The 500 - #192 - The Gilded Palace of Sin - The Flying Burrito Brothers

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: #192
Album Title: The Gilded Palace Of Sin
Artist: The Flying Burrito Brothers

Genre: Country Rock
Recorded: A&M Studios, Hollywood, California

Released: February, 1969
My age at release: 3
How familiar was I with it before this week: A little

Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, at position #462 - dropping 270 spots
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Hot Burrito #2

Despite being a commercial disappointment, The Gilded Palace Of Sin has been applauded by critics, citing it as a seminal influence on multiple artists, many on The 500 list, including Eagles, Lucinda Williams, Wilco and Steve Earle. Elvis Costello, with four records on The 500, considers it among his favourite albums of all time, having performed several of the group's songs while touring. He even recorded Hot Burrito #1 (renamed I'm Your Toy) on his 1981 record, Almost Blue.

Album cover for Elvis Costello's Almost Blue.

The Flying Burrito Brothers comprised Gram Parsons (guitar, piano, organ, vocals), Chris Hillman (guitar, mandolin), "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow (pedal steel guitar) and Chris Ethridge (bass guitar, piano).  Eddie Hoh is credited as the drummer on the songs, but he was a session player and not a member of the group. The quartet formed in Los Angeles in 1968 shortly after Parsons and Hillman left The Byrds. Coincidently, this was after the recording of The Byrds’ sixth record, Sweethearts Of The Rodeo (#120 on The 500), which also had limited commercial success. Like The Gilded Palace Of Sin,  it, too, is considered massively influential in the country rock genre.

Album cover for Sweethearts Of The Rodeo from The Byrds.

I wasn't familiar with Gilded Palace until I came across it while researching my May, 2020, post about Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons (#425 on The 500 list). As a result, Parsons finds himself on three records on The 500, appearing with two  groups – The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Byrds, and as a solo artist. The solo effort joined the other two in being a commercial disappointment that was later accorded tremendous critical acclaim and powerful influence. It was a remarkable legacy for Parsons who died at the age of 26.

Album cover for Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons.

Much like painter Vincent Van Gogh and poet William Blake, Parsons did not live long enough to witness the impact his art would have on the world. He would have turned 78 this year, and I imagine he would be delighted to know that his fusion of country, R&B, soul, funk, psychedelia and rock into a genre he called "Cosmic American Music" had made a powerful impact on the music industry. Among his beneficiaries were many successful musicians and songwriters.

Parsons in his Nudie Cohn designed "Nudie Suit" from the
album jacket to "The Gilded Palace Of Sin".

That said, there is a mystic aura attached to those who leave this world while young. In Greek mythology, it was believed that those favoured by the gods were taken at an early age -- hence the expression, "Only the good die young." The Bible, in Isiah 57:1, suggests that "the righteous perish... before their time...to be spared the evil of the world".

It is the reason that James Dean and Marilyn Monroe remain an enduring symbol of youthful beauty and why musicians such as  Kurt Cobain maintain legendary status. Dean and Monroe never faced the challenges of aging in the public eye, and Cobain left the earth after recording three groundbreaking records, including Nevermind (#17 on The 500). Cobain didn't live long enough to record a bad record or become embroiled in a negative controversy.

Marilyn Monroe remains a symbol of beauty and youth, in part
because of her untimely demise at 36.

Actor John Cazale only appeared in five films during his seven-year career –  The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather II, Dog Day Afternoon and The Deer Hunter, each of which was nominated for, or won, Academy Awards for Best Picture. It's a heck of a resume and his death in 1978 made him one of the few actors about whom it can be said only made award-winning films.

When all is said and done,  I am delighted to be on this side of the grass -- showing the impact of aging.  I won't be a groundbreaking musician who revolutionized an art form or an Oscar-winning actor. However, I am working with Teacher Candidates who are 35 years my junior and I'm sure some of the lessons, strategies and activities I share with them will live beyond me. Additionally, there are the 1000 students who have been in my classes.

I also have this blogging project which will rattle around the internet in perpetuity. It's no Nevermind, no Dog Day Afternoon or Gilded Palace Of Sin, but I'm proud of it and I get to keep adding to it in my late-fifties. Perhaps dying successful and young isn’t so great after all – but more about doing your best and contributing your talents, no matter how small, throughout one’s days.

The 500 - #305 - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road - Lucinda Williams

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: # 305

Album Title: Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

Artist: Lucinda Williams

Genre: Alternative Country, Americana

Recorded: Two studios - Nashville and Los Angeles

Released: June, 1998

My age at release: 32

How familiar was I with it before this week: Quite

Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, 98 (Up 207 spots)

Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Drunken Angel

I suspect most cities have a dive joint -- that small, unglamorous bar with dim lighting, dated decor and cheap drinks. It is typically frequented by an eclectic group of regulars who come from all walks of life and, if they are lucky, it features live music seven nights a week.

In London, Ontario, for over 150 years, that bar was The Brunswick Hotel, affectionately called "The Wick". Built in 1855, it sat on a downtown corner until it was, under dubious circumstances, demolished in 2008 -- just as efforts to make it a protected heritage building were underway.

Crystal Lake Ice Truck outside The Brunswick Hotel (1912)

One Sunday night in 1998, after a lucrative serving shift at nearby Garlic's Restaurant, my coworker and now dear friend, Rob Nicholson, turned to me and said; "We should go to The Wick, have a beer and catch The Garrett".

"The Garrett" referred to the Sunday night house band, Sweet Leaf Garrett -- a clever name that referenced both a Black Sabbath song about marijuana, Sweet Leaf, and a 70s pop-star, and teen idol, Leif Garrett.

Leif Garrett on the cover of a 70s teeny-bopper magazine

Sweet Leaf Garrett were not just cleverly named, they were also incredibly talented and Rob and I stayed until last call, and a Sunday night tradition began. SLG played an entertaining mix of familiar songs from multiple genres -- rock, heavy metal, punk, blues and country. The members are, Jeff Bialkowski (guitar & vocals). Steve Crew (drums). Shaun Sanders (guitar & vocals) and Jeff "Stan" Fountain (bass)

Sweet Leaf Garrett at The Brunswick Hotel (2003)

The setlist varied from week-to-week, but there were some standards that they played consistently. Among them was a handful of songs by Lucinda Williams. In fact, it was lead singer Sanders' rendition of Drunken Angel that led me to ask him who wrote the original. A few days later I owned Car Wheels On A Gravel Road. Thanks, Shaun!

Lucinda Williams

Singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Lucinda Gayle Williams was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1953. She achieved critical acclaim in 1988 when she released her self-titled, third record. However, it was Gravel Road that gave her mainstream commercial success. It won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album and was her first record to be certified gold.

Williams accepting her Grammy in 1999

I was thrilled to discover that a Deluxe Version was released in 2006. It includes 13 live tracks from a show Williams performed at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia on July 11, 1998 -- which was also my 33rd birthday.

Williams performing at Penn's Landing (1998)

Sweet Leaf Garrett continued to perform at other local watering holes after a wrecking ball turned The Wick into a parking lot. However, the magic of those Sunday night performances in the early 2000s were never re-captured for me and for many of my friends.

Check out Shaun Sanders' solo, acoustic version of William's Drunken Angel here, from his Instagram page. He is still performing live music as the front-man with the Led Zeppelin tribute band, Zed, around Ontario and beyond.