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Rating: Following the bitter separation from the Byrds in 1968, the year of the release of the historic "Sweetheart of The Rodeo," considered one of the first milestones of country rock, Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman founded the Flying Burrito Brothers together with the great pedal steel expert "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow and bassist Chris Ethridge. The perfect musical collaboration between the seasoned former bass player of the Byrds and future partner of Stephen Stills in Manassas, and the visionary talent of Parsons, produced a perfect example of country rock that would, in the years to come, inspire hundreds of imitation attempts.
While in the Byrds, at a certain point in the band’s career, Roger McGuinn went trendy by talking about "Raga Rock," Gram Parsons became, by the end of the Sixties, the pioneer and spokesperson of "Cosmic American Music," which, in the artist's intentions, was meant to be a perfect combination of country, soul, and rock. The music on this album did not need the cover image, on which the band wore flashy outfits adorned with drawings of cannabis plants, to get noticed.
The opening "Christine's Tune," the sweet "Sin City," the story of "Juanita," the polemical "My Uncle," and the classic "Wheels" are considered country rock classics alongside the two "Hot Burrito" tracks. Immortal songs that showcase Gram Parsons' great ability to create inspired and unforgettable melodies. Alongside these gems are the splendid versions of "Dark End Of The Street" and "Do Right Woman," two soul classics by Dan Penn. Parsons' personal, melancholic, and sweet voice always stood out in describing the joys and sorrows of love, while Hillman, for his part, provided solid vocal harmonies. Clearly, with such a charismatic figure as Gram Parsons, the band's chances for long-term sustainability were minimal.
After this album, the Flying Burrito Brothers underwent various personnel changes, and the subsequent "Burrito Deluxe," despite its good rock drive, represented a partial disappointment despite the presence of a notable cover of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." "The Gilded Palace of Sin" remains a cornerstone in American music tied to its roots, primarily thanks to Gram Parsons' significant stylistic innovations, which were entirely unusual compared to Nashville stereotypes. He managed to bridge the vast chasm that existed between rock and country enthusiasts by the end of the Sixties. For this reason, too, we will never stop thanking him.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Christine's Tune (03:04)
Title: Christine's tune
Artist: The Flying Burrito Brothers
She's a devil in disguise
you can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
she's a devil in disguise
in disguise
Now a woman like that
all she does is hate you
She doesn't know
what makes a man a man
She'll talk about
the times that she's been with you
She'll speak your name
to everyone she can
She's a devil in disguise
you can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
she's a devil in disguise
in disguise
Unhappiness has been her close companion
Her world is full of jealousy and doubt
It gets her off to see a person crying
She's just the kind that you can't do without
She's a devil in disguise
you can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
she's a devil in disguise
in disguise
Her number always turns up in your pocket
Whenever you are looking for a dime
It's all right to call her but I'll bet you
The moon is full and your just wasting time
She's a devil in disguise
you can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
she's a devil in disguise
in disguise .....
05 My Uncle (02:37)
A letter came today from my draft board
With trembling hands I read the questionare
It asked me lots of things about my mamma and poppa
Now that ain't what I call exactly fair
So I'm headed for the nearest foreign border
Vancouver may be my kind of town
Cause they don't need the kind of law and order
That tends to keep a good man underground
A sad old soldier once told me a story
About a battlefield that he was on
He said a man should never fight for glory
He must know what is right and what is wrong
So I'm headed for the nearest foreign border
Vancouver may be my kind of town
Cause they don't need the kind of law and order
That tends to keep a good man underground
Now I don't know how much I owe my uncle
But I suspect it's more than I can pay
He's asking me to sign a three year contract
I guess I'll catch the first bus out today
So I'm headed for the nearest foreign border
Vancouver may be my kind of town
Cause they don't need the kind of law and order
That tends to keep a good man underground
06 Wheels (03:04)
We've all got wheels to take ourselves away
We've got telephones to say what we can't say
We all got higher and higher every day
Come on wheels take this boy away
We're not afraid to ride
We're not afraid to die come on wheels take me home today
So come on wheels take this boy away
Now when I feel my time is almost up
And destiny is in my right hand
I'll turn to him who made my faith so strong
Come on wheels make this boy a man
We're not afraid to die come on wheels take me home today
So come on wheels take this boy away
07 Juanita (02:31)
No affection were the words that stuck on my mind
When she walked out on me for the very last time
Oh mamma sweet mamma can you tell me what to say
I don't know what I've done to be treated this way
In a cold dirty room that's where I found myself
With a bottle of wine and some pills off the shelf
Oh mamma sweet mamma can you tell me what to say
I don't know what I've done and I'm feeling so ashamed
Then an angel appeared she was just 17
In a dirty old town with a conscious so clean
Oh mamma sweet mamma can you tell me what to say
She's brought back the life that I once threw away
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