American singer Gram Parsons made a lightning-fast career in the 1960s. He started in The International Submarine Band, seduced The Byrds into making a real country record (Sweethearts Of The Rodeo), converted The Rolling Stones to country, then made two beautiful country rock records with The Flying Burrito Brothers, before continuing as a solo artist. . For the two solo albums he made for Reprise,
… GP (1972) and Grievous Angel (1973), he recruited Elvis Presley's backing band. He also discovered the young singer Emmylou Harris, with whom he recorded some heartbreaking duets. Commercial success failed to materialize and Parsons died of an overdose of alcohol and drugs in 1973. On The Complete Reprise Recordings, the aforementioned solo albums are supplemented with a CD with alternative takes, that are not inferior in quality to the well-known versions. (MS)more
