Burrito Deluxe is a
country-rock band with an unusually impressive heritage; the group evolved from a latter-day version of
the Flying Burrito Brothers, the pioneering
country-rock outfit fronted by
Gram Parsons, and featured
Sneaky Pete Kleinow,
the Burritos' original pedal steel player. While
Parsons left
the Flying Burrito Brothers in 1970, the band continued to record and tour without him, and with time
Kleinow would become the group's longest running member. While
Kleinow occasionally took leave from the band to pursue his other career as a special effects animator, he continued to play with
the Burritos up until their final studio album, 1999's Sons of the Golden West, but in 2000
Kleinow chose to retire
the Flying Burrito Brothers and assembled a new group under a new moniker,
Burrito Deluxe. Focusing on the rootsy but expressive
country-rock that had been the old group's trademark, the first
Burrito Deluxe album, 2002's Georgia Peach, was a tribute to the songs of
Gram Parsons, and along with
Kleinow and guitarist
Carlton Moody (formerly of
the Moody Brothers) it featured an all-star collection of sidemen and guest musicians, including
Garth Hudson,
Gillian Welch,
David Rawlings, and
Jim Ed Brown. 2004 brought a second
Burrito Deluxe album, The Whole Enchilada, and a more concise lineup of the group, with
Kleinow and
Moody joined by bassist
Jeff Davis (ex-
Amazing Rhythm Aces) and session drummer
Rick Lonow. In 2006, the band recorded a third album, Disciples of the Truth with the group's strongest lineup to date --
Kleinow,
Moody,
Davis, keyboard player
Richard Bell (who previously worked with
the Hawks and
Janis Joplin's
Full Tilt Boogie band), guitarist
Walter Egan (best known for his 1978 hit "Magnet and Steel"), and drummer
Bryan Owings. However, before it reached stores,
Kleinow died on January 6, 2007; the album was released in late February 2007, with the group soldiering on in tribute to their fallen comrade. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide
Green links represent an available CD.
Red links represent a CD that is not currently available.
Disciples of the Truth
The Whole Enchilada