Kleinow and Ethridge instigated a reformation of the band in 1975 which continued through 1984. The band was reformed once again in 1985 and were disbanded for a final time in 2001.
The band best known as the "Flying Burrito Brothers" actually 'borrowed' their name from the original "Flying Burrito Brothers", composed of bassist Ian Dunlop and drummer Mickey Gauvin, bandmates of Parsons from the Boston-based International Submarine Band, plus any of a loose coalition of musicians, including Parsons himself from time to time. In a deliberate choice of focusing on just creating and playing music without the distractions of the music industry, in 1968 the original Brothers moved from Los Angeles to New York City. From this base they continued to tour the Northeast playing their eclectic traditional/rockabilly/blues/R&B-oriented version of rock, using the name "The Flying Burrito Brothers East" after Parsons' group became famous.
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, Parsons and guitarist/mandolinist/bassist/vocalist Chris Hillman thought this same moniker would be perfectly suited to the band they had been dreaming of since early 1968, when, as members of Roger McGuinn's band The Byrds, they created one of the first country-oriented rock albums, Sweetheart of the Rodeo. They immersed themselves in their vision in their house in the San Fernando Valley, dubbed "Burrito Manor", even replacing their wardrobe with a set of custom country-Western suits from tailor to the C&W stars, Nudie's Rodeo Tailors (Parsons's had marijuana leaf embroidery) and began a period of intensely fruitful creativity. At this juncture, the band also included pianist/bassist Chris Ethridge and pedal steel guitarist "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow.
Their first album The Gilded Palace of Sin (1969) did not sell terribly well, being a radical departure from anything most of the record-buying public (either rock or country) had ever seen, but the group had a cult following which included several famous musicians, such as Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. Parsons soon became friends with Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones and left the group after 1970's Burrito Deluxe, which also saw the departure of Ethridge and addition of guitarist/dobro player/vocalist Bernie Leadon and drummer Michael Clarke (of The Byrds). Rick Roberts replaced Parsons and released a self-titled album with the group in 1971. Kleinow then left to become a session musician and Leadon joined The Eagles. Al Perkins and Roger Bush replaced them, and Kenny Wertz and Byron Berline joined as well, releasing The Last of the Red Hot Burritos (1972), a live album. The band fell apart. Hillman and Perkins joined Manassas, while Berline, Bush and Wertz formed Country Gazette. Roberts reassembled a new group for a 1973 European tour, and then began a solo career before forming Firefall with Michael Clarke.
As Gram Parsons's influence and fame grew, so did interest in the Flying Burrito Brothers, leading to the release of Honky Tonks (1974), a double album, and the recreation of the band by Kleinow and Ethridge in 1975. Floyd "Gib" Gilbeau, Joel Scott Hill and Gene Parsons (no relation to Gram) also joined, and the band released Flying Again that year. Ethridge was then replaced by Skip Battin for Airborne (1976), followed by an album of unreleased early material, Sleepless Nights. For the next few decades, the group released albums and toured and had a country hit with "White Line Fever" (1980, a cover by Merle Haggard) and then became the Burrito Brothers. Headed by prolific songwriter and ace guitarist John Beland and Gib Guilbeau, and normally featuring Sneaky Pete, this incarnation scored moderately well on the Country charts in the early 1980s. Through numerous incarnations (including Brian Cadd for a time), the band released albums and toured throughout the 1980s up till 2001 when John Beland "officially" ended FBB. While the bands work during the 1980-1999 period was exceptional, after 1984 none of the many releases had any chart impact. Sneaky created a Burritos spinoff in his new band Burrito Deluxe, which featured Carlton Moody on lead vocals and Garth Hudson from The Band on keyboards. While a good band, there has never been any real continuity with the true Burritos and this group can not be considered anything more than a spinoff. Pete however, left the band due to illness in 2005, leaving no direct lineage to the original masters.
Gram Parsons died on September 19, 1973. "Sneaky Pete" Kleinow died on January 6, 2007. Chris Hillman is still a very successful singer-songwriter, having been part of Souther-Hillman-Furay, McGuinn-Clark-Hillman, then going on to form the Desert Rose Band (1986-1993) with Herb Pedersen. He still sings with Pedersen today as Chris and Herb, having released "The Other Side" (2005).
Christine's Tune
The Flying Burrito Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
She's a devil in disguise
In disguise
Now a woman like that all she does is hate you
She doesn't know what makes a man a man
She'll talk about the times that she's been with you
She's a devil in disguise
You can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
She's a devil in disguise
In disguise
Unhappiness has been her close companion
Her world is full of jealousy and doubt
It gets her off to see a person crying
She's just the kind that you can't do without
She's a devil in disguise
You can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
She's a devil in disguise
In disguise
Her number always turns up in your pocket
Whenever you are looking for a dime
It's all right to call her but I'll bet you
The moon is full and your just wasting time
She's a devil in disguise
You can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
She's a devil in disguise
In disguise (in disguise)
In disguise (in disguise)
In disguise (in disguise)
In disguise
The Flying Burrito Brothers' song "Christine's Tune" is a cautionary tale about a woman who appears to be innocent and alluring but is actually a manipulative and malicious individual. The song begins by establishing the woman's deceptive nature with the repetition of the line "She's a devil in disguise" and the emphasis on her lying and spreading rumors about the singer. The second verse expands on her character, depicting her as a deeply unhappy and envious person who revels in making others suffer. The final verse suggests that even though the singer is aware of her true nature, he is unable to resist her charms and continues to be drawn in by her.
Though the song's lyrics are straightforward, the sparse instrumentation and haunting melody lend an ominous quality to the song. The use of repetition and the gradual build of tension throughout the song culminates in the final refrain of "In disguise," suggesting that the woman's true nature is always lurking beneath the surface.
Overall, "Christine's Tune" is a perfect example of the Flying Burrito Brothers' unique brand of country rock, combining traditional country lyrics with soaring harmonies and psychedelic guitar riffs.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a devil in disguise
This woman is not what she appears to be and has a malicious nature.
You can see it in her eyes
Her true intentions are evident in the expressions of her eyes.
She's telling dirty lies
She speaks lies that are deceptive and intended to cause harm.
In disguise
This woman is not who she seems to be, and her true nature is hidden.
Now a woman like that all she does is hate you
This woman has nothing but hatred toward others and is incapable of love.
She doesn't know what makes a man a man
This woman lacks the understanding of what it takes to be a true man.
She'll talk about the times that she's been with you
She will publicly share details of your relationship that should remain private.
She'll speak your name to everyone she can
She will talk about you to anyone who will listen, spreading rumors and lies.
Unhappiness has been her close companion
This woman's life is filled with misery and sorrow.
Her world is full of jealousy and doubt
This woman lives in a world where she harbors feelings of envy and suspicion.
It gets her off to see a person crying
She finds pleasure in seeing others in emotional pain.
She's just the kind that you can't do without
Even though this woman is destructive, some people cannot resist her.
Her number always turns up in your pocket
You are always reminded of her, even when you don't want to be.
Whenever you are looking for a dime
You are desperately seeking any form of comfort or relief.
It's all right to call her but I'll bet you
Her presence may be comforting but it is not worth the inevitable consequences.
The moon is full and your just wasting time
You are wasting your time chasing after this woman.
In disguise
This woman is not what she seems, and her true nature is hidden.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER HILLMAN, GRAM PARSONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@raymoore1397
Gram Parsons is the Godfather of Alternative Country......what an iconic figure with amazing teeth.
@margaretross9150
And hair.
@charlottebrooks3671
He deserves so much recognition…yet he’s so overlooked….
@margaretross9150
@@charlottebrooks3671 i think he's overlooked by the music establishment but not by other musicians and by many fans. They all appreciate his talent, heart, and courage.
@ForeverChanged7
Gram Parsons has to be entered in the ROCK N ROLL hall of FAME and the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME. The man, Gram Parsons was, is and always be a star for his writing, performance influence on country and Rock. We wouldn't have Emmy Lou Harris, Poco, America, the Eagles without Gram Parsons talent and ability to blend country and Rock. Please. He deserves this honour.
@ForeverChanged7
Polly Parsons, Condolences to you. I loved your Dad's music and performance. Let's rally to get your Dad honoured as he should already have been. Let's do what we can do to get Gram into the Rock n Roll hall of Fame and the Country music hall of fame. He deserves every bit of this honour. ❤
@maximilianopenaloza1299
Psychedelic Country, marvelous!!!
@Alligators_in_the_sewer
I can’t get over the steel guitar on this. It’s perfect.
@davidhamilton6428
Sneaky pete is amazing. :D
@suterb
@@augustusbetucius1572 He's playing a Fender 400, which has 4 pedals but no knee levers.