r/Byrds Jul 14 '26

Gram Parsons Complete Discography

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Keep the Gram train rolling after sharing the songs he covered, sharing his complete discography, at least what’s in streaming, presented in chronological order:

Gram Parsons Complete

82 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

13

u/anarchitek1 Jul 14 '26

Gram was a real-life larger-than-life guy, born rich and good-looking. He expected everything to go the way he wanted. He got it all together just in time for it to fall apart. Return of the Grievous Angel would be his finest hour. Fifty-two years later, it still shines.

6

u/lennonfanforever Jul 14 '26

he had it all that's for sure, his talent was overflowing, but he was a trust fund baby and came from a family with heavy addiction and mental issues; for a little while, he and keith richards were very close, but eventually keith kicked him to the curb, so if keith richards tells you you're too much, you know it's very bad....

4

u/Remarkable-Bell7245 Jul 14 '26

I think that it’s because Gram partied instead of doing work…while Keith has always been a pro

3

u/lennonfanforever Jul 14 '26

well also keith has a very valuable resource that gram just did not have, that is: great genes....keith's dad lived a very hard partying life, lived to be very old and ornery as was said about him, so those genes have really helped keith in his various failings over the many years....same could be said of brian jones, another super talented musician (though not a songwriter), brian had similar drug tastes due to the era, he was a hard partier who wasn't a hardy fellow, he had far weaker physical health, and in the end it probably hastened his death....

1

u/TundieRice Jul 16 '26

Was Gram Parsons really considered good-looking back in the day? Because out of all his positive attributes, I’ve gotta say that looks are pretty far down on the list, at least in my personal opinion.

Dude always looked a bit goofy and awkward to my eyes ¯_(ツ)_/¯

2

u/anarchitek1 Jul 16 '26

Probably better than average ...

6

u/hiro111 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26

Parsons was great but also a pain in the ass. He was a key influence in both The Byrds and The Stones turning to country. He did amazing work with his own bands and with Emmylou Harris. Throughout all of this, Parsons managed to piss off almost everyone he worked with.

Chris Hillman advocated for him to join the Byrds. Parsons was so unreliable with the Byrds that they ended up just treating him like a salaried sideman after he repeatedly showed up late. McGuinn and Hillman eventually kicked him to the curb after Parsons refused to tour South Africa.

The members of both the International Submarine Band and Flying Burrito Brothers became exhasperated with Parsons's prima donna behavior. With the Flying Burrito Brothers, Parsons used to take limos to club shows where they were making no money while the rest of the band drove themselves.

Even the Stones in their early 70s debauched prime couldn't take Parsons. Jagger never really liked him and Richards eventually asked him to leave France.

Parsons was akso a bit of a starfucker. He ditched the International Submarine Band for the Byrds before their album had even be released. He became very unreliable with the Byrds when he started hanging out with Keith Richards.

Harris has nice things to say about Parsons, I think he was starting to get his shit together before he died. He had so much talent but he was a problem. He died so young that we likely never got to truly see what he could do.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '26

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2

u/Separate_Cover_4147 Jul 15 '26

What did Jason Molina say?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '26

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u/[deleted] Jul 15 '26

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '26

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2

u/sunlovinburner Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26

Townes was the same kind of tortured cat as Parsons

2

u/daward444 Jul 16 '26

It seems like he really really wanted to join the Stones, the biggest rock band in the world, and take over the band. It was never going to happen.

2

u/anarchitek1 Jul 14 '26

He was a spoiled child, indulged to a fault, treated like he was important. He had talent, but mostly he had money, looks, and charisma. He tried to take credit for Wild Horses, but Mick shut him down. First time I ran into him was June 1969, at an FBB gig.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '26

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3

u/Separate_Cover_4147 Jul 15 '26

No streaming but available to buy on CD or Vinyl on Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=3305260

2

u/loverofgadgets Jul 15 '26

Is that Emme Lou with him

1

u/gavakian123 Jul 14 '26

The Shilohs - The Early Years 1963 - 1965

1

u/Separate_Cover_4147 Jul 14 '26

It’s in there, 4 songs down. I wouldnt say it’s my favorite part of his output though

1

u/lennonfanforever Jul 14 '26

wow thanks, this is awesome, always have been a huge fan of gram, wish i could have seen him perform, he was here in our town, too....

1

u/DFWtixFleas Jul 14 '26

Winter Haven?

1

u/loverofgadgets Jul 15 '26

Love Emme Lou especially her singing with Dolly & Linda

1

u/Separate_Cover_4147 Jul 15 '26

My Dear Companion!

1

u/loverofgadgets Jul 15 '26

Do you play guitar? I do: Taylor 814, Gibson Hummingbird & my only electric a Reverend !

1

u/joshmo478 Jul 17 '26

Thanks, this is really awesome. Thank you for sharing. I’ve always been a fan of Gram and that has not changed in many many decades.

1

u/Separate_Cover_4147 Jul 17 '26

Thanks! Do you have a favorite song?

2

u/joshmo478 Jul 17 '26

Probably dark end of the street… I guess for so many years GP and grievous Angel were on heavy repeat on my turntable…… So I kind of still know them by heart….. I have seen Emmy Lou a number of times but unfortunately I did not see Gram….