The Early Years Volume 1 & 2 brings together Gram Parsons’ (International Submarine Band, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers) earliest recordings in one convenient and beautiful document on 180 gram audiophile vinyl. It may be a good bit different than the music that made Parsons a legend, but these rough tapes show the talent was always there and was capable of expressing itself in a variety of ways.

The first ten songs were taken from a demo Parsons recorded in 1965 at a radio station with the Shilos, a Kingston Trio-type folk group he sang with for a few years. Originals like “Big Country” and “Zah’s Blues” show he was already making his mark as a songwriter. Next are eight living-room recordings from late 1965 of Parsons performing solo with his guitar in a friend’s apartment in New York City. The performances are thoughtful and full of soul, and the songs show Parsons was strongly developing his creative talent. The set also includes a pair of tunes Parsons cut with The Like, his short-lived rock band. The vinyl set closes with a few tunes Parsons recorded with Brandon de Wilde. Their recordings of “Do Right Woman” and “Together Again” are the first glimpses of the style that would become Parsons’ quality mark.

A must-have document of Parsons’ first musical efforts!