Ambassador Parsley and the Lying Hearts Club Share ‘Ride ’em Cowboy’ | ‘Reseda’ EP Out October 30
Ambassador Parsley and the Lying Hearts Club have shared ‘Ride ’em Cowboy’, the first song from their debut EP ‘Reseda’, out October 30.
The project brings together Ambassador Parsley, formerly Ambrosia Parsley of Shivaree, and songwriter and producer Chris Maxwell. ‘Ride ’em Cowboy’ comes with a family story attached. The song had been part of Parsley’s family repertoire for years, and the cover of ‘Reseda’ uses an old photograph of her father and three of his brothers. “My father had four brothers,” Parsley says. “He’s pictured on the cover of ‘Reseda’ with the three who weren’t deaf. All in collared shirts, so likely Christmas. I can tell by the way they’re holding their drinks, that they were singing ‘Old Rugged Cross’, but I can say with great certainty they played ‘Ride ’em Cowboy’ that night, a beloved staple of our family repertoire.”
The recording itself keeps things pretty simple. There is an old country feel to it, but without making too much of the period detail, and Parsley’s vocal gives the song most of its character. The rest of ‘Reseda’ was put together in much the same spirit. Parsley would head over to Maxwell’s Goat House Studio with tacos and Mexican Coke, while John Valesio and Jeff Bailey joined them during their lunch breaks. “Last spring, Tuesdays and Fridays, I’d head over to Mr. Maxwell’s Goat House with a car full of tacos and Mexican cokes, to pretend to make a country record,” she says. “Rhythm kings, John Valesio and Jeff Bailey, would descend during their lunch breaks, 11 to 2. So we played fast and hungry.” Parsley is best known for her work with Shivaree and has since released solo records including ‘Weeping Cherry’ and ‘Dear Carlos’. Her other work has included collaborations with Laurie Anderson, Joe Henry, Sex Mob, Dave Sitek and Hal Willner.
Maxwell has worked with Jon Spencer, Ray Davies, Iggy Pop, Yoko Ono, Tav Falco and They Might Be Giants, and is one half of The Elegant Too. His latest solo release, ‘Chris Maxwell Live at The Pines’, came out in September.
‘Reseda’ contains six songs and will be released October 30.
Ambassador Parsley and the Lying Hearts Club Bandcamp / YouTube / Spotify
