Living Music

Written by Julian Morrell

Country Rock is the fusion of country music style elements into rock music. Rock musicians added vocal stylings, song subjects and instrumentation (notably pedal steel guitar) from the country music genre. Country Rock began in the late 60’s and early 70’s in the U.S. Gram Parsons was a pioneer in this field. He recorded “Safe At Home” with the International Submarine Band in 1967 and it was released in 1968.

Bob Dylan released “John Wesley Harding” in 1967 which still showed a strong folk influence and in 1969 released “Nashville Skyline”, adopting country music traits such as simple song structures, instrumentation (guitars, dobro, pedal steel) and a country music singing style.

Parsons had joined The Byrds and his influence is seen on “Sweetheart Of The Rodeo” (1968) still one of the best Country Rock albums of all time.

The Byrds had been a folk-psychedelic rock band since 1964 with members Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Chris Hillman and others, but “Sweetheart” put them squarely in the Country Rock field. Musical differences led to Parsons and Hillman leaving to form The Flying Burrito Brothers which included Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Chris Ethridge, Eddie Hoh, Michael Clarke and Bernie Leadon. This was seminal Country Rock that influenced contemporaries and left a lasting legacy. 1969 saw “The Gilded Palace Of Sin” and although it was not a commercial success it continues to influence rock and country musicians to the present day. It is an essential Country Rock album.

Next was “Burrito Deluxe”. Parsons himself was not happy with the musical result and soon was “dismissed” from the band. The “Burritos” went through many personnel changes but continue today as the Burrito Brothers.

Gram Parsons released two solo albums released in 1973. “GP” and “Grievous Angel” both were lauded by critics but failed commercially. Emmylou Harris sings on those records and was associated with Parsons until his death from years of drug abuse in 1973 at age 26.

Emmylou Harris released her debut album “Pieces Of The Sky” in 1975 and her second album “Elite Hotel” reached #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums. She has been called The Queen of Country Rock and still performs today.

After the break-up of Buffalo Springfield, a band that had country music influences and the members Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Jim Messina and Richie Furay, Poco was formed. Furay, Messina and Rusty Young (pedal steel artist) released their first album”Pickin’ Up The Pieces” in 1969, an early Country Rock masterpiece.

On their second album (Poco, 1970) Timothy B. Schmit (later of Eagles fame) was the new bassist and their sound expanded.

In the Bay Area of California John Dawson had been writing country fusion songs and his band began touring as an opening act for the Grateful Dead. The New Riders Of The Purple Sage released their eponymous first album in 1970 with Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart (drums), Phil Lesh (bass) and Jerry Garcia on pedal steel. Spencer Dryden from Jefferson Airplane replaced Hart during recording.

In 1971 Garcia was a guest performer (along with Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann) and Buddy Cage came on board to play pedal steel for “Powerglide”, the group’s most successful album.

1972 brought the first and second albums of Pure Prairie League, a country rock band from Ohio. Mostly country and a little rock.

From “Pure Prairie League”:

From “Bustin’ Out”:

Now was the Golden Age of Country Rock.