Hippy hick influenced the hick hippies

He was too "hippy" for the hicks and too "hick" for the hippies.
Yet Gram Parsons' genius was to fuse the two sensibilities into a music that continues to resonate throughout America today.
Six songs stand as Parsons' most towering achievements:
1. "Luxury Liner" by the International Submarine Band. His first masterpiece, this tune grafted rock drumming onto a country song.
2. "Hickory Wind" by The Byrds. A gentle song about his southern roots.
3. "One Hundred Years from This Day" by The Byrds. Catch the version on the "legacy edition" of "Sweetheart of the Rodeo." It has Parsons' heartfelt vocals, kept off the original version because of contractual hassles. I never tire of this song.
4. "Lazy Days" by The Flying Burrito Brothers. A seriously good-time rockin' honky tonk song by the band with the hilariously good-time name.
5. "Return of the Grievous Angel" by Gram Parsons. God loves music. How else do you describe this duet between Parsons and Emmylou Harris.
6. "$1000 Wedding" by Gram Parsons. A haunting ode to the groom left stranded at the altar. Graceful.
Obviously there are more wonderful songs by Parsons. He ever made cover versions sound like they came straight from his heart. I cannot recommend Parsons highly enough.


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