The First Burrito Album was a Classic
J. Fuller | Minneapolis | 02/04/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I love the first album, (more than Sweetheart (although McGuinn's version of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" is still my favorite Dylan cover). If you're a Parsons junkie, it compares favorably with Grevious Angel. We all know that the second album barely rates a mention. The fact that they're both included here as a single album is pretty funny. What puzzles me, however, is how Guilded Palace with all its mystical status, has always been considered a Parsons album. Yes, he was definitely a more flamboyant frontman than Chris Hillman, but the songs were collaborations and great ones at that. Hillman was as important to this album as Parsons was. I had the good fortune of seeing the band live soon after they had formed on a good night. The interplay and harmonies between Parsons and Hillman were fabulous. They put the Eagles, Poco, and later day Byrds to shame. I love Gram, don't get me wrong, but I do hope that Hillman finally gets his do. There are some great songs here. They're the ones from the band's beginnings when the Parsons/Hillman pairing clicked."