Tell 'em, Gram.

A few years back, my dad suggested that we add a little country to our repertoire and work on a song by The Flying Burrito Brothers. Outside, I was nodding and saying that I'd look it up, but inside, all I could think was "terrible band name." As Spinecrackers, we're well-versed in the adage "Don't judge a book by it's cover." But this was a pre-Spinecracker-era for yours truly, so all bets were off.

For weeks, my dad would ask "You listen to that song yet?" and there were only so many times that I could change the subject or pretend I was losing my hearing before it became Crystal Pepsi clear that I was just being a lamewad. So finally, I listened. And I listened. And I listened...

I couldn't get the albums my usual way (downloading from the seemingly all-you-can-eat music buffet that is the internet), so I actually purchased the two Flying Burrito Brothers albums and proceeded to listen to them non-stop. One of those Burrito Brothers was Gram Parsons.

Naked ladies on the lapel, weed leaves on the breast - ZZ Top was right about a sharp-dressed man

As it turns out, he had a memorable life and (in some circles) an even more memorable death. In addition to the Burrito Brothers, Gram worked on an exceptional Byrds album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo...

He also had a some stellar solo albums and a pre-Burrito project with an equally terrible name, The International Submarine Band.

Jog a few paragraphs back and you'll see I'm talking about years ago here, ladies. That's how much I love this man...

"Luxury Liner" - The International Submarine Band

"Christine's Tune" - The Flying Burrito Brothers

"A Song for You" - Gram Parsons