Pals seize Parsons' cosmic glow Fri, 23 Jun 2000 08:38:17 EDT from today's Boston Herald, the URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/folk06232000.htm enjoy, Kate >>Pals seize Parsons' cosmic glow by Daniel Gewertz Friday, June 23, 2000 For 20 years, musician John Nuese kept a personal journal belonging to his late friend Gram Parsons locked away in his desk drawer. Among the set lists, grocery lists and doodles were a batch of lyrics. Now, 27 years after country-rock avatar Parsons' death, the words scribbled in that notebook have given birth to six new songs and an inspired Parsons tribute album, ``Gram Parsons Notebook: The Last Whippoorwill'' (Shell Point). The CD will be available on Tuesday on line at www.GrooveTone.com. It will hit stores in late September. Parsons called his combination of country, rock, gospel and soul simply ``cosmic American music.'' Some of his best early recordings were made in Cambridge, when he and Nuese were in the International Submarine Band. Whether in the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers or on his own, Parsons created a seminal style that defined country-rock and, for better and worse, inspired the Eagles and the whole California '70s scene. But his music wasn't just influential, it was gorgeously soulful. And at its best, the ``Notebook'' CD achieves a measure of the cosmic glow Parsons emitted in his brief 26 years. For several years Nuese brought the Parsons lyrics to various Nashville and Los Angeles writers and singers, and eventually came up with suitable collaborators, including Mike Ward and Carl Jackson. The fine singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale supplied the melody for the spare, touching ``Blessing For Being.'' Jackson added music and a few lyrics to the swinging and exultant ``L.A. Customs Blues.'' Eddie Cunningham does a gritty, spiritually persuasive job with ``Jesus Is More Than a Name.'' Famed aces Jerry Douglas, Ricky Skaggs and Marty Stuart were added to the mix, and former Parsons cohorts James Burton, Al Perkins and Barry Tashian also contribute. The new material is bolstered by songs Parsons covered, a couple of tribute numbers and ``Dead Flowers,'' a Rolling Stones song that was heavily influenced by Parsons. The album isn't some creepy, ghostly evocation of Parsons. It's simply a solid country music album that gives the world some new ``cosmic American'' songs. Many of the tracks live up to the spirit of their source. And its fun, too. Another new album, the Brooklyn Cowboys' debut, ``Doin' Time On Planet Earth,'' also has a Parsons connection, though the CD is a lesser effort. The chief virtue is a sensational country-rock band led by pedal steel whiz Buddy Cage, singer-guitarist Walter Egan and drummer Fredro Perry. A revival of '70s styled country-rock rave-ups, this is great driving-down-the-road music, neatly produced by ex-Burrito Brother Al Perkins. There's a catchy Egan/Parsons ditty called ``Carolina Calypso'' unearthed here. But the other songs are largely forgettable, and Egan's vocals just feel smug after a while. Emotionally, his voice is always one step removed. It takes more than energy and chops to make a cosmic music of the heart.<<