On his last release, Sweethearts—an all-encompassing tribute to The Byrds’ classic, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, which Glide Magazine called “Tender, faithful renditions that capture the groundbreaking character of the original album, just as his own versions are distinctive"—upstate New York recording artist Christian Parker wanted to prove his skills as an astute music student. Today, with the release of his new LP Change is Now: A Tribute to the Byrds, he taps into the sounds that made him fall in love with music in the first place: the 12-string-strummed songs of The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn.
On Change Is Now, Parker lets his band—including, but not limited to, original Byrds session player Earl Poole Ball, Gary Jacob on pedal steel and electric guitar, and Todd Staudinger on backing vocals—stretch their legs and build the album around the individual styles everyone brings to the recording. “Everybody knows their spot, and that was a theme that I picked up on, to let everybody have their moment. It’s the best way to let the music breathe, to hear the beauty of these songs,” Parker explains. You can hear it on the breathtaking harmonies of “Here Without You” and the expertly picked guitar lines that carry “Ballad of Easy Rider.” It’s an homage to one of the great, overlooked bands of all time, but Parker’s miracle is how he honors the music while still asserting himself as a confident, thrilling songwriter. This ability to blend his voice with some of history’s great songwriters like Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, and Gram Parsons comes from his reverence and respect for the music.
Fans can stream or purchase Change Is Now today right here. For a deeper dive into Parker’s Byrds tribute, listen to Sweethearts today at this link. For more information, please visit christianparker.com.
Change Is Now Tracklist:
Change is Now
She Don’t Care About Time
Here Without You
The World Turns All Around Her
I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better
Chimes of Freedom
Wild Mountain Thyme
Ballad of Easy Rider
Get To You
Time Between
Your Gentle Way of Loving Me
Full Circle
Bugler
Farther Along
The Last Thing On My Mind
