The Alternate Takes (1973)
Outtakes From G.P. & Grievous Angel
Rhino’s The Complete Reprise Sessions somehow managed to turn Gram Parson’s only two solo LPs (once issued on a single CD) into a high-priced 3CD box set. Much of it was padding, but the third disc contained the cream of the box - alternate takes (and some unused tracks) from both of Parsons’ solo LP sessions. Gram would die in a motel room before the second album was issued, so, for fans, it’s a final opportunity to hear the influential Parsons & band (with newcomer Emmylou Harris and veteran James Burton) live in the studio, working the kinks out of songs that would inform and reshape country rock’s landscape for decades to come. Frankly, most of these alternates aren’t much different from the originals, except maybe not quite as excellent. But, that’s a quibble. Remastered sound and the chance to hear Gram Parsons alive and well one last time is worth any download time. Listen to Gram & Emmylou’s beautiful alt take on “Love Hurts.”
She (Alternate Version)
That’s All It Took (Alternate Version)
Still Feeling Blue (Alternate Version)
Kiss The Children
Streets Of Baltimore (Alternate Version)
We’ll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning (Alternate Version)
New Soft Shoe (Alternate Version)
Return Of The Grievious Angel (Alternate Version)
In My Hour Of Darkness (Alternate Version)
Ooh Las Vegas (Alternate Version)
I Can’t Dance (Alternate Version)
Sleepless Nights (Alternate Version)
Love Hurts (Alternate Version)
Brass Buttons (Alternate Version)
Hickory Wind (Alternate Version)
Brand New Heartache
Sleepless Nights
The Angels Rejoiced Last Night
17 Comments
I've got GP and Grievous Angel and loads of Emmylou and The Burritos, of course, but not this, I couldn't stretch to the boxset. Thanks very much!
Quite nice, Willard.
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i remember hearing about this set and
quickly dismissed it, thinking it was just a re-package…thanks very much!
Thanks for this post! I've been wanting this set of outtakes for sometime, but i also couldn't really bring myself to get the whole box set, being that I already have the twofer! Thank you again
thanks for this! i adore the duets with emmylou, and i haven't heard this in quite a while.
I know you may be sick of my comments, but I feel the need to thank you every time you put out something as good as this. So Thanks
Are you kidding? We LIVE for comments… and appreciate every one. Thanks.
He sure had something didn’t he?
Excellent stuff, Willard A million thanks. Cheers, Wilf, Hove, UK
Excellent post, Willard! Great to be able to get anything he ever recorded in his too-short career. For those who want to get a good dose of his live performances, I have 2 complete shows (audience recordings, but pretty good quality) from his 1973 Fallen Angels Tour (2 nights from his Boston shows at Oliver’s) that are available on my blog. These were previously uncirculated shows that I received directly from the taper (David M.), so have not been widley dispersed or available before.
Here is the link:
Oops, sorry, link didn’t post. here it is:
http://bbchron.blogspot.com/search/label/Gram%20Parsons
Thanks BBK.
Hey, any time the Grievous Angel wants to return is fine by me…
Heard Emmylou doing Luxury Liner on Sunday at Hardly Strictly (and Pancho & Lefty, among others). You think I’m lonesome, so do I, so do I. The tradition lives. Thanks for helping keep it going. And thanks BBK.
Willard,
Great stuff. I bought it. Hell, I have now bought Sweetheart of the Rodeo FOUR different times (and that’s not counting the first Byrds box set that also had unreleased Gram).
Has the long-ago announced Sierra Records box ever come out? That was supposed to have the rare video of part of a GP tour with Emmylou. What I did find of that on YouTube was wonderful, especially seeing Emmylou seeming to be having a lot of fun.
Highly recommend the stuff on BB Chronicles.
And if anyone else has any unreleased Gram, let’s hear it!
Ace
Thanks W.