For a moment it seemed as though Dylan had returned to his folk-acoustic roots, but as it turned out he was only teasing. His first record following his rehab from a motorcycle accident finds him in buried in the Bible and occasionally heading West country-style. At the time a disappointment to his fans, but now a shining light in his catalogue.
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Sweetheart of the Rodeo The Byrds 1968 [Columbia]
The Byrds were down to two members (McGuinn and Hillman) when Gram Parsons joined for this record. With songs by Woody Guthrie and Merle Haggard, as well as a couple of Parsons originals, this was as much a country album as it was rock. The Legacy Edition CD also includes eight extra tracks highlighting Parsons' lead role.
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The Gilded Palace of Sin The Flying Burrito Brothers 1969 [Edsel]
Following their departure from the Byrds, Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman made this fine record that stands as a defining moment in the development of country-rock. The other major contributor is Sneaky Pete Kleinow on fuzzbox steel guitar. Anti-war statement 'My Uncle' and social critique 'Sin City' are standout tracks.
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American Beauty The Grateful Dead 1970 [Warner]
This follow-up to the brilliant Workingman's Dead scored the group a major FM hit in 'Truckin'. Overall there's more of the same country-ish rock, at times slightly off-key, but always somewhat beguiling. Beware of reissues with repetitive 'bonus' tracks. A budget 3CD box set is available that includes both Workingman and a live album.
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Harvest Neil Young 1972 [Reprise]
Harvest remains Neil Young's most popular album and, from a folk perspective, certainly one of his most accessible. Country-rock classics 'Heart of Gold' and 'Old Man' were hits, while the harrowing 'Needle and the Damage Done' still manages to send shivers down the spine. A good place to start with Young, but plenty of others worthwhile too.
Will the Circle Be Unbroken The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 1972 [United Artists]
As unlikely as it sounded at the time, a bunch of hippies got together with country and bluegrass legends Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis and Mother Maybelle Carter and made this. The record could easily be mistaken for a newgrass workout, but this is the real deal… the original and many say still the best. Exhilarating.
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Desperado The Eagles 1973 [Asylum]
Before guitarist Joe Walsh joined the Eagles they were a topnotch country-rock outfit. While the softer numbers ('Tequila Sunrise' and the title track) scored well on the charts, there is also a couple of hard rockers. Glen Frey, Randy Meisner and Don Henley are all household names, but Bernie Leadon's banjo playing is sure to delight folk fans.
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Grievous Angel Gram Parsons 1973 [Reprise]
Parsons is widely regarded as the father of country-rock. His death from a drug overdose in 1973 before this album was released has entrenched his place in rock folklore. The record has been released on a single-CD with his equally superb 1972 effort G.P., a nice fit at a budget price. Not as good as his work with the Byrds, but worthwhile.
