Jimi Hendrix - Clarence White

On this day, the 40th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix' death, the time is right to quote this story told by Gene Parsons :

"One night when we were playing at The Whiskey and we were in the dressing room, this really well dressed black man wearing a feather in his hat walks in and says "Are You Clarence White? And Clarence says "Yeah". The fellow adds: "I've been listening to you for years, and you're one of my favorite players". So Clarence says, "Wow, thanks a lot, and what did you say your name was?" The fellow says, "I'm Jimi Hendrix"

The Desert Rose Band plays the whole "Sweetheart" album in concert!

Something very special happened at a Long Players with Bill Lloyd / Desert Rose Band concert last week.

Here, lifted from the Byrdmaniax Yahoo List, is "Wild" Bill Cody's review of the event.

This would have been every DRB Fans delight! It was an absolutely beautiful day up in the high country of Colorado, except for a little wind. The crowd was suprisingly sparse, maybe 300+ people? The DRB did their soundcheck at approx 10am...and they sounded GREAT! They all looked relaxed and refreshed; I guess that high country Colorado air will do that to you.

Now here's the thing....as most of you know, the first group up "The Long Players with Bill Lloyd" was going to perform the "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" album in its entirety, Chris Hillman was scheduled to perform it with them, since he was one of the original Byrds that put that historic album together. Well, I'm watching the stage and notice that J.D.Maness (who played pedal steel on the original Sweetheart album) was setting up. Then John Jorgeson appears on stage, tuning a number of instruments. Herb Petersen then walks up with a banjo and is testing a mike....WHAT...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Chris Hillman then takes the stage, the lame announcer this day introduces the Long Players and says that Chris, J.D., John and Herb would be joining in....GET OUTTA HERE!!! So they kick it off with "You Ain't Going Nowhere" with the genius of the DRB front and center, the only thing that would have made this better would have been to see Roger McGuinn walk out onstage with his signature Rickenbacker 12 string; unfortunately Roger wasn't there. The DRB then performed the entire album, and you could tell they hadn't practiced at all, because after a couple of verses on nearly every song Chris would say..."who wants to do a lead?" John or J.D. or both of them would break into some incredible leads, even Herb would break in with a lead on his banjo or Chris would dive into a searing lead on his mandolin. The harmonies were incredible. Whoever the Long Players were, they pretty much were in the background as the Desert Rose Band performed "Sweetheart of the Rodeo". What a great feeling knowing that they then would be back up on stage a little more than an hour later for the "last" DRB Show EVER!

After a memorable rendition of this incredible historic album (the first Country Rock album ever produced), the guys got off the stage and made way for Radney Foster (who invited Chris up to play on a number of tunes). Then the stage belonged to Richie Furay and his group.....it was indeed a "Good Feelin' To Know" that the DRB would be next.

At approx 4:10pm, the DRB took the stage and didn't disappoint. Even though I had no paper and pen to write down each and every song, it was an extended playlist that featured every DRB tune imaginable. The harmonies were heavenly as were the instrumentals. I was awestruck, sitting on one of the most beautiful places on God's Great Earth, seeing one of the greatest groups ever. It wasn't until near the end of the show that a sadness grew in my heart, knowing this could very well be the LAST TIME they ever perform together again! When the group hit the first few notes of "The Price I Pay" I knew this was it. John put together one of the most memorable leads I have ever witnessed on this tune!

After the show, everyone was accessable behind the stage, I asked John about all the guitars he lost in the Nashville flood and it nearly brought a tear to his eye, as he reinterated the devastation. I then asked him point blank...."Is this it for DRB"? He said with a wink and a smile...."You never know" as he was whisked away in a golf cart.

All in all a most memorable experience, those that were there were treated to an incredible and most memorable show ever AND to top it off....it was FREE!!!

"Wild" Bill Cody

Clarence White (& Byrds) related blog

We don't usually advertise blogs, but Clarence White (and Byrds) fans should check The Adios Lounge at http://theadioslounge.blogspot.com for a series of 10 incredibly interesting posts about Clarence White.

New GRAM PARSONS 4 Disc Box Set to be released by Sierra Records

New Gram Parsons 4 Disc Box Set to be released by Sierra Records - "The Early Years"

Disc One is the now classic and ground breaking, "Gram Parsons - The Early Years Volume 1", 1963-1965 folk recordings of Gram Parsons and the Shilos, originally released in 1979 on Sierra / Briar Records. Available for the first time on compact disc, it includes all original tracks including a new version of Gram's "Zah's Blues" accompanied by a jazz combo! Added to these recordings is the never before released in any format "Volume Two" of more early performances, focusing on Gram Parsons' solo efforts recorded by Dick Weissman (of the fame folk group The Journeymen, along with John Phillips and Scott McKenzie), including several never before heard Gram Parsons' compositions. Closing out this expanded disc will be recordings by "Gram Parsons & The Like", his experimental band from his few months in late 1965 at Harvard University, including a rare performance with the legendary actor and Gram Parsons best friend, Brandon deWilde.

Disc Two is SIERRA RECORDS' 2003 release "Big Mouth Blues: A Conversation with Gram Parsons". This full color digipak packaged release was missed by many Gram fans and now included in this Box Set.

Disc Three is the first official DVD release from the original video tape of the rare and only performance of "Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels", previously released on a 1999 limited edition Sierra VHS tape, "Together Again For The Last Time".

Disc Four is the long lost, recently discovered Vinyl LP "PICTURE DISC" of "Gram Parsons - The Early Years" - color picture of Gram on Side 1, the original full color "Sierra-Briar Records" logo on Side 2. Originally produced in April 1979, only the test disc existed until now! The disc is playable on any phonograph turntable (pressed on clear, audiophile virgin vinyl), packaged in itself own clear plastic sleeve.

Plus: Three folded posters, the original 1979 "Early Years" color booklet, a NEW 24 page booklet / pictorial with additional accompanying notes to the box set, a full color T-shirt etc ....

Pre-orders here: Order box set only from SIERRA RECORDS

New Chris Hillman CD to be released in September

Rounder Records announce that the new Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen "Live at Edwards Barn" CD (15 tracks) will be issued on September 21, 2010.

Track Listing:

Going Up Home

Love Reunited

Turn, Turn, Turn (To Everything There Is A Season)

If I Could Only Win Your Love

Tu Cancion

Our Savior's Hands

Wheels

Have You Seen Her Face

Eight Miles High

Together Again

Desert Rose

Sin City

The Cowboy Way

Wait a Minute

Heaven's Lullaby

Byrds T-Shirts

You can get Byrds and Byrds-related professionally made tee-shirts from Peggy's website at http://www.cypresscowboy.com

Silver Meteor Album released on CD for the first time (with Clarence White and Gene parsons)

"SILVER METEOR - A PROGRESSIVE COUNTRY ANTHOLOGY" was originally released on Sierra LP in 1980 to rave reviews.

The 12 classic selections were highlighted by Clarence White's four recordings for his planned 1973 solo album, an album he never completed.

Hear all those original 12 tracks on this compact disc plus an additional 14 bonus tracks that were planned for a Volume Two back in early 80s but never released, including rare, sometimes unreleased recordings by the Country Gazette, Paul Siebel, Michael Dinner, Rick Cunha, Ian Matthews, Red Rhodes, etc...

These bonus tracks include backup performances by Clarence White, Linda Ronstadt, Herb Pedersen, Sneaky Pete and many artists from those early "country-rock" days in L.A.

Even Gram Parsons is saluted with two of his songs performed by the Country Gazette and with the closing song by "The Mystery Band" on a terrific performance of Gram's "One Hundred Years From Now".

Truly, the artists and songs speak for themselves!

Voted by the UK magazine "UNCUT" as the 11th "Greatest Lost Album" of all time, it is no longer lost but still GREAT!

Original Tracks:

Clarence White - NEVER ENDING LOVE / LAST THING ON MY MIND / ALABAMA JUBILEE / WHY HAVE YOU BEEN GONE SO LONG

Casey Kelly - SILVER METEOR / A GOOD LOVE IS LIKE A GOOD SONG

The Everly Brothers with Clarence White and Gene Parsons - I'M ON MY WAY HOME AGAIN / CUCKOO BIRD

Barbara Keith - THE BRAMBLE & THE ROSE

Levitt & McClure - LIVING IN THE COUNTRY

Blue Velvet Band - THE KNIGHT UPON THE ROAD / HITCH HIKER

Bonus Tracks:

Michael Dinner - THE GREAT PRETENDER

Paul Siebel with Clarence White - PINTO PONY

Rusty Young & Clarence White - EVERYBODY'S TALKIN'

Larry Murray - BUGLER

Rick Cunha - YO YO MAN

Red Rhodes - GREAT AMERICAN THUNDER TURKEY

Ian Matthews - SHADY LIES

Shiloh - SAME OLD STORY

Cold Steel - MISSISSIPPI MEMORY

Country Gazette - ALL HIS CHILDREN / THE GREAT FILLING STATION HOLD UP

Sari Schuwer & The Country Gazette - THE BRAMBLE AND THE ROSE / STILL FELLING BLUE

The Mystery Band - ONE HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW

Available here: http://www.goestores.com/storename/sierrarecordsbookshomevideo/ViewDept-251900.aspx