Gram Parsons's debut studio album GP was released in 1973. After being fired from the Flying Burrito Brothers in 1970, Parsons was mostly inactive in the music scene, spending a lot of his time with The Rolling Stones, whom he had been particularly good friends with since his days with the Byrds. When the Stones were in France to record Exile on Main St. (1971-2), Gram stayed at Keith Richards's house for much of the time period before being kicked out as the Stones became more serious about getting the album done. Although this hurt Parsons, it helped him once again become motivated to record music of his own and he returned to LA in 1972 to record his first solo album. For it, he asked Emmylou Harris, unknown singer at the time, to be on the record. Through her friendship with Gram, she came to love country music, which she is now known for mostly recording. GP was released to critical acclaim but, like every album he released in his lifetime, was a commercial disappointment and failed to reach the Billboard charts.
Like on previous albums, Parsons proves himself to be one of the best interpreters of covers. He embodies all five of cover songs to the point where it's hard not to think of them as his own--"Streets of Baltimore," "She," and "Kiss the Children" are among the album's defining material. Other than two duets with Emmylou Harris and a few harmonies on the choruses, Parsons is mostly alone at the mike and, with many slow numbers, he exhibits his amazing voice like never before. Although Harris only nails one of the duets--she comes on a little hard on "That's All It Took"--and the album could have benefited from one or two more standout tracks, Parsons continues to prove what makes him such a magical force in country rock. Deservedly so, GP still has a sizeable crowd that champions it. B+
