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Released May 01, 2001

Gram Parsons' legend is so great that it's easy for the neophyte to be skeptical about his music, wondering if it really is deserving of such effusive praise. Simply put, it is, and if you question the veracity of that statement, turn to Rhino's peerless double-disc set, Sacred Hearts and Fallen Angels: The Gram Parsons Anthology. This is the first truly comprehensive overview of Parsons' work, running from the International Submarine Band, through the Byrds, to the Flying Burrito Brothers and his two solo albums, scattering appropriate rarities or non-LP tracks along the way. This is no small feat, since it depends on extensive cross-licensing between record labels, plus concentration from the compilers, who won't allow personal biases to get in the way of telling the story. Miraculously, this happens, and the result is a lean, yet thorough, utterly addictive set that summarizes the brilliance of Gram Parsons, capturing his magnificent songwriting abilities and how he made country sound like rock & roll, while giving rock a sense of country's history. It's possible to complain about the handful of omissions -- "Break My Mind" is one of the greatest recordings he did with the Byrds, the version of "Do You Know How It Feels" is better with the Burritos, the barroom anthems of his solo records ("Cry One More Time," "Big Mouth Blues," "I Can't Dance," "Cash on the Barrellhead") gave the weepers context -- but this still hits every major point. After all, counting the early version of "Do You Know," only two songs are missing from The Gilded Palace of Sin and only four songs are missing from the two-fer of GP/Grievous Angel, plus this has the best of the ISB, Byrds, and songs that didn't make the solo album. So, even if there may be a personal favorite or two missing, nothing major is missing, which means this is a perfect, irresistible summation of Parsons' career, containing every great moment from all of his bands. His genius has never seemed purer than it does here, since it conveys the true scope of his talents and his career. If you are a fan of Parsons, this isn't necessary, even if it is an excellent listen (there's only one unreleased track, the ISB's "Knee Deep in the Blues"). If you haven't fallen in love with him, skip every other disc -- this is what you need. Once you hear it, there's no way that you won't become a life-long fan. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

TRACKS

1. Blue Eyes
2. Luxury Liner
3. Do You Know How It Feels (To Be Lonesome)
4. I Must Be Somebody Else You've Known
5. Miller's Cave
6. Knee Deep in the Blues [#]
7. Hickory Wind
8. You're Still on My Mind
9. The Christian Life
10. You Don't Miss Your Water
11. One Hundred Years from Now
12. Christine's Tune (A.K.A. Devil in Disguise)
13. Sin City
14. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
15. The Dark End of the Street
16. Wheels
17. Juanita
18. Hot Burrito #1
19. Hot Burrito #2
20. High Fashion Queen
21. Older Guys
22. Cody, Cody
23. Wild Horses
24. Sing Me Back Home

DISC 2

25. To Love Somebody
26. Still Feeling Blue
27. We'll Sweep out the Ashes in the Morning
28. A Song for You
29. Streets of Baltimore
30. She
31. The New Soft Shoe
32. Kiss the Children
33. How Much I've Lied
34. Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man [Live]
35. That's All It Took
36. California Cotton Fields
37. Return of the Grievous Angel [Remix]
38. Hearts on Fire
39. Brass Buttons
40. $1000 Wedding
41. Love Hurts
42. Ooh Las Vegas
43. In My Hour of Darkness
44. Brand New Heartache
45. Sleepless Nights
46. The Angels Rejoiced Last Night

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