Cosmic Cowboy Thread

Gram Parsons was off my radar until about four years ago, but have been soaking it up since then - Sweetheart of the Rodeo, Flying Burrito Brothers, the Fallen Angels band.  Good stuff.   If you are sent packing by the Rolling Stones for being a bad influence on Keith Richards, you know you are a bad influence.   Haven't checked out the International Submarine Band, so I will have to look for it next time I am at the record shop.

Never been to Joshua Tree, but its on the bucket list and when I go, I know where I will be staying (bring the Ouija board):

https://www.joshuatreeinn.com/RoomsandRates/GramParsonsRoom8.html

At risk of turning this into a gram parsons thread (not my intent but this is his very best material)...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=52QNkrnO04o&list=OLAK5uy_nr9_kWI7p-WXV_Lgt...

But really cosmic country would never have been possible without the sounds of Clarence White. He’s the guy. When I think of full blown psychedelic honky tonk, I hear the sounds of Clarence’s telecaster loud and clear above all else. Around 1969, Gram had left the Byrds and started the burritos, Hillman followed shortly after him and the byrds became a four piece band. The band had a real distinct sound during the next couple years - heard on Dr Byrds & Mr Hyde, untitled, and the ballad of easy rider albums.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=teG-7uYENbg

Little story about how Clarence made his sounds

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r8H08Xs_w8A

This guitar has the early version of the Parsons/White b-bender Dave Nelson uses

And an even earlier example of the b-bender, maybe the first:

https://www.frettedamericana.com/product/1968-fender-telecaster-clarence...

James Burton interview with Terry Gross last week on NPR/Fresh Air...

https://www.npr.org/2019/09/03/757066866/elvis-guitarist-james-burton-i-...

The bottle let me down

"Play it for me James!"

I’d love to hear David on that guitar

The thought of it makes me smile

A little Doug Sahm anyone?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNX3cipOgDQ

He was so smooth

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1TphoKBScfM

(vote for kinky!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frdz_Qn_GqE

Dylan's "Blonde On Blonde" was a trendsetting country rock album when it was released in 1966.

Of course, the Beatles had already been dabbling in Rockabilly for years, and had just recorded a cover of Buck Owens' "Act Naturally" in 1965, but that was more of an homage to the Bakersfield Sound than anything particularly "cosmic".  Blonde On Blonde was recorded in Nashville with the Country version of The Wrecking Crew (and Robbie Robertson).  I met a guy who was playing pedal steel for Michael Nesmith, who believes these sessions witnessed the creation of Country-Rock.  He's been putting together interviews and footage for a documentary film about these players.  

Blonde On Blonde, it's late 1967 follow-up John Wesley Harding, the contemporaneous sessions that led to The Basement Tapes, The Band's 1st two LPs and eventually Dylan's 1969 Nashville Skyline album all continued to buck the trend of psychedelic excess for a more organic and traditional sound, what today gets labeled "Americana".  By 1970, the Dead jumped on board with Workingman's Dead and American Beauty, and the New Riders debut.   

Another band that deserves some credit is Linda Ronstadt's first group, The Stone Poneys.  To my ears, they are the U.S. kindred spirits to the U.K. band Fairport Comvention, in carving out the Folk-Rock niche a little heavier than bands like The Mamas and The Papas, the early Jefferson Airplane or the Byrds had been playing it.  Ronstadt's first solo album was backed by the musicians that would form the Eagles.

lots of country rock out there. Not much of it is cosmic. Don’t think I could consider Linda Ronstadt and the eagles as cosmic.

When the tune makes you momentarily forget the name of the song, that’s cosmic.

I could probably be persuaded to consider Nashville skyline to be slightly cosmic, but would mostly blame that on Fred Carter’s transcendent fingerstyle than anything else.

Cat Mother got pretty cosmic at times.

The Eagles hit gold with that shit.   Sure, overtly commercial and often trite, but they worked the formula.

If you've never listened to the Stone Poneys records, they're worth a listen.

Michael Nesmith & the First National band

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WK8Db5tryrg&list=PLnNGpdGvtEWf7Xa2cMb073K3...

That’s Red Rhodes on steel

Terry Allen

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9OPCsA8EdWM&list=RD9OPCsA8EdWM&start_radio=1

Buddy Emmons - Nothing was delivered

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iyhhBt8M0pA&list=OLAK5uy_kmIqxEx9Tg32YLcjE...

David Rea - Hellhound on my trail

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NUV2FoNz0w4&list=PLh0ysVWgxTiyUChzBag9y8Do...

Jerry Jeff Walker

London Homesick Blues

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EhN2E4hRDKk

Sturgill all the way down

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ2n2sydFXg&list=PLgO9YXrflxzcsQtpSc-RmEM7...

Band of Heathens

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bjrgTcyU3a0

Son Volt - out of the picture

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y8RvGx2xRkA

Desert Rose Band - why you been gone so long

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uXYLvsPYq1w

Mark Knopfler - Walk of life with a RIPPING Paul Franklin solo at the end

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LeNUq-rf2fw

John Cale

after midnight live/studio

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j7b16bVdLaI

heres a REALLY good one with EC

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-wJDd_uu1JI

...

Texas Hog, that used to be around the old  zone toured as a soundman with David Allen Coe.

Jim Lauderdale, Headed For The Hills.

Have loved this album for a long time.

Beachwood Sparks for a more current version of the cosmic cowboy stuff

James Burton is a good man . I have met and talked to him a couple of times. He is a local.

Check out his foundation.

http://www.jamesburtonfoundation.org

Definitely, Turtle. I think the middle two Seatrain albums had some country psychedelia going on for sure. I listen to them often, actually.

This wouldn’t be a complete thread without mention of Muleskinner (cosmic bluegrass?). But here we have not only Peter Rowan, but Clarence (there’s that sound again) and Richard Greene, who should be appropriately credited with inventing the “chop”, which along with the addition of drums (mulsekinner were the first bluegrass band to utilize a drummer) was really the thing that gave “newgrass” it’s definitive sound. Drummer John guerin had just left the byrds and linked up with these guys. Obviously a lot of dead connections here as well. Too many to get into. Muleskinner disbanded after Clarence’s death, just a few months after getting together.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k4-R0ngoMpU

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k4-R0ngoMpU

One of my very favorite country guitarists, Albert Lee

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Wv0ZyuLhc

Albert replaced James Burton in Emmylou’s hot band when Elvis came calling on James. Longtime Clapton sideman, but also very much a star in his own right. And a total gentleman as well.

Yeah psychedelic country is my jam turtle. It’s whats playing probably 75% of the time at my place. 

Bet I’ll be there, and totally know what you’re saying. let’s link up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnvZSzaWZuw

From that pic, I guess I haven't seen Peter Rowan in about a hundred pounds.

(opening for Bromberg on The Pier/NYC in 19F-if-I-remember.)

Great thread!

I grew up in cowboy country (more than a few ranchers willing to shoot at trespassers in the hills between Salinas and Monterey), but generally hated country music at the time. 

I've been enjoying all sorts of slide-and-twang music over recent years, some cosmic and other styles. 

Thanks for sharing the links. 

More desert rose band

Jay Dee Maness on pedals

Watch John Jorgensen’s telecaster handling very closely, then ask yourself where you think brad paisley might have stolen some of his best moves from? ;)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g0TuIsYYHa0

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xIwu0rVy9pA

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o-Hb9ZAi-dc

Marty Stuart and superlatives - the running kind

Nice & bendy

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XtrW2foEiUs

its pretty cool to watch Marty emulate clarence’s “Shoulder roll” b-bender technique on this one

Ricky Skaggs - Don’t get above your raisin’

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PFoiSFpN_us

ricky playing some kind of 1/2 size 5 string telecaster here

Lucinda’s band has the sound. Stu Mathis plays lead

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mTu4cXW9H_Q

Is Poco too much vanilla?  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HKR0zdp8_50

Vanilla? Hmm..

They’re somewhere in between the stone ponys and manassas.

definitely some legit licks in the poco canon.

...

...

nice thread, thanks to all.

and yes, Doug Sahm:

https://youtu.be/RZsJu4Ci9tc

Picture these cosmic cowboys taking stage in full nudie suits:

https://archive.org/details/gd73-02-19.set2sbd.fink.15589.sbeok.shnf/gd7...

Gotta luv Doug Sahm!

(w/ Jerry, Phil, Leon Russell, and friends, Thanksgiving Jam, 11-23-72)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Van_3-Sn-n0

We covered a bunch of his tunes over the years;

https://soundcloud.com/andy-baugh-1/hey-baby-que-paso-el-kabong

https://soundcloud.com/andy-baugh-1/guacamole-el-kabong

Hey walstib thanks for posting the James burton interview it was killer. Forgot about that tasty recording at the end so it especially made for a great encore!

Did any mainstream country stars dabble in the psychedelic? 

Music, that is.

Mickey Newbury wrote what some consider to be the first psychedelic country song, " Just Dropped In".  It's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYQW0NOyZpc

Kenny Rogers recorded it on his first album with the First Edition, which I think also has a version of "Elvira" on it.

Mickey is a respected songwriter and certainly wasn't mainstream, and Kenny was just starting out, so he wouldn't count as a "star" at that point but it did hit #5 on the charts, his first hit.

From Wikipedia:     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Dropped_In_(To_See_What_Condition_My_Condition_Was_In)

You may have to copy and paste that link.

"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" is a counterculture era song written by Mickey Newbury and, in 1968, a chart hit for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, which recorded the song in October 1967. Said to reflect the LSD experience, the song was intended to be a warning about the dangers of using the drug.[2]. 

I wouldn't call it cosmic, nor would I necessarily consider it cowboy, but I always loved the Telecaster/pedal steel interplay of Jim Campilongo & The 10 Gallon Cats, back in the '90's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wmPWjVaR-4

Rusty Wier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhe8XJOdKNg

I like the tunes on his Black Hat Saloon LP, but the Disco production leaves a bit to be desired (the jam at the end is great, with the major exception of the added mid-70's violins):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmP_kbfC730

Your a asshole

Cowboy my ass. 

Kaleidoscope is pretty darn eclectic, but they seem to have a bit of Cosmic in them and just a bit of whackadoodle.  Which is why it's one of my absolutely favorite bands.

Life Will Pass You By:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ1yS8yYZdw

Hello Trouble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEN3FKi1Nek

Well, here's 32 minutes of live Kaleidoscope, starting with Hello Trouble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5VsUyKdsac

Let the Good Love Flow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhejNe_Qa10

No offense intended, Minnow.  I'm just goofing around on a Friday night.

Bobby Bare - Amarillo Highway

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_wnasXO7aC4

Dwight

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4t6SfWQnwD0

Max Creek - big boat

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4t6SfWQnwD0

Commander Cody - seeds and stems again

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GNWw2NFo_ec&list=OLAK5uy_kwQjaQ3ZUPElTSl1s...

An AWESOME eight miles high

clarence white in prime form

whole band, really

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EMhHdm-Gda4

 Sturgill Simpson - Turtles All the Way Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWx6csgGkg4

Nice pic of Peter Rowan, Turtle.

Crucial Country, the live 1994 Telluride set, is so incredibly awesome. Don't know if people consider it cosmic or not, but it certainly has its elements, imo.

>>>>> Don't know if people consider it cosmic or not,

When Pete Rowan goes into the spacey, Indian war cry/yodeling thing during "Land of the Navajo," its pretty cosmic.   And yes, that's a great picture of Rowan above.  Cosmic.

Hell yeah, Ken! I treaded lightly with the term as I have not used it to classify a genre of country.

Either way, Peter Rowan is truly one of the best around. I am 99% sure I'll be seeing him on 9/21- haven't seen him since April of 2018. I'd catch a full tour if I was able.

I believe I was with you at that show Turts.  Been a huge Kirchen fan ever since.

Here’s the Dwight Yoakam video I meant to post up earlier

1000 miles from nowhere

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QpQ4c3b_RJ8

whammy tele

Pete Anderson

Does Billy Strings qualify for this thread?

https://youtu.be/SQOHFNCU0Ek

Would Toy Caldwell qualify?  I mean, , I am sure one or two more than me hit blast off to his tone and sound more than once in an all out jam.

I mean yes Caldwell and B. Strings qualify.

Our own opinion,  cornbread. 

https://youtu.be/7Yt38XoznDA

Chet Atkins,  Cosmic Square Dance

Chet doing a little bending.

.

...

Biily Strings is da'shit. Just saw him tonight, but I'm not cognizant enough  to comment. G'night. Oh jeez, what a show,. 

Even the proto-Stoner Rock band Blue Cheer got in on the Country-Psych trend with their 1971 album "Oh Pleasant Day".

I love billy strings. He’s like a one man cornmeal with the precision of the stringdusters. Incredible young talent with no telecaster, drums, or pedal steel in the band. Which makes him fully, 100%, non-cosmic cowboy. He’s a bluegrass flatpicker.

Now this ol cowboy...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cb5e6Qr_wj8

also probably the only “cosmic” cowboy band with a flute

Rick Nelson 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r1blUFxyQN8&list=PLBnPfC6FcUoQLP5EUIRpDuPA...

James Burton 

Glen Hardin

Flying Burrito Brothers

Close up the Honky Tonks

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KD5Z9Nq3SLY

Here’s one for java Dave:

Dillard & Clark - train leaves here this mornin’

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CyTw1-N96U0

bernie leadon co-wrote this with gene clark, later on it was released on the eagles first album. This is the definitive version, however. Gene didn’t tour very well, felt most comfortable in the studio and at small local (L.A. venues). Early on, he was really the driving/creative force in the byrds. He left when the touring demands became too heavy. His second stint in the byrds, around 1972 lasted about 3 weeks.

You may have heard the eagles cover this one as well. Actually, pretty much everybody has covered this song at some point. Not too many people know the source. A seminal country Americana album if there ever was one

Steve Young

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpV83ovYAyY&list=PL9S9CtEkhcIz6J6xyFlqvaP5...

steve also wrote Lonesome, Onry, and Mean

Waylon goin’ to Shreveport

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0PxfBy6fB-s

John Stewart

never goin’ back

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3t8Hbyw8-Ac&list=OLAK5uy_m2PcgWfxm2CQO1scJ...

That's a great record, Bss.   Gene Clark's genius has gained more recognition as the years have passed.  

I saw some of the Doug Sahm Band and the Texas Tornados up above, so how's about a little Sir Douglas Quintet circa 1968:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nFbI8uVUFP4

"Mendocino"

Dave Alvin

Highway 61 revisited

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4iurkjhIgo

Turnpike Troubadours

evangeline

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RQDXh_k8Ouw&list=PL9QL1AvNabH5wvQ26g1WvEJG...

“Ask Keith Richards”

Keith on the evolution of country honk

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FGzGZX-V1Kk

The charlatans

Alabama Bound

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jQSJBSl9SM0

Buffalo Springfield "A Child's Claim To Fame" (1967)

with James Burton on dobro:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj7LzlZfWg8

Cowgirl in the sand (live farm aid 2000)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cUpL2qamAZE

NRPS

dirty business

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fi6D9v1NaT4

Byrds

Way Behind the sun

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GpbklTDLWs8

Mudcrutch - Lover of the Bayou

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t3cTisQbDU0

dare I say more powerful and dynamic than the original? (I didn’t say that out loud) it’s good.

really showcases mike campbell’s versatility as he strokes a bender equipped 52 telecaster here pretty hard.

Definitely leans more cosmic than country, but whatever. wish it were a ten minute version.

RIP Tom petty, who among many talents, always had a real knack for selecting cover songs he could just totally slay.

In an interesting degree of separation, Tom Leadon (bernie’s brother) is the original second guitarist in this band.

William Tyler is pretty rad

https://youtu.be/CugK9RpQ2SA

     https://youtu.be/L7niWqWzxV0

<< dare I say more powerful and dynamic than the original? (I didn’t say that out loud) >>

Oh yes you did, you testing my restraint ? I'm a TP + THB's lover but please don't try comparing a Honda to a Lotus, ya just sound silly. Any Byrds version is better than any TP version, c'mooooon now.  HB's is not a bad version, but whud ya expect,  Mike had 40 sumthin years to try n get it right 

The Byrds - Lover Of The Bayou 1970 
https://youtu.be/myLTgLqFaj8

Gram Parsons died on this day in 1973. It was two years after he passed that I was turned on to the Flying Burrito Brothers. He rapidly influenced my desire to sing well and to sing with heart and emotion. He did that better than anyone to me. It also took me into the world of country music.

Alright, listening to Peter Rowan’s Twang and Groove- definitely qualifies for the thread. Melting my stoned mind.

Glad you like him.  He’s got a bunch of albums.  Good to see a younger(ish) guy out there making music like that.

William Tyler is fantastic, lotta contemporary musicians with cosmic country influence out there these days.

hell, even that last kasey musgraves album got a little cosmic.

scott hirsch - Rose’s song:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K4b-6ybBWGU

Pure Prairie League

Two Lane Highway

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1yUV9jBmy9A

would this be considered 'cosmic cowboy'?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tgspkNRIcc

Just picked up a pair of tickets for Son Volt on 10/15 at the Aladdin.   I think they would qualify. 

Also in PDX cosmic twang news, the fourth annual "Gram Jam" has been announced for 11/9:

http://thejwf.org/event/gram-jam-iv-4th-annual-all-star-tribute-to-gram-...

Dillard / Hartford / Dillard

No End Of Love

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xsohGEjDYZw

Live right now, just started:

Robert Earl Keen

http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2019/webcast/sat-swantowers.shtml

David Allen Coe - Death Row

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE7nxgvjfWs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBQkHUPQzO4

Cat Mother & The All Night Newsboys - Been All Around the World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX-02t1FsQw

Hoyt Axton - The Pusher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-7WpPk00jA

Paul Revere & The Raiders - Freeborn Man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7ztuqe4dRg

Hell yeah

Mason Proffit - Two Hangmen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC3yZdG_2Bc

Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Colorado Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obZIBhesMOQ

Heartsfield - Racin' The Sun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obZIBhesMOQ

You posted the daredevils song twice

maybe cause it’s that good

Ooops

Here's the Heartsfield song.  These guys opened for the Dead once I believe.  They were kinda considered the midwest version of the Dead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dotJologwUo

NOW it does!

https://youtu.be/dxmoNvewyEM

Here is Mick Ronson performing one of my favorite Pure Prairie League songs, Angel Number 9.

“You know man, in a lot of ways we’re an awful lot alike
Once you get down beneath the skin
Like two books with different covers but the same words inside
We’re both brothers of the wind
Now we both love our freedom and we’ll answer to no man
And you’ve heard it said to thine own self be true
We’re just a couple of free spirits drifting across the land
Doing exactly what we want to do.”

– Chris LeDoux, “The Cowboy and The Hippie”

Steve Gunn - Way Out Weather LIVE

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgq-DpFwMhg

Dave Alvin - Loser (2016 hardly strictly)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTcWov_eMR8

New Riders of the Purple Sage - Gypsy Cowboy

https://youtu.be/mAuh6HjiiaM

Son Volt last night at the Aladdin:

this is definitely not cosmic country and is firmly in the outlaw genre, but ive been really surprised at how much im enjoying some tracks on this album. the first three tracks are absolutely killer. ive always just known gg allin as the guy who shits onstage, but it turns out a good chunk of his acoustic output is actually pretty good. the first three tracks are great and then it kinda degenerates into typical mid-late era gg where he sings about stuff like beating and raping "that boston bitch" and really stereotypical "fuck authority" punk rock stuff, but those first three tracks are golden. fwiw to those who like punk, his early material with the jabbers(early era gg, before he started shitting onstage) is pretty solid also.

1. Outskirts of Life

2. Guns, Bitches, Brawls and Bottles

3. Carmelita

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbJHXY9724s

Solid performance with loud guitars.   This is my second time seeing them and not too familiar with their material, but it sounded like they mostly played originals (I recognized one Uncle Tupelo number).  Straight forward rock and country rock sound with ever fourth song or so having some decent psychedelic​ jamming.   Very simple lights and stage set up and Jay Farrar remained pretty much motionless behind thick shades throughout the show, but his voice was clear and strong.    Place was sold out. 

GG Allin? Get that shit out of here man this thread is for respectable music

And GG was not an outlaw

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2ymkBEhdHBE

Interesting take on the genre, I'll give him that

Kris Kristofferson: Gettin’ By, High and Strange

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pI0sfsunaL4

Jim Lauderdale: No Right Way To Be Wrong

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-PL_pomSPYU

Eleven Hundred Springs: Thunderbird 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YSakOjHszgA

JJ Cale: Travelin’ Light

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_OgjB6y70ew

Tony Joe White: Polk Salad Annie

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PQCPxckT6iM

Johnny Lee: Cherokee Fiddle

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F_SyX1FKDTE

Roger Mcguinn, Fabulous Superlatives: You Ain’t Goin Nowhere

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0VwmyItsU-4

Heres one for all the cosmic cowgirls and cowboys ouuut there:

https://youtu.be/iS84BMFszW0

omg thankfully this was not a thread dedicated to bobby lolololol

(((cosmiccows)))

The best out there right now doing justice to this is without a doubt Tyler Childers & The Foodstamps. Closer to Gram and to The Flying Burrito Brothers than any I've seen in a long time.

Joe Goldmark (The Kosher Cowboy)

China Cat Sunflower -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u3jCtjEdyg

Edward the Mad Shirt Grinder -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0KakspbgQc

Black Peter w/ John McFee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBlPRvTmxY0

He’s like the Band meets Alan Lomax by way of Bruce Longhorn. Awesome songwriter, brilliantly tasteful ‘song collector’ and arranger, and underratedly talented fingerstyle guitarist. Every album he puts out is worth the listening to, especially if you prefer the ‘americana’ to the ‘cosmic’ of that tired phrase (“cosmic americana”).

Blue Mountain Eagle - Love is Here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMo5w6l8-78

MTB - fire on the mountain (live)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C4a40FjB_sM

Billy Joe Shaver - When the word was thunderbird (live)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cVT7bD69ezU

Vince Gill, ALBERT LEE, Keith Urban - ain’t living long like this (live)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WNA1gO0c3nY

Rodney Crowell wrote this song. Waylon Jennings covered it well. Rodney Crowell has written a lot of good songs.

Really awesome video content here, this is the meeting of the Byrds and Earl & Randy Scruggs. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sTHK-97Y53Y

players here are:

roger mcguinn - 12 string

skip battin - bass

clarence white - telecaster

gene parsons - drums

earl scruggs - banjo 

randy scruggs - flattop

Gram Parsons and Fallen Angels - California Cottonfields

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jHqceTOXXuU

Kris Kristofferson - Border Lord

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W_8mHAd7Ddw

Whadda ya wanna bet I just discovered something completely useless?

Leafing through the Aug 23, 1969 edition of Rolling Stone's classifieds finds this posting.

How many Jim/Rogers do you think there were out there playing 12 string Rickenbackers in 1969?

Guitar is prolly worth a quarter mil right now.

Argo Guthrie - Coming In to Los Angeleezzz 

Clarence White and James Burton trade licks here

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J1yA1Kq3uvk

Randy Newman - Old Kentucky Home

Both Clarence and Gene Parsons here

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=guW0r8R4DQE

Joe Cocker - Dear Landlord

Clarence and Sneaky Pete whining away in the right channel of this Dylan tune

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=guW0r8R4DQE

Johnny Darrell - These Days (Clarence)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uoxOOO-nFMc

1970

Don Reno, Red Smiley, and the Tennessee Cutups - Country Boy Rock and Roll  (1956)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QSAR9mjO2sY

Clarence White recorded his own version of this song in 1962. I’m not sure how to post the file link here but you can stream it from this page: https://www.amazon.com/33-Guitar-Instrumentals-Clarence-White/dp/B0154ZP...

Here’s Marty Stuart and the fabulous superlatives’ version. Marty playing Clarence’s Hummingbyrd (2011)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HVMdwpcl3m4 

David Nelson played and recorded in Frank Wakefield’s band the Good Old Boys in the 1970’s, and this is when he met Don Reno (and presumably learned Country Boy Rock and Roll from him.). Frank Wakefield and the Good Old Boys with Don Reno and Chubby Wise recorded the album “Pistol Packin’ Mama” on Round Records, produced by Jerry Garcia. I think 1975. 

David Nelson Band - Country Boy Rock and Roll - 4/20/95 - Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf

https://archive.org/details/dnb1995-04-20.sbd.block.selleseth.flac16/dnb...

Here’s that Dear Landlord. I mistakenly posted Randy Newman twice.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R29daW33xTA

Birmingham - Freddy Weller

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V6YH3pjaXA0

Clarence White and Red Rhodes bending many strings here

Glen Hardin (Gram Parsons & Fallen Angels) on piano

Good stuff BSS.

Aye Mark. Glad you’re enjoying them buddy.

So cosmic cowboy good one thread just won't do. 

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Life Without You - 9/21/1985 - Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
https://youtu.be/DQ4REYdCkTw

Waka / Jawaka 

Sneaky Pete really digging in. Start at 22:20 and crank it up

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6SE_pO8jGag

Tyler Childers - Whitehouse Road

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtVrDud1gZM

Damn. Lot of loss since I last posted in this thread. 

RIP

John Prine 

song is called Lake Marie. Hard to pick a favorite, but if pressed I'd tell you this was his best song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sWCZZP6GCo

Billy Joe Shaver - Old Chunk of Coal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqDUnHv_g70

Jerry Jeff Walker - Navajo Rug

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxOpqOn48nc

FYI whiskey toast = rye bread

Lake Marie is a great song. Sam Stone is up there too.

Billy Joe and  Jerry Jeff

All will be greatly missed. JP the by far the most for me. I got into JP and JJ at about the same time in the mid 70's.  2 singer/songwriters that you wanted to know and hang with.  

Out with the truckers and the kickers and the cowboy angel.

The rain and gloom has set in here in the PNW and for the first time in many years, don't have a tropical get away planned for the winter (aside from going to FLA to see my folks over X-mas) .   Really considering a pilgrimage to Joshua Tree in early 2021 and if I go, I will be hitting Cap Rock for a recreation of the cremation and booking room 8 at the Joshua Tree Inn:

https://www.joshuatreeinn.com/

Oh, and I will be bringing the Ouija board. 

Love it

love you ALLWAYS in all ways

I’ve been to the Joshua Tree inn...pretty surreal place 

^^^

Did you stay in Gram's room?

bss> thanks for the navajo rug link. forgot about that song and got goosebumps. like visiting an old friend

I didn’t stay there just poked around and took some pictures, there’s a cool metal guitar structure that’s kind of like a memorial outside the door to his room.  Pretty non descript place with a cool lil courtyard.  bought a key tag and t shirt then took the ride out to Cap Rock. 

Glad you approve joy! 
 

Ryan Bingham - Southside of Heaven

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC7k838xt60

Robert Earl Keen 

Jesse with the long hair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKA1IvaBIh8

Flatlanders - White Freightliner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIzl2Pvvdv0

yes this is Smokey from Big Lebowski singing 

Dangerous Spirits · Ray Wylie Hubbard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vru8wASExTM

Marty Stuart telecastering the woodpile down...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKhK8O7qjUA

"The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, I have really good days".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIQVG0Bcu6w

Such a simple magic to his storytelling

If you think it's profound that Bob Dylan decided to name drop Billy Joe Shaver in his 2009 song "I Feel a Change Coming On", consider that bob Dylan actually ripped the entire structure for this song straight from Billy Joe's "Ain't No God In Mexico", and has admitted as much in interview. I believe this was documented in the 2011 update of Behind the Shades but I haven't seen it myself. If anyone here has it, please fact check this on page 868.

Bob Dylan

(no, this is not very cosmic, but i think it technically is a shuffle)

https://vimeo.com/381959716

Here's Waylon covering Billy Joe's song (much better telecaster and that lovely MXR phase 90)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lHcExxw9Ac

Ken that sounds fun. Actually a little envious. Joshua Tree in winter is a great place to blow out the cobwebs. I know you always take great photos too.

Dave sounding great as ever. This wasn't on my radar, so thanks. Are the album credits posted online? The steel sounds wonderful. Greg Leisz?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juQZaCi7wNI

Third Mind is pretty good. This song is unbelievably good.

I https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FXgtD3jfikk

Steve Earle & The Dukes covering his late son Justin Townes Earle's Harlem River Blues from their album J.T. , featuring 10 covers of Justin's songs being released on January 4th, what would have been Justin's 39th birthday.  All proceeds from the album going to a trust for Justin's daughter, Etta St. James Earle.

Nice read about "No Other", Gene Clark's Cosmic Country masterpiece:

http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2020/11/graded-on-a-curve-gen...

R.I.P. Hal Ketchum

“There is an indescribable place on that stage where it feels like you are a part of history, a very fine history, and I really like that a lot. I felt the magic of the Opry the first time, and, so, I came to it in amazement.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hTBE9Tq_-0

Corb Lund & Hayes Carll - Bible on the dash

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5S00y75ebq8

Hayes does a "Alone Together Tuesdays" every week that is very good. His wife Allison Moorer joins him for a couple each week.

You can watch all 32 here

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL0WIR2u0B6v5HFxwKztUhBXoIZOxvmON

Big fan.

Your XM player built in?

My next door neighbor was the original drummer with the International Submarine Band;; Mick Gauvin. Good guy with incredible stories he lets slip out every now and then. 

That's pretty cool. Did he play in any other bands professionally?

This might be his only recording credit: https://www.discogs.com/The-International-Submarine-Band-Sum-Up-Broke/ma...

I'll talk to Mick and see if he is interested in talking/posting about the International Submarine band and his history/relationship with the members and the scene. He talks best about Ian and I believe kept in touch with him over the years. He has told me a few Gram stories, seems he is so-so on his feelings about Gram.  Mick was out in southern Cal 1966 to 1969 time period.

 It is hard to place everything related to the ISB and early Flying Burrito Bros. in a time frame for me.  When talking to Mick the stories are really interesting, but it's not like he paints a perfect chronological picture of the events. It was the mid 60's California after all.  ISB definitely got started here on the east coast.  Mick is from Baltimore. Whether the band broke up before they all went to southern Cal or broke up there I'm not sure. 

I believe Mick told me he was the drummer in the earliest incarnation of the Flying Burrito Bros. and that Gram wasn't in that band.  I believe Mick told me that Gram basically stole that name cause he liked it. I don't want to post a bunch of second hand stuff here, so let me talk to him as I said above. We are friends and it won't be a problem, however I have no idea how he'll feel about any of this.  He might well be more encouraged if he knew people were interested. He doesn't talk much of those years and even has said he is amazed when people take an interest. So post if this sounds at all interesting and I'll see if Mick is interested in sharing some interesting history.  I would be totally stoked he would. 

Cool.