An extraordinary Gram Parsons/Flying Burrito Brothers collectible—a master tape of alternate versions of The Flying Burrito Brothers’ “Hot Burrito #1” and “Hot Burrito #2” from the collection of Joni Mitchell.

The origins of this extraordinary collectible are best explained by the included letter of authenticity from longtime Joni Mitchell/Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young associate Joel Bernstein:“Flying Burrito Brothers—One 7”, 7.5 IPS mono full track audio tape and box (with) unedited, early rough mixes of the master studio performances of “Hot Burrito #1” and “Hot Burrito #2” written and with lead vocals by Gram Parsons, from “The Gilded Palace of Sin” album sessions, A&M Records, Hollywood 1968…This is one of a large number of tapes given to me in May 1971 by Joni Mitchell at her house in Laurel Canyon, after she’d decided that she had grown too comfortable there, was giving up her earthly possessions, and moving to the coast of British Columbia….Joni was undoubtedly given this tape by her longtime recording engineer, Henry Lewy, who recorded her “Clouds” album at A&M Studios in the fall 1968 to spring 1969, but was also the engineer of “The Gilded Palace of Sin”, also recorded at A&M. It is definitely Henry’s handwriting in blue pen on the front of the tape box cover that reads “1-Untitled-Slow” and “2-Untitled-Fast.

These are the roughest of working titles, and I don’t know who wrote… (much more detail about the tape history—see letter scan below)… What’s certain is that these are the earliest known mixes of these recordings, and precede the overdubbed versions that were released on the album…I prefer listening to the mixes (here) compared to the final released versions; they feel more present and less polished… (Signed Joel Bernstein)

Joel Bernstein was Joni Mitchell, Neil Young’s and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s tour photographer throughout their careers, photographing them for a number of album covers, concert programs, etc, and has continued archiving their career for individual and group projects. He worked very closely with Neil Young, photographing him for 18 of his album covers, and overseeing numerous archival projects. Bernstein also worked as a guitar tech for Mitchell and Young, as well as for Bob Dylan, Prince, and many others.

 This tape comes with a digital transfer, Bernstein’s letter of authenticity, and Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity.  A truly museum quality collectible.