THE COAL PORTERS
"THE CHRIS HILLMAN TRIBUTE CONCERTS"
JUL 10, 2001
SEP 19, 1998
51:54
1/Introduction/0:20
2/My Uncle
Chris Hillman / Gram Parsons/2:50
3/When the Ship Comes In
Bob Dylan/3:36
4/Summer Wind
Steve Hill / Chris Hillman/2:57
5/Draft Morning
David Crosby / Chris Hillman / Roger McGuinn/3:25
6/Older Guys
Chris Hillman / Bernie Leadon / Gram Parsons/2:20
7/Time Between
Chris Hillman/2:15
8/Wheels
Chris Hillman / Gram Parsons/3:25
9/The Lost Highway
Leon Payne/3:20
10/Sin City
Chris Hillman / Gram Parsons/3:58
11/Cody, Cody
Chris Hillman / Bernie Leadon / Gram Parsons/3:42
12/Brand New Heartache
Boudleaux Bryant / Felice Bryant/3:12
13/The Girl With No Name
Chris Hillman/2:21
14/I Am a Pilgrim
Traditional/2:47
15/The Fallen Eagle
Stephen Stills/2:24
16/So You Want to Be a Rock & Roll Star
Chris Hillman / Roger McGuinn/5:17
17/You Ain't Going Nowhere
Bob Dylan/3:45
Sid Griffin / Mandolin, Vocals, Producer
Chris Hillman / Arranger
Toby Holdsworth / Mandolin
Bob Loveday / Fiddle
Rory McFarlane / Double Bass
Pat McGarvey / Banjo, Vocals
Roger McGuinn / Arranger
Dan Reed / House Sound
Grant Showbiz / House Sound
Dave Woodhead / Penny Whistle
REVIEW
by Mark Deming
Given his enthusiasm for both the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, it's no wonder that author and musician Sid Griffin is a big fan of Chris Hillman, who was a major figure in both groups; Hillman was also the leader of the Desert Rose Band and is a superb bluegrass instrumentalist, not to mention a sideman who's worked with more fine musicians than you can shake a stick at. Given his background, it wouldn't be hard at all to put together an album's worth of great tunes Mr. Hillman has been involved with in some way, and Sid Griffin has capably proved it with this disc, which compiles performances from several Hillman tribute concerts Griffin has staged (he traditionally plays one every year on Hillman's birthday). The Chris Hillman Tribute Concerts features Griffin and the latest lineup of his band the Coal Porters playing in acoustic, bluegrass-influenced style, and given Hillman's sympathies for acoustic music, it makes sense that these songs all work quite well in that format, even the one that was originally written and performed by electric rock bands ("Draft Morning" and "Time Between," both written by Hillman during his tenure in the Byrds, sound especially strong in this context). And if the bluegrass edition of the Coal Porters isn't quite up to the level of, say, the Del McCoury Band, they play with a skill and conviction that outstrips the vast majority of rock bands who've decided to pick up acoustic instruments, and the arrangements at once honor their sources and put a distinctive spin on the Porters' approach. The Chris Hillman Tribute Concerts is a thoroughly enjoyable disc that presents 17 great songs played with heart, soul, and skill; it's a fan's gesture in the best sense of the word.
BIOGRAPHY
by Erik Hage
After the dissolution of the Long Ryders, musician Sid Griffin (who doubles as a music journalist, having penned Gram Parsons: A Music Biography in 1985) formed the Coal Porters in Los Angeles alongside Long Ryders drummer Greg Sowders and English bassist Ian Thomson. The group, which quickly relocated to England, debuted with Rebels Without Applause (originally an Australian 12" EP), followed in 1994 by the full-length effort Land of Hope and Crosby. The album featured such guests as ex-Green on Red organist Chris Cacavas and ex-Rockpile member Billy Bremner. Griffin continued to use a revolving cast of musicians on the band's follow-up, Los London.
The Gram Parsons Tribute Concert, a live recording taken from a London gig at the Garage in September 1998, would prove to be the Coal Porters' last electric effort before Griffin took the group in an acoustic direction. (Griffin was producing Here Comes the Neighbourhood by Lindisfarne when he found himself inspired by that group's acoustic sound.) Subsequently, the Coal Porters re-emerged as an acoustic bluegrass project, with Griffin on mandolin, Pat McGarvey on banjo, Neil Robert Herd on guitar, Alan Bisset on bass, and Ivor Ottley on fiddle. In 2001, that version of the Coal Porters released the all-acoustic bluegrass album The Chris Hillman Tribute Concerts, which explored the career of the ex-Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers member. This acoustic incarnation of Coal Porters made its studio debut in 2004 with How Dark This Earth Will Shine, followed in 2008 by Turn the Water On, Boy!, the latter of which continued Griffin's exploration of his own bluegrass roots.
"THE CHRIS HILLMAN TRIBUTE CONCERTS"
JUL 10, 2001
SEP 19, 1998
51:54
1/Introduction/0:20
2/My Uncle
Chris Hillman / Gram Parsons/2:50
3/When the Ship Comes In
Bob Dylan/3:36
4/Summer Wind
Steve Hill / Chris Hillman/2:57
5/Draft Morning
David Crosby / Chris Hillman / Roger McGuinn/3:25
6/Older Guys
Chris Hillman / Bernie Leadon / Gram Parsons/2:20
7/Time Between
Chris Hillman/2:15
8/Wheels
Chris Hillman / Gram Parsons/3:25
9/The Lost Highway
Leon Payne/3:20
10/Sin City
Chris Hillman / Gram Parsons/3:58
11/Cody, Cody
Chris Hillman / Bernie Leadon / Gram Parsons/3:42
12/Brand New Heartache
Boudleaux Bryant / Felice Bryant/3:12
13/The Girl With No Name
Chris Hillman/2:21
14/I Am a Pilgrim
Traditional/2:47
15/The Fallen Eagle
Stephen Stills/2:24
16/So You Want to Be a Rock & Roll Star
Chris Hillman / Roger McGuinn/5:17
17/You Ain't Going Nowhere
Bob Dylan/3:45
Sid Griffin / Mandolin, Vocals, Producer
Chris Hillman / Arranger
Toby Holdsworth / Mandolin
Bob Loveday / Fiddle
Rory McFarlane / Double Bass
Pat McGarvey / Banjo, Vocals
Roger McGuinn / Arranger
Dan Reed / House Sound
Grant Showbiz / House Sound
Dave Woodhead / Penny Whistle
REVIEW
by Mark Deming
Given his enthusiasm for both the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, it's no wonder that author and musician Sid Griffin is a big fan of Chris Hillman, who was a major figure in both groups; Hillman was also the leader of the Desert Rose Band and is a superb bluegrass instrumentalist, not to mention a sideman who's worked with more fine musicians than you can shake a stick at. Given his background, it wouldn't be hard at all to put together an album's worth of great tunes Mr. Hillman has been involved with in some way, and Sid Griffin has capably proved it with this disc, which compiles performances from several Hillman tribute concerts Griffin has staged (he traditionally plays one every year on Hillman's birthday). The Chris Hillman Tribute Concerts features Griffin and the latest lineup of his band the Coal Porters playing in acoustic, bluegrass-influenced style, and given Hillman's sympathies for acoustic music, it makes sense that these songs all work quite well in that format, even the one that was originally written and performed by electric rock bands ("Draft Morning" and "Time Between," both written by Hillman during his tenure in the Byrds, sound especially strong in this context). And if the bluegrass edition of the Coal Porters isn't quite up to the level of, say, the Del McCoury Band, they play with a skill and conviction that outstrips the vast majority of rock bands who've decided to pick up acoustic instruments, and the arrangements at once honor their sources and put a distinctive spin on the Porters' approach. The Chris Hillman Tribute Concerts is a thoroughly enjoyable disc that presents 17 great songs played with heart, soul, and skill; it's a fan's gesture in the best sense of the word.
BIOGRAPHY
by Erik Hage
After the dissolution of the Long Ryders, musician Sid Griffin (who doubles as a music journalist, having penned Gram Parsons: A Music Biography in 1985) formed the Coal Porters in Los Angeles alongside Long Ryders drummer Greg Sowders and English bassist Ian Thomson. The group, which quickly relocated to England, debuted with Rebels Without Applause (originally an Australian 12" EP), followed in 1994 by the full-length effort Land of Hope and Crosby. The album featured such guests as ex-Green on Red organist Chris Cacavas and ex-Rockpile member Billy Bremner. Griffin continued to use a revolving cast of musicians on the band's follow-up, Los London.
The Gram Parsons Tribute Concert, a live recording taken from a London gig at the Garage in September 1998, would prove to be the Coal Porters' last electric effort before Griffin took the group in an acoustic direction. (Griffin was producing Here Comes the Neighbourhood by Lindisfarne when he found himself inspired by that group's acoustic sound.) Subsequently, the Coal Porters re-emerged as an acoustic bluegrass project, with Griffin on mandolin, Pat McGarvey on banjo, Neil Robert Herd on guitar, Alan Bisset on bass, and Ivor Ottley on fiddle. In 2001, that version of the Coal Porters released the all-acoustic bluegrass album The Chris Hillman Tribute Concerts, which explored the career of the ex-Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers member. This acoustic incarnation of Coal Porters made its studio debut in 2004 with How Dark This Earth Will Shine, followed in 2008 by Turn the Water On, Boy!, the latter of which continued Griffin's exploration of his own bluegrass roots.