Album of the Day

Following a summer tour, Gram Parsons dashed off a couple of new songs (“Return Of The Grievous Angel,” “In My Hour Of Darkness”), dusted off a few old ones (including “Hickory Wind” and “$1000 Wedding” from his days with The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, respectively) and convened his band in the studio to cut his second Reprise album. GRIEVOUS ANGEL was released 45 years ago – four months after Parsons' untimely demise in Joshua Tree, California. The album stands among his best work, with superb playing from the likes of guitarist James Burton, and some beautiful harmonizing from Emmylou Harris (and on the final track, Linda Ronstadt). Gram Parsons called the sound he pioneered “cosmic American music,” and GRIEVOUS ANGEL remains a shining example of the form.