Search - Byrds :: Sweetheart of the Rodeo

Timeless country-folk music

Stephen Ebrey | Seattle, WA USA | 01/26/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sweetheart of the Rodeo was unpopular when it came out for it's country sound, which was a big departure from the psychedelic rock of the previous Byrds record. That isn't a very fair criticism though, as psychedelic rock is just as far from the Byrds original folk-rock sound as country is. The truth is, country just wasn't popular with rock fans in the late 60s (and it only barely is now, unfortnately).



Sweetheart is the only Byrds record with singer/songwriter/pianist Gram Parsons, a legendary man with a great voice and an incredible musical vision. Though he only sang 2 songs on the original release (8 on the CD), most of the material is the kind of country Parsons writes and loves. There are also a couple folk songs from Roger McGuinn and bluegrass songs from Chris Hillman, which give the album a rustic, early-20th century feel.



Parsons recorded four masterpieces. Sweetheart sounds the most folky and old-timey, while Gilded Palace of Sin is the most R & B and rock influenced, and his two solo albums are the purest country."

The Byrds "Sweetheart of the Rodeo", featuring the late/grea

Gary Covington | Louisiana | 06/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Byrds, with the late/great Gram Parsons, started the "Cosmic American Music", (also, called Alternative Country & Country Rock) influence of the late 1960's and early 1970', with this album CD. The music in this album went on to influence, many, many other artists and bands, such as Poco, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, EmyLou Harris & even the Eagles. Gram was born in Winterhaven, Florida, and raised in Waycross, Georgia. He was born into a wealthy family. There is a great documentary of the life, and story of Gram Parsons, it's included in my listamania list of dvd documentaries. Also, there are a couple of good books about Gram.



He was a very talented musician. He loved Country Music & Rock. He was a "pioneer", who combined the two genres.



The Byrds were bascially a folk rock band from California, until Gram joined, and with this ablum, they created a whole new sound.



Anyway, this is great American Music!!!!



The songs are listed in the amazon product description, so there is no need to repeat that here. All are good songs, but a real "landmark" song is Gram's "Hickory Wind", where he sings about missing his native South.



The basic band members at the time of the recording of this album CD:

Garm Parsons

Kevin Kelly

Chris Hillman

Roger McGuinn





The line-up on this album CD:



Gram Parsons - Gram Parsons, Guitar

Kevin Kelly - drums

Roger McGuinn - bass guitar, banjo

Chris Hillman - bass guitar, mandolin

Earl Ball - drums

John Hartford - banjo, guitar

Roy M. Huskey - bass

Jaydee Maness - steel guitar

Clarence White - guitar



This is a Historic, Landmark Album, it has even been acknowleged, by the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, as being a historical album that influenced the history of Country Music. It's in their official book of Country Music "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" page 264. Thanks!!!

"

How Can You Follow The Notorious Byrd Brothers ?

J. Thompson | Essex UK | 02/26/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Notorious Byrd Brothers from January 1968 set such high standards that The Byrds may have wondered how to follow it.



Apparently Roger McGuinn wanted to do am album of the history of American music from early folk songs to electronic music.



However when Gram Parsons joined the band he convinced the other members that country rock was the way to go and Roger was out voted.



The result later in 1968 was Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, not just country rock, but recorded in Nashville with the top country session musicans.



There are 2 good Bob Dylan songs here, You Ain't Going Nowhere and Nothing Was Delivered.



Woody Guthrie's Pretty Boy Floyd includes some fine banjo picking and both I Am A Pilgrim and The Christian Life are strong Gospel songs.



Of the bonus tracks Lazy Days is close to rockabilly and both You Got A Reputation and Pretty Polly are good enough to have been included on the original LP.



All in all The Byrds, Bob Dylan and others kickstarted country rock which continued with The Eagles and many more during the 1970s and beyond."