Gram Parsons lived fast, died young, and left a beautiful corpse–a corpse his friends stole, took to Joshua Tree National Monument, and set a...
read full description
reviews
Dec 05, 2007
Mike
rated it: 
It took Gram Parsons just over six years to change the face of American music. Parsons brought fresh force to country tradition with the International Submarine Band, remade the Byrds in his own image on the classic Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, founded the Flying Burrito Brothers, and recorded two solo albums of aching beauty, all before his death in 1973.
Along the way, he taught the Rolling Stones about country music, discovered Emmylou Harris singing in a nightclub in Washington D. C. More...
Along the way, he taught the Rolling Stones about country music, discovered Emmylou Harris singing in a nightclub in Washington D. C. More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Oct 28, 2009
In case you're not familiar with Gram's body of work, drop what you're doing RIGHT NOW and listen to "Hickory Wind," maybe the most beautiful song I can think of, or "$1,000 Wedding," which has scintilating, inscrutable lyrics and a great duet part for Emmylou Harris.
Reviewers seem to think this is the best bio of Gram Parsons. He was painfully private and not entirely socially comfortable, so anyone writing a book about the guy really has their work cut out for t More...
Reviewers seem to think this is the best bio of Gram Parsons. He was painfully private and not entirely socially comfortable, so anyone writing a book about the guy really has their work cut out for t More...
Apr 09, 2008
I'll let you know. But, it is the third or fourth Gram Parsons' bio I have read/own. I will never get sick of hearing different people's perspective of him or hearing about the times he spent with people.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 10, 2010
Suzanne
rated it: 
David Meyer writes about Gram Parsons, with an almost poetic cadence to his words. Meyer understands the interplay of types and shadows that helped to form a man who is at once accessible somehow an archetype of something greater. A man with a voice who once heard, suddenly reaches out and touches that lonesome place deep within all of our hearts. A man who was a wanderer--who never truly felt at home in this world. Moving on and leaving others behind was how Gram coped with the vicissitudes of
More...
Dec 13, 2010
Donna
rated it: 
"As a capper, Dylan obsoleted the whole idea of folk authenticity by turning into a rocker..."
Surely a labour of love but more repetitive than a drunk at a shotgun wedding.
Surely a labour of love but more repetitive than a drunk at a shotgun wedding.
2 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 10, 2008
John
rated it: 
Another decade, another Gram book! This one has the benefit of containing what would seem to be the first play-by-play of the night of Gram's death from the two ladies who were there at the time-and the jury is still out for me as to whether or not that's a good thing. Not to mention the fact that it's got the best cover of any of the Parsons bios! Other than that, what you have here is an entertaining, highly readable book that, if you've read any other Parsons book, will tell you very litt
More...
Jul 18, 2008
Gina
rated it:
This book is up around five hundred pages. It took me a long time to read, as it is very dense with facts. Most of the facts are salacious and fun, like details about Keith Richards unmatched drug use, or what band spawned what band because of what bitchy little argument. I found the whole thing fascinating, but I missed Gram in there somehow. I don't blame the author for this. He interviewed everyone who ever knew the guy, and both sides of his family. He is SO thorough. I just get the impressi
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 01, 2008
Leftoverking
rated it:
so far i am learning a great deal about the history of citrus growers in florida, and the passive self destructive life led by country-rock pioneer gram parsons. a kind of sad character. at first i was put off a bit by the amount of detail in this biography, but after giving it a chance, i enjoyed it greatly. some of the descriptions of the music seemed a bit excessive, but i found it very interesting listening to the records being described in great detail. the byrds' sweetheart of th
More...
Aug 03, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
A little too detailed, but a very good read. It made Gram feel like a really like-able guy, which was nice. You might not like the book so much with all the details if you are not familiar with Gram's music or his impact on the music world. I didn't know that much about him until I was reading some other things, which led me to then I become interested enough to buy an actual book about him. "Hickory Wind" was good too, and a little shorter.
Jan 20, 2012
Caitlin
rated it:
I didn't really know anything about gram parsons before I read this, but enjoyed it. The bromance stuff between him and Keith Richards was my favourite. Kind of more about the dark side of the 60s, which gets whitewashed by boomer nostaglia all the time, so kinda liked that about it too.
Jun 23, 2009
Kristen
rated it:
Really really well researched and quite dense with facts, but an awesome introduction to not only Gram but the rock and country music scenes of the late 60s/early 70s - including the Byrds, Dylan, the Stones, and of course, the Flying Burrito Brothers.
Mar 06, 2009
Tonya
rated it:
This was definitely a detailed, well-researched bio about one of my all-time favorite song writers. After finishing, though, I’m left with the feeling that he was sort of a jerk. Why can't any of the songwriters I like be nice people? Ha ha.
Aug 07, 2011
Scott
rated it:
If you don't know who Gram Parsons is, listen to his music. If you do, this book does a good job of breaking down the myths that surround him. Recommendation for the author...more pictures and less use of the word "lugubrious".
Mar 15, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
An enjoyable read, this was a very thoroughly researched and dense biography of an incredibly complex, troubled, creative, insecure, confident, aware, talented and entitled man. The ultimate insider/outsider. While David Meyer gave us what appears to be a very balanced and unbiased view of the various opinions people held of Gram he certainly did not hold back in his own editorializing of other music of the era -- a very scathing passage about the Eagles is a good example. Coming from the perspe
More...
Feb 24, 2009
Jason
rated it:
This was a wonderful, infuriating book. Well researched, well written, but it pissed me off- the idea that he had such talent, and couldn't stay away from the drugs. Recommended highly.
Aug 13, 2009
Lollipopwater
rated it:
This is a book I feel I would like to own, if only for music reference. There is so much history on roots/country/rock n roll music, it was actually a bit overwhelming for me. David Meyer is incredibly thorough and detailed with this biography.
While this bio left me feeling frustrated by Parsons, I also felt appreciative of him; I had never realized the extent that his music reached.
While this bio left me feeling frustrated by Parsons, I also felt appreciative of him; I had never realized the extent that his music reached.
Jun 22, 2011
fascinating story.....he definitely was burning both ends of at least a few bridges....i more fully appreciate that song 'love hurst'
Sep 07, 2009
Ronnie
rated it:
The best biography I have read about Gram Parsons. A must read for Parsons' fans.
Sep 07, 2011
Roman
rated it:
Very well written and enjoyable biography - goes into detail, yet isn't acedmic, dry and boring. You can feel that the author is a fan of Gram, but that doesn't keep him from some serious criticism. Recommended!
Jan 25, 2011
Haylee
rated it:
The first probably 200 pages are less intersting than the rest, but it is for sure the most comprehensive book ever written about GP.
Jan 15, 2008
Marisa
rated it:
Exhaustive history tracing Gram's story back to his ancestry. Inferring that his lineage of alcoholism and depression laid a framework that would ultimately be difficult to break free from, but that his own genius and talents were enough to do it--had he wanted to.
Meyer is awed by Gram's amazing gifts and abilities, but disappointed and subtly disgusted by Gram's choice to throw it all away.
Meyer is awed by Gram's amazing gifts and abilities, but disappointed and subtly disgusted by Gram's choice to throw it all away.
Aug 06, 2010
David
rated it:
This book is written as casually as Gram Parson's approach to his musical career. The style can make for interesting reading and setting a robust mood, but is sometimes distracting and hokey, but overall it is a comprehensive window into Gram Parson's life... its best moments actually occur during the descriptions of Parson's parents, grandparents and his childhood in rural Florida.
Aug 21, 2008
Elizabeth
rated it:
I can't wait to read this. From what I understand it's a completely exhaustive look at GP, his family history, musical influence, just everything. I'm a huge huge fan and look forward to this book.
(also I highly recommend the doc "Fallen Angel")
Read it, loved it, though it is definitely for fans. Gram was a lazy genius who left too soon.
(also I highly recommend the doc "Fallen Angel")
Read it, loved it, though it is definitely for fans. Gram was a lazy genius who left too soon.
Aug 06, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
This was not only the best Biography ever written about Gram, but one of the best Biographies I have ever read in my life. Written so eloquently. He was fair and honest. This book was amazing and full of talks with people who haven't talked about Gram until now. A great read for ANY music fan. Let alone someone who loves Mr. Parsons.
Jan 11, 2008
Interesting book if you want to know EVERY SINGLE PERSON he has ever plucked a guitar with in a bar or on a recording.
I definately had to put it down a couple of times (like now). And I haven't even gotten to when he hooked up with the Byrds yet. But I will finish it because I love his music so much and he died too young.
I definately had to put it down a couple of times (like now). And I haven't even gotten to when he hooked up with the Byrds yet. But I will finish it because I love his music so much and he died too young.
Dec 03, 2011
Dennis
rated it:
Biography. A good overall story of a star's short life. Learned some things I didn't know and was reminded of some incidents I hadn't thought about in a long time, the theft of his coffin in particular.
Sep 19, 2008
Katie
rated it: 
This author has done his homework, on the complete friggin' lineage of Gram Parsons...sheesh...haven't gotten far enough to hear about Gram yet...
Jul 26, 2008
Mary
rated it:
Subject matter alone was worth 5 stars, but the middle seemed to wander off into extraneous info regarding the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers.
May 22, 2010
Eric
rated it:
My roommate wrote this! I read the introduction last night, wherein he describes Parsons as an "unregenerative and unrepentant dick," and I'm hooked.
