Return to Sin City - A Tribute to Gram Parsons

Starring:John Doe, Steve Earle, Norah Jones, Keith Richards, Dwight Yoakam
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Return to Sin City - A Tribute to Gram Parsons offers clear evidence that Parsons, who died at age 26 and whose output consisted primarily of just five recordings (one with the Byrds, two with the Flying Burrito Brothers, and two solo albums), commands a degree of respect and influence these days that's far greater than the modest success he enjoyed before his death in 1973. Recorded in Los Angeles, this 106-minute, 21-song concert features some big names (Keith Richards, Norah Jones) and slightly lesser lights (Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle, John Doe) performing tunes Parsons wrote and/or recorded before his career was cut short by drug and alcohol problems (executive produced by Parsons' daughter, Polly, the concert and DVD will help raise funds to battle substance abuse). And if the material's country-rock flavor (Parsons disdained that label, preferring to call it "cosmic American music") sounds a bit hackneyed nowadays, well, it's not his fault; after all, Parsons was only around to help invent the genre, not run it into the ground. On this night, it's left to the artists with unique voices and personae to lift the flavor of the proceedings from the merely pleasant to the truly inspiring, and that's precisely what Doe ("Hot Burrito No. 2"), Earle ("Luxury Liner"), Williams (a raw, somewhat ragged, and unabashedly vulnerable "Sleepless Nights"), Yoakam ("Sin City"), and Richards (who croaks his way through "Love Hurts," a duet with Jones, and "Hickory Wind") do. After that string of remarkable performances, closing the show by bringing everyone (including the great guitarist James Burton) onstage for "Wild Horses" and "Ooh Las Vegas" may be a tad anti-climactic, but Return to Sin City is still a fine way to remember a music legend. --Sam Graham
Description
Return to Sin City: A Tribute to Gram Parsons celebrates an artist who made his greater mark in the years following his death and has become a contemporary music icon. The late, great Gram Parsons refused to let anyone call his music "country rock." With the soul of a true cowboy, he just couldn't be fenced in. His vision was much more grandiose than the words "country rock" would allow. The cosmic American music of Gram Parsons celebrated diversity. Sure, the broken hearted sentiment of country music was firmly rooted in his musical upbringing. But so was the burning urgency of soul music's dramatic melodies as well as the sweet, uplifting, revelatory harmonies of gospel choirs and of course the hip shaking, hand clapping strut and boogie of rock and roll music. Thirty years after his untimely death in Joshua Tree, CA., musicians and music lovers still name check Gram Parsons with the utmost awe and respect. He saw beyond labels and boundaries in music and in life. In his time he influenced the music of his prot#g# Emmylou Harris, as well as his friends the Rolling Stones and the Byrds. He was the first longhair country boy-just ask any of the outlaws from Willie Nelson to Kris Kristofferson-someone who could bring country music to the closed minds of those who previously dismissed it as "hillbilly" or "hick" while turning on many a good ol' boy to the sounds of sweet soul music. Staying true to her father's vision of diversity in music, his daughter Polly organized Return to Sin City: A Tribute to Gram Parsons. She recruited both close friends and ardent fans of her father and his music as well as contemporary artists inspired by his work and vision. "He changed the face of country music without anybody ever knowing it. After he died, there was this whole different aspect of country music which pervades to this day." -Keith Richards, According to the Rolling Stones.

Return to Sin City - A Tribute to Gram Parsons
Average customer rating:

Sin City Forever

Keith is GOD!

A great concert

A must for Gram freaks, others may find it jaded. Feb. 18, 2006

Great Despite Omissions

Return to Sin City - A Tribute to Gram Parsons
Starring: John Doe , Steve Earle , Norah Jones , Keith Richards , and Dwight Yoakam
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000777I74
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Amazon.com

Return to Sin City - A Tribute to Gram Parsons offers clear evidence that Parsons, who died at age 26 and whose output consisted primarily of just five recordings (one with the Byrds, two with the Flying Burrito Brothers, and two solo albums), commands a degree of respect and influence these days that's far greater than the modest success he enjoyed before his death in 1973. Recorded in Los Angeles, this 106-minute, 21-song concert features some big names (Keith Richards, Norah Jones) and slightly lesser lights (Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle, John Doe) performing tunes Parsons wrote and/or recorded before his career was cut short by drug and alcohol problems (executive produced by Parsons' daughter, Polly, the concert and DVD will help raise funds to battle substance abuse). And if the material's country-rock flavor (Parsons disdained that label, preferring to call it "cosmic American music") sounds a bit hackneyed nowadays, well, it's not his fault; after all, Parsons was only around to help invent the genre, not run it into the ground. On this night, it's left to the artists with unique voices and personae to lift the flavor of the proceedings from the merely pleasant to the truly inspiring, and that's precisely what Doe ("Hot Burrito No. 2"), Earle ("Luxury Liner"), Williams (a raw, somewhat ragged, and unabashedly vulnerable "Sleepless Nights"), Yoakam ("Sin City"), and Richards (who croaks his way through "Love Hurts," a duet with Jones, and "Hickory Wind") do. After that string of remarkable performances, closing the show by bringing everyone (including the great guitarist James Burton) onstage for "Wild Horses" and "Ooh Las Vegas" may be a tad anti-climactic, but Return to Sin City is still a fine way to remember a music legend. --Sam Graham

Description

Return to Sin City: A Tribute to Gram Parsons celebrates an artist who made his greater mark in the years following his death and has become a contemporary music icon. The late, great Gram Parsons refused to let anyone call his music "country rock." With the soul of a true cowboy, he just couldn't be fenced in. His vision was much more grandiose than the words "country rock" would allow. The cosmic American music of Gram Parsons celebrated diversity. Sure, the broken hearted sentiment of country music was firmly rooted in his musical upbringing. But so was the burning urgency of soul music's dramatic melodies as well as the sweet, uplifting, revelatory harmonies of gospel choirs and of course the hip shaking, hand clapping strut and boogie of rock and roll music. Thirty years after his untimely death in Joshua Tree, CA., musicians and music lovers still name check Gram Parsons with the utmost awe and respect. He saw beyond labels and boundaries in music and in life. In his time he influenced the music of his prot#g# Emmylou Harris, as well as his friends the Rolling Stones and the Byrds. He was the first longhair country boy-just ask any of the outlaws from Willie Nelson to Kris Kristofferson-someone who could bring country music to the closed minds of those who previously dismissed it as "hillbilly" or "hick" while turning on many a good ol' boy to the sounds of sweet soul music. Staying true to her father's vision of diversity in music, his daughter Polly organized Return to Sin City: A Tribute to Gram Parsons. She recruited both close friends and ardent fans of her father and his music as well as contemporary artists inspired by his work and vision. "He changed the face of country music without anybody ever knowing it. After he died, there was this whole different aspect of country music which pervades to this day." -Keith Richards, According to the Rolling Stones.

Customer Reviews:

Sin City Forever.......2007-03-30

Even if you are not a fan of Gram Parsons, have a look and think again. This tribute to Gram & his music is made up of old friends, and young musicians who love music that tells a story and makes you wish you could play a guitar or sing a song, or both. Gram Parsons influenced a whole generation of blues, country & rock stars and is still doing so 30 years after his untimely death. The music is absolutely sensational and the feeling of being at Sin City with all these great players is just wonderful. From his old mate Keith Richards to the very young and sweet Norah Jones, they all sing with their hearts and pay tribute in their own way, with their own styles and voices and it comes together beautifully. A great DVD that you want to play over and over again. I think the man himself would be proud of what he began all those years ago and to see that his influence is still going strong in the world of music today.

Keith is GOD!.......2007-01-11

Lay of Keith Richards. He's absolutely fantastic during this show. Anybody who thinks otherwise needs their head examined!

A great concert.......2006-03-05

The folks who had reservations and/or strong criticisms of this DVD, especially of Susan Marshall's performances, should just defrost their hearts. Everyone involved in the DVD played and sang their hearts out. Some of the performances were extraordinary for sure: Al Perkins' steel on every song, James Burton's Tele playing, Raul Malos' singing and the manic but totally appropriate lead playing of Dwight Yoakam's guitar player to name a few. All the "big stars" rose to the occaision. The concert rocked from the first note to the last. What more do ya want if you love Gram Parsons?

A must for Gram freaks, others may find it jaded. Feb. 18, 2006.......2006-02-19

This DVD has A billing that reads like A whos who of the Alt Country scene.My only disappointment is that neither EmmyLou Harris or Chris Hillman were involved with this project.
Lucinda Williams doing A Song For You is one of those tear your heart out moments.
Dwight Yoakam appearing in A Nudie Suit was A real show stopper. What really was impressive was when Dwight broke A Guitar string while doing A rip it up version of Sin City he had enough stage smarts to do A band introduction while A Roadie brought out A fresh Guitar.
It was very heartening to see young artists like Kathleen Edwards, Jim James & Norah Jones embracing Gram Parsons music.
It was nice to see Keith Richards but lets face the fact that the parade has passed him bye A long time ago.
One of the lowlights was Susan Marshall. She had no business being on that stage.
Overall I found this DVD to be quite good. Remember that this project was set up to assist musicians with major problems. After all Gram Parsons had more talent then sense.
Also on this DVD are steel guitar player Al Perkins and Guitar wizard James Burton. Both of these pickers actually played with Gram.

Great Despite Omissions.......2006-02-12

Yes, I'll echo the disappointment of the perplexing absences of Chris Hillman and even more glaringly, Emmylou. You'd think those would be the first two names on anyone's Gram Parsons tribute list. In fact their absences, especially Harris', are so conspicuous that one is left with a strange sense of incompleteness when its over. No explanation at all.

Notwithstanding that, this is a great DVD. Steve Earle absolutely rips the place up during his two songs, and a great unexpected treat is the John Doe-Kathleen Edwards duet of Sweeping out the Ashes.

And everybody should lighten up about Keith Richards. He did fine on Hickory Wind and the duet with Norah Jones was a lot of fun. She looks kind of afraid at times.. "Oh God he's not gonna touch me is he..." It was hilarious, and the music was not bad at all. And I loved the Wild Horses/Las Vegas finale.

Some complain that the varying stylings here make for an inconsistent show. I disagree. Gram Parsons' disrespect for those phony musical boundaries are what made him great and so memorable and influential all these years later. These performances reflect that nicely.

Chris and Emmylou, you were indeed missed. But I loved it anyway.

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