Page "Gram Parsons" Paragraph 20

Parsons signed a solo deal with A & M Records and moved in with producer Terry Melcher in early 1970.

Melcher ( who had worked with The Byrds and The Beach Boys and had rejected producing an unknown singer / songwriter by the name of Charles Manson ) was a member of the successful duo Bruce & Terry, also known as The Rip Chords.

The two shared a mutual penchant for cocaine and heroin, and as a result, the sessions were largely unproductive, with Parsons eventually losing interest in the project.

" Terry loved Gram and wanted to produce him ...

But neither of them could get anything done ," recalled Eve Babitz.

" Long lost, the tapes from this session have gathered a legendary patina ," writes David Meyer.

The recording stalled, and the master tapes were checked out, but there is conflict as to whether " Gram ... or Melcher took them ".

He accompanied the Rolling Stones on their 1971 U. K. tour in the hope of being signed to the newly formed Rolling Stones Records, intending to record a duo album with Richards.

Moving into Villa Nellcôte with the guitarist during the sessions for Exile on Main Street, Parsons remained in a consistently incapacitated state and frequently quarreled with his much younger girlfriend, aspiring actress Gretchen Burrell.

Eventually, Parsons was asked to leave by Anita Pallenberg, Richards ' longtime domestic partner.

Keith suggests in his autobiography " Life " that Mick Jagger may have been the real driver for Parson ' departure given that Keith spent so much time playing music with Gram.

Rumors have persisted that he appears somewhere on the legendary album, and while Richards concedes that it is very likely he is among the chorus of singers on " Sweet Virginia ", to this day nothing has been substantiated.

Parsons attempted to rekindle his relationship with the band on their 1972 tour to no avail.