Gram Parsons’ International Submarine Band, Safe At Home

Gram Parsons was a no-hit wonder, a commercial zero in his seven or so years as a professional musician, before his death at 26 years of age in 1973. Yet ever since, generation after generation of artists point to him as a major influence in their own fusions of rock, country and R&B sounds. There's also the romantic, tragic, and near-mythical part of his story, which you can get from books (including mine), at various GP tributes, and, recently, in two films: Grand Theft Parsons (bad) and Fallen Angel (great).

For anyone wondering what all this "father of country-rock" business is all about, Safe At Home is a must. After dabbling, ineffectively, in early '60s folk, Parsons dug back to his Southern roots and came up with what he called "country soul," or "Cosmic American Music." Well, this 1966 recording — Parsons 'debut — is not exactly that. It's a first step. It was done with a patchwork assemblage called the International Submarine Band. At this early stage, Parsons 'high-lonesome voice was sometimes weak, sometimes ragged, and prone to cracking. But, for many, that added to his emotional appeal.

Safe at Home is trad country with strong tunes, spirited performances and soulful edges. Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Elvis are all here, and so is Parsons the fledgling songwriter: "Blue Eyes" is a favorite of mine; "Luxury Liner" is still a staple for Parsons 'later discovery, Emmylou Harris.

The album bombed. Maybe it was because rock fans weren't ready for the country, or because the band broke up before the record even came out, as Parsons got interested in joining the Byrds. But Parsons himself called the album "the best country album I've done." Of course, he'd only done one when he said that. But it's true enough.