Cherry Red [Release date 20.02.26]

There can’t have been a music fan who lived through the sixties or the seventies who were unaware of The Byrds and/ or The Flying Burrito Brothers.
And if they knew them, they would know Gene Parsons and his late friend and colleague, Clarence White.

Thanks to these bands, Country Rock had, ahem … taken wing.

Gene, not to be confused with Gram, was best known as the drummer with the Byrds during its groundbreaking country-rock period (1968-72). He was also an accomplished guitarist and songwriter.

CD1 : Kindling (1972) and Melodies (1978)
CD2 : Solo In Concert : I Hope They Let Us In (2001)
CD3 : Gene Parsons Band Live Recordings 1981-83, Part 1.
CD4 : Gene Parsons Band Live Recordings 1981-83, Part 2.
CD5 : Gene Parsons Band Studio Demos (previously unreleased)

When McGuinn gave him the push in 1972, he took a step back from front page rock, by writing and recording his first solo album, (and eventual cult classic), Kindling.

Bringing together White, Bill (Little Feat) Payne and Ralph (Clinch Mountain Boys) Stanley, he successfully patchworked bluegrass, rock and country into his own unique genre.
The guests helped of course. The cover of LF’s ‘Willin’ is slightly slower than the original. Producer Russ Titelman took note of Lowell George’s complaint.

‘Long Way Back’ and ‘Banjo Dog’ are as exciting as laid back country rock can get. The kind of crossover that makes you wish the blueprint had been shared with more rock bands.

The album never gained any traction. His friend White was killed by a drunk driver shortly after recording was completed, and a devastated Parsons was unable to tour.

He spent the next few years back with the Flying Burrito Brothers, before recording his second solo album, Melodies, an understated journey through the self penned country and bluegrass material at which he excels. And once again, he seems most animated on cover versions – this time the other Parsons’ classic, ‘Hot Burrito No1’.

There’s a quality complement of live songs on CDs 3 and 4 from the Gene Parsons’ band – Peter Oliva, Richie Rosenbaum and of course, Parsons.
Several sets by the trio have been winnowed down to the best 18 tracks, over 2 discs.
‘Why Have You Been Gone So Long (rock’n’roll style) and the same song done “bluegrass style”, later in the set, are – arguably – the standouts from a bunch of standout gigs.
Parsons: – “I think one reason the Gene Parsons Band was so popular around northern California was that the music would just sweep us up to a level much higher than the sum total of three. Like the music was playing US”.

CD5 continues with an overlap of live material, but is mainly populated with demos for a third solo album which never materialised.

Parsons’s career gradually sidetracked into Musical Instrument design. And he has since spent much of this time in his Caspar California machine shop, customizing guitars with his patented – and in much demand – StringBender (a device installed inside a guitar to make it sound like a pedal steel).

You can teach old dogs new tricks after all. Who’d a thought? ***1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

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Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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Upcoming sessions:

March 8
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Power Plays w/c 9 February 2026

EVA UNDER FIRE Murder Scene (Better Noise Music)
ARGOVIA Ebb & Flow (Presagio Records)
TELENOVA In The Name Of Your Love ()
TAILGUNNER War In Heaven (Napalm Records)
FROM ASHES TO NEW Villain (Fiction Records)
WITHIN TEMPTATION & SMASH INTO PIECES Somebody Like You (indie)
XO SOUNDTRACK Talk About Me (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 9 February 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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