American Cosmic Revival VOL1: BACK AT HOME

American Cosmic Revival
Vol. 1: Back At Home (The International Submarine Band)
Subcat/Edgewater Music Group

The 1960’s Album That Kickstarted the Country-Rock Movement, Re-Imagined by Its Founders

Gram Parsons and his work with the International Submarine Band, was a huge kickstart to the Country-Rock movement of the 1960s.
Their album, Safe at Home, with several songs penned by Parsons, is a highly regarded and influential musical document of the time; combining Classic Country with 1960’s Psychedelia and an honest pop sensibility … the International Submarine Band was one of Parsons’ earliest endeavors and a leaping off point for his short but illustrious musical career.
Nearly six decades later and we have this tribute album crafted by Christian Parker and Patrick Cleary, with some musical help from former International Submarine Band member Earl Poole Ball on keyboards, and the legendary JayDee Maness on pedal steel, who played on that original album.
One of Parsons’ strengths was his reverence towards his material and Parker and Clearly continue that with these modernized versions.
Sure the drums are louder, the piano more prominent in the mix, but they still treat these gems with faithfulness and respect. Parker and Cleary both do an admirable job with the vocals on these songs, hitting the ground running with “Blue Eyes,” one of four songs written by Parsons himself.
Like the original this is a pure Country Pop song, simple, pleading and with perfect weepy pedal steel by JayDee Maness.
Continuing that with the Merle Haggard penned “I Must Be Somebody Else You’ve Known,” they’re faithful, yet unafraid to get a bit rowdier than the version by ISB.
Next up is “A Satisfied Mind” written by Joe Hayes and Jack Rhodes, and as near as you can get to a perfect song from any genre.
Covered by an untold amount of performers over the years, this version is compelling in and of itself. Listen to that pedal steel and how it soars and weeps!
I’m a big fan of pedal steel, especially when it’s as perfect as this.
The piano backing tilts this one justifiably into one of the stronger versions of this song I’ve heard.
Johnny Cash wrote “I Still Miss Someone” early in his career, a simple Country love song that here is performed as a barroom floor stomper, charming and to the point.
“Luxury Liner” and “Strong Boy” are two more songs written by Parsons, “Liner” being closer to Psychedelia than any of the others on this album.
Those soaring choruses and tight harmonies and the thrilling cat and mouse chase of the piano and pedal steel throughout definitely hold your attention.
“Strong Boy” is slightly more bluegrass flavoured, the vocal interplay really makes this one work.
“Do You Know How It Feels To Be Lonesome?” is another Parsons tune, a Country Barroom Weeper for sure, but this version transcends that weepiness with a strong rhythm section and more of that soaring pedal steel which lifts the song up into the atmosphere and towards the clouds.
There’s no easy way to do any sort of tribute album, and this one is no exception, but the care and devotion put into it is a remarkable achievement.
Well done, guys!