Customer Reviews

Farther Along: Best Of The Flying Burrito Brothers

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman were the archeitects of a new style of music. The Flying Burrito Brothers weren't only the first and perhaps best Alternative Country/Country Rock Band, but their first two albums remain the definitive statements of the genre. Which is how you need to hear them. THE GILDED PALACE OF SIN is one of the greatest albums in the history of Rock or Country music. There is no equal to Parsons in terms of songcraft and vision, and THE GILDED PALACE OF SIN is packed with classics including:"Wheels", "Sin City", "Devil In Disguise/Christine's Tune", and many more. BURRITO DELUXE was an inferior follow-up but still much better than the manufactured Nashville product of today. With so many exceptional traits to their sound, how can a compilation of Parsons-era material sound so bad? A&M completely ruins the Burritos experience with this disc. Not only is the sound quality on this disc bad, but the compiling is terrible. Nine tracks (out of eleven) from the GILDED PALACE OF SIN album may sound like an easy and less expensive place to start, wrong. The nine tracks from THE GILDED PALACE OF SIN are the best songs on the CD, but they don't sound half as good on FARTHER ALONG. The nine tracks are "Christine's Tune/Devil In Disguise", "Sin City", "Do Right Woman", "Dark End Of The Street", "Wheels", "Juanita", "Hot Burrito #1", "Hot Burrito #2" and "Do You Know How It Feels" (the version by the Gram Parsons with the International Submarine Band on the SAFE AT HOME CD is better). After the first nine comes an outtake "Break My Mind". The Flying Burrito Brothers' version is on the level of the version Linda Ronstadt recorded for her debut HAND SOWN...HOME GROWN. The four tracks pulled from BURRITO DELUXE are definitely inferior to the first nine songs. The four tracks are "Farther Along", "Cody Cody", "God's Own Singer" and "Wild Horses". The remaining seven tracks are various outtakes, none of which are written by Parsons or Hillman. Only those interested in the historical perspective will find "Dim Lights", "Just Because", "Six Days On The Road", "To Love Somebody", "Close Up Honkeytonks", "Sing Me Back Home", or the fragment of "I Shall Be Released" to be of any interest. Musically, they really aren't, since one of the Burritos' greatest strengths was the superior quality of their original material. Even Chris Hillman said this represented the "Best and the worst of the 'Parsons-era Burritos'". Most listeners will only find the first half of the disc useful. If you want to get into The Flying Burrito Brothers the best way is to order a copy of THE GILDED PALACE OF SIN. It might cost more, but it's worth it. I'm playing my copy of their first release constantly. FARTHER ALONG is no treasure chest and if I had realized then how much better the full original THE GILDED PALACE OF SIN was, I would have purchased that CD initially. I'm giving it three stars because the Parsons material and original Flying Burrito Brothers recordings are extraordinary, but this compilation is very poor.

'Farther Along, The Best of The Flying Burrito Brothers' is a good selection from this group's first two albums. To counter another reviewer's remarks, a 'best of' album is not done to replace earlier classic albums. I agree heartily that the Burrito's first album, 'The Gilded Palace of Sin' is a truly great album, but if you have that on vinyl and you want something for your walkman without buying new copies of all their albums, this issue does the job.

The Flying Burrito Brothers were a spin-off from the Byrds, after they did their classic 'Sweetheart of the Rodeo', after bringing in Gram Parsons to replace the errant David Crosby, who flew off to create 'Crosby, Stills, and Nash'.

The Burritos were primarily Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman, Chris Etheredge, and Sneaky Pete, of whom I never bothered to track down his real name.

The only thing I miss from their original releases is the 'little hippy girl' talker done by Parsons.

Recommended as a sampler or very portable version of a classic 60's group.

As exponents of country-rock, Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman have no match, and why not, considering the genre was their creation. 'Farther Along' starts off being practically the entireity of their best work - Gilded Palace of Sin (9 of the 11 songs are here)and then proceeds to uncover many other gems, including brilliant studio outtakes and snatches of pure magic like Sing Me Back Home and cover versions like Wild Horses, To Love Somebody and I Shall Be Released. Largely ingnored (I'm still trying to figure out why), 'Farther Along' is the best 'Best Of..' album of all time. FBB did not make too many albums, but then with something like 'Farther Along' does it really matter. Its a treasure to be relished forever. You'll never get tired of this one.

If I were limited to one album to listen to for the rest of my life, this would make the short list of contenders. Gram Parsons' vocals simply wrap around your spine and don't let go; I've been listening to these songs for decades now, and "Hot Burrito #1" can still make me tear up. This CD collects some of the best material Gram recorded with the Burritos, plus some of their unreleased stuff. Together with the single-disc compilation of his two solo albums "GP" and "Greivous Angel", this is one of the great musical bargains around. Buy both.

Few can claim to have created a new genre of music, but Parsons, along with the rest of the Burritos, are allowed this right. This is inspiring, timeless music that is still heard in the sounds of such disciples as Wilco, Dwight Yoakam, and Son Volt. "Juanita" tackles the theme of rampant drug use and redemption, while "Sin City" speaks of anarchy in the City of Angels - all done to steel guitars and rhythms that were commonly reserved for Haggard and George Jones. This was revolutionary for it's time, and still is when you listen to country radio today. The way the music surrounds Gram's vocals is nothing short of genius. Unfortunately, the Burrito Bros. disbanded after a short run and Parsons lated died of an overdose at 26, but the influence that this band, and it's leader, left stretches way past their catalog of music. An essential collection of American music that should not be missed.

I don't remember the ,70s; I wasn't even alive then. Gram Parsons was dead before I was born, but, thanks to this recording, I've had the opportunity to listen to the golden voice that is still vibrant with life. This is an outstanding country-rock recording, and it's great to have (it bears repeated listenings very well). I would have never have stumbled on it, but my uncle, knowing my musical tastes (which include Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, and Bob Dylan), guessed that I would like it, and he was right. Now, I'm guessing that if you like great music, you'll love this album too. Buy it today, and help keep the tradition alive!

"Farther Along" may be out of print now, but if you come across it, it's a great single disc collection of these guys. Sure it doesn't have everything, but what's here is all excellent pioneering country-rock. You can't complain too much with 21 tracks of some of their best. Everything here from "Christine's Tune (a.k.a. devil in disguise)", to the partial cover of "I Shall Be Released" is wonderful. If you don't pick this up, check out "Sin City: The Best Of", it's about the same. "Gram Parsons" solo stuff is sweet too.

This is a strong CD full of great music. But I prefer Out of the Blue. With the exception of Dim Lights everything of FA is on OOTB. Costs 3 times as much though.

While many of the tracks on this CD have possibilities, indicating some decent songwriting skills, the arrangements are quite sparse and the vocals are just middling. I was hoping this would sound like an early-Eagles album, but Gram just doesn't have the vocal abilities of Glenn Frey or Don Henley and the arrangements and production seem somewhat primitive. I think Emmylou Harris' and Linda Ronstadt's versions of "Sin City" and "Dark End of the Street", respectively, are clearly superior to the Burritos', for instance. Gram Parsons' main contribution to music must be his songs and his influence on others, rather than his performances.