By the Byrds.
Sweetheart of the Rodeo gets all the well deserved love, but this album, which came out right before, is my favorite. Itâs the bandâs first time embracing country music, but they havenât quite left the psychedelic era; theyâre in a state of transition.Â
The album glides by like a series of daydreamsâ of laid back mornings and acid-eyed evenings, fading romances,  pastoral fantasies and whole lifetimes circling back on themselves.
Beautiful harmonies, unique guitar tones, strings, pedal steel and Moog synth contribute to an atmosphere not found in the work of their contemporaries. It might be one of the last great 60s psych records, but it is also the beginning of soft rock, of dream pop, and alt country.Â
I used to think I hated country music; it was for hicks.Â
Then I discovered Gram and my whole perspective changed.
The Byrdsâ âSweetheart of the Rodeo.â
The Flying Burrito Brothersâ first two albums.
The Stonesâ âWild Horsesâ and âDead Flowersâ were no doubt influenced by Gram hanging around at Nellcote.
And his solo work (especially with Emmylou Harris); âGrievous Angelâ is a masterpiece.
We probably donât have a Nudie Suit cult, âFar Away Eyesâ or alt-country without Gram.
Gone way too soon at the age of 26.Â
Cosmic American Music for the kids.Â
IYDKNYK
One of the more underrated Dylan records from an underrated era from him. Some beautiful songwriting of course, but it's worth the listen mostly for the vibes. There's a southwestern country sound in this that makes me feel like I'm pulling into a desert motel in a beat up pickup during a long roadtrip.
So comfy. Feels like being under a warm blanket and reading a fun book about legends and stories of the old west, heroes and horses. The albums John Wesley Harding through Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid. Favorite songs: The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest, Tonight Iâll Be Staying Here With You, Days of â49, If Not For You (George Harrison also did a great version of this!)
