Gram Parsons – The Neon Bread Tape

 

Gram Parsons – The Neon Bread Tape

Studio, New York, NY

I received this one from a cyber friend. Hereunder is the original accompanying text. I guess TTD means “The Traders Den”, so that probably the original source. I have more than serious doubts about this being from the early 70s though. It lasts just under 2 hours and there are no tracks by either The International Submarine Band or The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers or Gram’s solo LPs. My guess is that it’s from the mid-sixties.

Disc 1

1. banter (1:44)

2. jam (4:46)

3. jam (4:29)

4. guitar tuning (1:32)

5. In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down) (10:05)

6. piano (13:37)

7. It's Me, It's Me O Lord (3:48)

8. It's Me, It's Me O Lord (2:18)

9. Pick A Bale Of Cotton (2:00)

10. Oh, Freedom (0:48)

11. It's Me, It's Me O Lord (4:02)

12. banter and tuning (0:52)

13. banter and banging

14. hello, testing, guitar

Disc 2

1. drums (14:10)

2. It's Me, It's Me O Lord (3:24)

3. It's Me, It's Me O Lord (2:28)

4. Pick A Bale Of Cotton (0:47)

5. Oh, Freedom (1:49)

6. It's Me, It's Me O Lord (3:16)

7. banging and strumming (2:45)

8. tuning (1:56)

9. What'd I Say (3:20)

10. Tragedy (3:34)

11. See See Rider - Blue Yodel - See See Rider (7:00)

12. When Will I Be Loved (3:51)

13. harmonizing (2:13)

14. handclaps and harmony (4:22)

15. Rebel Rouser - handclaps and harmony (2:21)

Artwork Included (front, back)

 

 

Original accompanying text:

“Lineage:

3.75 ips reel loaned by J.S.

Played back on a TEAC X-2000R reel to reel

Recorded to my HHB CDR recorder.

- setlist –

t01 - [banter]
t02 - Jam ->
t03 - Jam ->
t04 - [guitar tuning]
t05 - In the Evening [When the Sun Goes Down] (Ray Charles)
t06 - [piano]
t07 - It's Me, It's Me O Lord (traditional)
t08 - It's Me, It's Me O Lord ->
t09 - Pick A Bale of Cotton -> (traditional)
t10 - Oh, Freedom -> (E. R. Nance Family)
t11 - It's Me, It's Me O Lord
t12 - [slow]
t13 - [banter & banging]
t14 - [hello, testing, guitar]
t15 - [drums]
t16 - It's Me, It's Me O Lord
t17 - It's Me, It's Me O Lord ->
t18 - Pick A Bale of Cotton ->
t19 - Oh, Freedom ->
t20 - It's Me, It's Me O Lord
t21 - banging & strumming
t22 - tuning
t23 - What'd I Say (Ray Charles)
t24 - Tragedy (The Fleetwoods)
t25 - See See Rider -> Blue Yodel (T for Texas) -> See See Rider (Elvis Presley)
t26 - When Will I Be Loved (Phil Everly)
t27 - harmonizing
t28 - hand claps & harmony 1
t29 - hand claps & harmony 2

Comments:

This comes from a reel that was given to me in the late 90's by the same source that gave me all of the 1970 Byrds shows and the Gene Clark rough mixes. The reel was labelled "Neon Bread", and the source told me that it was an undocumented Gram Parsons New York City studio session from the early 70's. Naturally, I was intrigued.

At most points of the reel there were different programs in the right and left channels...only occasionally did the two sides synch up. At some points one channel was forwards and the other channel backwards! Lots of fun!

Because of these issues, my CDR copy had gone uncirculated (and unplayed) for the past 20+ years. A few weeks ago I reached out to a friend and fellow TTD member to aid in the restoration of this ultra-rare gem. Thanks to his efforts, here it is!

And by the way, it isn't very good. Extremely rare, but not very good.

Enjoy !