Today is the 56th anniversary of the release of The Byrds' seminal album, "Sweetheart of the Rodeo," judged by most as the first album in the country rock genre, but a radical departure from the music of their previous five albums. That departure was largely engineered by new band hire Gram Parsons (with encouragement from bassist Chris Hillman), who convinced leader Roger McGuinn to reshape their music into a country- oriented style. We're taking a song co- written and sung by Parsons, "Hickory Wind," as an example of the new style, which was a trailblazer for subsequent artists like The Eagles. Parsons left the band weeks before the album's release, and the group reverted back to a less country- flavored style of music.
Also, a group of artists are releasing a tribute and benefit album in September, "Silver Patron Saints," for musician/ songwriter Jesse Malin (D Generation, Heart Attack), who suffered a spinal stroke last year (pre-order here). Among the contributing artists are Billie Joe Armstrong, Ian Hunter, Bleachers, Rancid, Steven Van Zandt, and Elvis Costello and Lucinda Williams. Bruce Springsteen's contribution is Malin's "She Don't Love Me Now," which has a country/ blues feel with which the 1968 Byrds would have felt comfortable. Hope you enjoy.
