Gram Parsons

On the 19^th of this month it will be exactly 40 years since the death of Gram Parsons.  I have always loved his double album (Gram Parsons and The Grievous Angel).

He had an intense and special relationship with Emmy Lou Harris – who sang on a lot of his albums with him. 

He was a member of the band The Byrds and also of The Flying Burrito Brothers – what a name!

He died at the outrageously young age of  26.  Gone much too soon.

He was one of the early cross over type artists between country and rock.  If you get a chance do listen to some of his stuff – even if you are not normally a country fan!

My top 25 (actually 43) favourite tracks of all time in alpha order

No doubt this list of favourite tracks says a lot about me inadvertently!  I started out thinking I would only list 25 but that proved much too hard.  The list does demonstrate how you can get stuck in a time warp with music.  I wish there was an easy way to find great new music – it must be out there surely?

(Everything I do) I do it for you – Bryan Adams

1972 – Josh Rouse

5.01am – Roger Waters

Ain’t No Cure for Love – Leonard Cohen

April Sun in Cuba – Dragon

Big Spender – Peggy Lee

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

Boogie Street – Leonard Cohen

Desperado - the Eagles

Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – The Animals

Forgiveness – Christine McVie

Funeral for a Friend – Elton John

Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac

Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen

Home Again – Carole King

Honky Tonk Women – Rolling Stones

House of the Rising Sun – The Animals

I Got You Babe – Cher

I’ve Never Been to Me – Charlene

It Doesn’t Matter Any More – Buddy Holly

Keep Me In Your Heart – Warren Zevon

Lay Down Sally – Eric Clapton

Love Hurts – Gram Parsons w Emmy Lou Harris

Mustang Sally – The Commitments

Night and Day – Ella Fitzgerald

Nine Million Bicycles – Katie Melua

Northern Lights – Goldenhorse

Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps – Doris Day

Postcards from Paraguay – Mark Knopfler

That Don’t Impress Me Much – Shania Twain

The End of the Innocence – Don Henley

The Gnu Song – Flanders & Swan

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – Gene Pitney

Those Three Days – Lucinda Williams

Trav’lin Light – Billie Holliday

Under the Boardwalk – the Drifters

Volare – Dean Martin

We Don’t Need Another Hero – Tina Turner

Why Worry – Dire Straits

Willie and Laura Mae Jones – Dusty Springfield

Words – The Bee Gees

Yesterday – The Beatles

You Can Leave Your Hat On – Joe Cocker

It would be great to get suggestions about what other tracks I should consider adding to this list.