burritos twist and bend these songs into a more country tinged direction, and ultimately, make them their own.
My Uncle has elements of bluegrass with some fine mandolin playing courtesy of Chris Hillman and makes for a bouncy upbeat number about dodging the draft. Wheels is a laidback tune about the love of motorcycles which has a nice arrangement interlaid with Sneeky's lazy pedal steel and tinkling piano lines. Juanita is another lazy shuffle which is very countrified in its lyrical voicings and ensemble interpretations, coupled again, with the signature Hillman/Parsons extraordinary vocal harmonies. Chris Etheridge and Gram Parsons collaborate on two numbers known as Hot Burrito #1 & 2; the first being a softer styled ballad that features Parsons' dynamic heartfelt vocal performance which really cuts through the listener compellingly, and the latter which is more R&B flavored with a slight gospel tinge in its organ and vocal harmonies. Do You Know How It Feels is a Parsons original from one of his earlier bands and is a track that has a great feel and showcases Parsons' talents for writing quality songs that pay special homage to country music ala in George Jones and Merle Haggard fashion. Gilded Palace closes with Hippie Boy which melds Peace in the Valley at its end, featuring Hillman speaking the lyrics of the number and telling the tale of the "little Hippie Boy on his way to town". The purpose of the Burritos back then, was to meld the Country music lovers with the Rock crowd and it was above all, Parsons' grand vision and quest to accomplish this. For the time period, Gilded Palace was not very popular and no one knew quite what to make of it; but in later years, hindsight has been kind to this first efort of the Burritos and this release belongs right up there with Sweetheart of the Rodeo, the first Crazy Horse album and Little Feat's Debut as groundbreaking releases which tick off the possibilities of melding different styles of music and coming off with an exciting and new hybrid of interpretation and style. Parsons and Hillman create an unknowing masterpiece here, and it should always be regarded as such. 5 Legendary Stars
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