I can’t quite shake this listening since my recent re-delving into the Stones, especially their Gram Parsons’-influenced era. I can’t find my CD of Exile on Main Street either, though Hubby swears we own it. I am pre-iPod, it’s true, but I am not ashamed, more living in a state of bewilderment. I’m a dinosaur in my own time, a perpetual “woman of the last century.”
Though it may be sacrilege, I tend to like other people’s versions of GP’s work more than his own.
Here’s one. It’s on the slow side, but damn worth the wait. Gillian Welch melts me like butter hitting a hot cast iron pan (okay, that was really bad, but I couldn’t resist).
There’s no video, just the song.
In South Carolina there are many tall pines
I remember the oak tree that we used to climb
But now when I’m lonesome, I always pretend
That I’m getting the feel of hickory wind
I started out younger at most everything
All the riches and pleasures, what else could life bring?
But it makes me feel better each time it begins
Callin’ me home, hickory wind
It’s hard to find out that trouble is real
In a far away city, with a far away feel
But it makes me feel better each time it begins
Callin’ me home, hickory wind
Keeps callin’ me home, hickory wind
twinklysparkles 
Gram Parsons, along with Townes VanZandt and Lowell George, are three of the most under appreciated influences in country music. All great talents, all self destructive, all died an early death. Thanks Emmy Lou for doing your part for these guys.
I’ll have to further familiarize myself with VanZandt and I’d never heard of Lowell George. With youtube and the internet, everything is at our fingertips. Isn’t it grand?
“With youtube and the internet, everything is at our fingertips. Isn’t it grand?”
Well, yes and no. Information yes. Experience, vicariously through the internet, no.
Anyway.
On youtube, or preferably live, check out Emmy Lou’s staple, ‘Pancho and Lefty’ (TVZ). After she put the tracks down to this, I don’t know why anyone else would even bother.
TVZ’s song ‘Buckskin Stallion Blues’ is one of the most beautifully melancholy love songs I know.
Lowell George, founding member of the band Little Feat. Nothing more to be said
Yes, I find myself thinking that “wiki” is all I need when I have a question about anything or anyone. I have forgotten a little bit how to look up something in a book. What should I do with my mother’s Encyclopedia Brittanica @1975?
I haven’t known anything about Little Feat. You’ve got me looking up more stuff on youtube! I’m not sure it counts as experience, but it’s handy.
i tried to post earlier but i think it was rejected. it was something about gillian w. and how slow she can sing, which is pretty damn slow. and some other stuff but i forget now….
ptd
I would not reject you for sure, pt. I am so new to this that I can’t even venture a guess as to why this would happen.
it was my bad, i didn’t type in my email or something. but good to know you wouldn’t give my comment the smackdown, twinkly, thanks.
ptd