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• 5CD set, an essential release for Byrds and country rock fans.
• Featuring two solo albums from The Byrds/Flying Burrito Brothers member.
• Plus solo live recordings spanning his career and a live album from the Gene Parsons Band.
• Along with unreleased studio demos.
Recorded between multi-instrumentalist Gene Parsons’ membership of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, his 1973 debut solo album ‘Kindling’ is a country rock and bluegrass classic that also features his friend and fellow ex-Byrd Clarence White on several tracks. Parsons demonstrates his versatility by contributing guitar, banjo, pedal steel, harmonica, bass and drums.
Acclaimed author of Are You Ready For The Country, Peter Doggett has written the notes for this box and describes ‘Kindling’ as “a joyous collection of bluegrass and country-tinged songwriting on which its star demonstrated a dazzling multi-instrumental virtuosity.”
This 5CD set is an essential release for Byrds and country rock fans and also includes Parsons’ second solo album ‘Melodies’ from 1979, an entirely solo live recording ‘I Hope They Let Us In’ that spanned his entire career including versions of Byrds’ favourites ‘Gunga Din’ and ‘Bugler’, plus a batch of mainly unissued 1980s studio recordings that were planned for his third solo album, and fantastic live recordings by the Gene Parsons Band.
Gene Parsons played in the band Nashville West with Clarence White before they both joined The Byrds and the pair invented the StringBender in 1967 that changes the pitch of the B string on a guitar to create a pedal steel sound. They played together on The Byrds’ albums ‘Dr. Byrds And Mr. Hyde’ (1969), ‘The Ballad Of Easy Rider’ (1969), ‘(Untitled)’ (1970), ‘Byrdmaniax’ (1971) and ‘Farther Along’ (1971).
Parsons’ solo album ‘Kindling’ (1973) also features White. When White died in July 1973 after being hit by a drunk driver, Parsons was devastated and a tour to promote ‘Kindling’ was cancelled and the album initially fell under the radar. Parsons joined The Flying Burrito Brothers and played on their ‘Flying Again’ (1975) and ‘Airborne’ (1976) albums before reverting to a solo career with ‘Melodies’.
CD 1 of this box includes Parsons’ two solo studio albums ‘Kindling’ and ‘Melodies’, CD 2 includes the entirely solo live recording ‘I Hope They Let Us In’, CDs 3, 4 and 5 feature live recordings with the Gene Parsons Band and CD 5 is completed with 1980s studio demos for a third solo album.
Tracklist
DISC ONE
KINDLING
1. Monument
2. Long Way Back
3. Do Not Disturb
4. Willin'
5. On The Spot
6. Take A City Bride
7. Sonic Bummer
8. I Must Be A Tree
9. Drunkard's Dream
10. Banjo Dog
11. Back Again
MELODIES
12. My Kingdom For A Car
13. Melodies From A Bird In Flight (For Clarence)
14. Mama Papa
15. Won't Last Long
16. Way Out There
17. Hot Burrito #1
18. No Fire Here Tonight
19. Pastime
20. Little Jewels (For Lilybet)
21. Why You Been Gone So Long
DISC TWO
IN CONCERT - I HOPE THEY LET US IN
1. Swing Down
2. Sweet Susannah
3. Rhumba Man
4. Gunga Din
5. Abilene
6. Bugler
7. Do Not Disturb
8. Dark Moon
9. Willin'
10. Take A City Bride
11. Sweet Desert Childhood
12. Studebaker Story
13. Banjo Dog
14. Way Out There
15. I Must Be A Tree
16. Blue
17. You Ain't Going Nowhere
DISC THREE
GENE PARSONS BAND - RECORDED LIVE IN 1981-83
1. California Blues
2. Won't Last Long
3. Mercury Blues
4. Hickory Wind
5. Buckaroo
6. Nashville West / City Bride
7. How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live
8. She Caught The Katy And Left Me A Mule To Ride
DISC FOUR
GENE PARSONS BAND - RECORDED LIVE IN 1981-83
1. Why You Been Gone So Long (Rock ‘n’ Roll Style)
2. Banjo Dog
3. Diggi Liggi Li
4. Nuclear Dayz
5. You Don't Miss Your Water
6. In My Hour Of Darkness
7. There Must Be Someone
8. Why You Been Gone So Long 2 (Bluegrass Style)
9. Real Life Problems
10. Swing Down Chariot
DISC FIVE
GENE PARSONS BAND LIVE
1. Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms*
2. Have You Seen My Baby*
3. Willin’*
4. Our Faded Love*
5. Baby What You Want Me To Do*
6. In My Hour Of Darkness*
7. Many Rivers To Cross* STUDIO DEMOS (recorded circa 1984)
8. You Don’t Miss Your Water*
9. Swing Down*
10. Wind And Rain
11. California Blues*
12. Lily's Hot Bread
13. Dark Moon*
14. Turquoise*
15. Willin’ (recorded circa 1986)*
*Previously unreleased