In the summer of 2004, Gram Parsons’ daughter Polly put together two tribute concerts to her late father in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, California. She was able to call upon an array of well-known fans of Parsons’ work including Keith Richards, Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams, Jay Farrar, Raul Malo, Jim James, Steve Earle, Jon Doe, Kathleen Edwards, Dwight Yoakam and Jim Lauderdale plus many supporting musicians including guitar legend James Burton plus Al Perkins on pedal and lap steel. Reports at the time said Emmylou Harris had prior commitments and was unable to take part.
The concerts were arranged as a benefit for the Musicians Assistance Programme a not-for profit set up to help musicians in trouble. The Los Angeles show at the Universal Music Amphitheatre was recorded and a DVD, “Return To Sin City – A Tribute to Gram Parsons” was released the following year to share the event with the world.
The Classic Clip here is Lucinda Williams’ take on “A Song For You”. Originally released on Parsons’ first solo LP “GP” (1973) a group of songs awash with classics and well represented in the concert. Both Perkins and Burton played on the original album.
In her tribute, Williams ekes the meaning out of every phrase. Her version is more languorous than Parsons’ original and in the video you’d swear you can see her working her mouth around each part of the lyric. Williams, like Parsons, comes from the Southern US and her delivery captures a sense of place and family. Burton plays some glorious guitar parts with his typical combination of simplicity and economy. The harmony vocal is provided by Lauderdale so seamlessly that the listener feels both aware, and not aware, of the part.
Classic act playing a classic song with a classic band at a classic show – what’s not to love?
