Gene Parsons 5-CD Box Set: Kindling & Beyond 1973–1986

I am a lifelong fan of The Byrds, though the Flying Burrito Brothers never quite captured my heart, yet the work of Gene Parsons, drummer, multi-instrumentalist, and country-rock innovator, has always fascinated me. The newly released Gene Parsons– Kindling & Beyond 1973–1986 is a five-CD collection that highlights his solo career and spans his most creative years after leaving The Byrds and during his time with the Flying Burrito Brothers.

Parsons’ 1973 debut solo album, Kindling, is a bluegrass and country-rock classic—featuring the legendary Clarence White on several tracks. Parsons demonstrates extraordinary versatility across guitar, banjo, pedal steel, harmonica, bass, and drums. He also co-invented the B-Bender (StringBender) with White in 1967, a device that allows a guitar to mimic the sound of a pedal steel, which became a signature of country-rock guitar.

Acclaimed music author Peter Doggett, known for Are You Ready For The Country, calls Kindling a joyous collection of bluegrass and country-tinged songs that showcase Parsons’ remarkable multi-instrumental talent. Parsons also played a key role on landmark Byrds albums such as Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde and Ballad of Easy Rider, helping to shape the country-rock sound. Many fans consider these releases among the last strong albums of the band’s later period.

This 5-CD set is essential for fans of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, and country-rock music. It includes:

• CD 1: Parsons’ first two solo albums, Kindling (1973) and Melodies (1979)
• CD 2: The solo live album I Hope They Let Us In, featuring career-spanning performances including Byrds favorites Gunga Din and Bugler
• CDs 3 to 5: Live recordings with the Gene Parsons Band, plus previously unreleased 1980s studio demos originally planned for a third solo album

Before joining The Byrds, Parsons played in Nashville West with Clarence White, where they developed the StringBender, and together they shaped the sound of The Byrds on albums including Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde (1969), Ballad of Easy Rider (1969), (Untitled) (1970), Byrdmaniax (1971), and Farther Along (1971). After White’s tragic death in 1973, Parsons joined the Flying Burrito Brothers, contributing to Flying Again (1975) and Airborne (1976) before focusing on his solo career with Melodies.

Highlights of this collection include:

• Two solo studio albums from Parsons’ career
• A full live solo album spanning his career
• Live recordings with the Gene Parsons Band
• Unreleased studio demos from the 1980s

Track Listing Highlights

Disc 1 – Kindling & Melodies
Monument, Willin’, Banjo Dog, Melodies From A Bird In Flight (For Clarence)

Disc 2 – I Hope They Let Us In
Gunga Din, Bugler, You Ain’t Going Nowhere, Swing Down

Discs 3 to 5 – Gene Parsons Band Live & Studio Demos
California Blues, In My Hour Of Darkness, Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms, plus unreleased tracks like Turquoise and Willin’, recorded around 1986

This 5-CD set is a must-have for collectors and anyone interested in the evolution of American country-rock—and in the multi-instrumental legacy of Gene Parsons.