Ambassador Parsley & The Lying Hearts Club “Ride ‘em Cowboy”
Americana Highways presents this premiere of Ambassador Parsley & The Lying Hearts Club’s song “Ride ’em Cowboy” from their new album Resada, which is set for release on October 30. This song is available as of October 9. The album was produced and mixed by Chris Maxwell with additional production by Jeff Bailey.
Musicians on “Ride ’em Cowboy” are Ambrosia Parsley on vocals; Chris Maxwell on guitars, vocals and arrangements; Jeff Bailey on bass and vocals; John Valesio on drums; Cindy Cashdollar on lapsteel and dobro; Marco Benevento on piano and organs; Megan Lui on vocals; David Baron on arrangments; and Olivier Manchon on strings.
This song was inspired by a photograph of Parsley’s father and his brothers, a classic image of young folks gathered a round guitar in a ’70s style backdrop. We had a brief chat with Ambrosia about the band and the song. The premiere appears just beneath the interview.
Americana Highways: Where did the name Ambassador Parsley & The Lying Hearts Club come from, and why did you choose to part with Ambrosia, the name you built your career with?
Ambrosia Parsley: I’m trolling Chris. Last time we played his hometown, before the covid, a buddy of his with some fancy connections made me an Arkansas Traveler because he knew I’d get on Chris’ nerves about it. I have a certificate signed by the governor and everything that says I’m basically an Ambassador of culture to the great state of Arkansas, which kiiiinda makes me Chris’ superior officer if you think about it? Anyway, people call me Ambassador just to watch him roll his eyes and I will be milking this joke till the end of time.
The Lying Hearts Club part is from a song by my friend, Tracy Thielen, that we covered on the record.
AH: “Ride ’em Cowboy” is rooted in a song that has been part of your family repertoire for years and was inspired by a photograph of your father and his brothers. What does this song and that photograph mean to you, and what made you want to bring that piece of family history into this project?
AP: I’ve been writing a memoir/ghost story for a couple of years that’s centered on that time in my life: A little kid in the San Fernando Valley, late 70’s early 80’s, living in a haunted house…
Anyway, it’s become a constant filter and this record got shot right through it.
Ride ’em Cowboy was one of the songs my dad used to sing with his brothers in the kitchen on Christmas and Thanksgiving and I loved it. It felt like a good place to start to conjure up the mood.
AH: This project brings you together with singer-songwriter and producer Chris Maxwell. What drew you to working together, and how did your musical chemistry shape the sound of Reseda?
AP: Chris and I have been working together since my very first record! We met in 90’s NYC and he completes me. He’d also just gotten a new tape machine and wanted to play with it, so he said I could come over with a wee pile of songs.
AH: You describe Reseda as a trip back to the 1970s of your childhood, filled with “valley heat and cartoon smog” and memories of listening to the Eagles on KMET. What were you hoping to capture about that time and place through the sound and storytelling of the EP?
AP: More ghosties.
Thanks very much for chatting with us, Ambrosia!
The old black and white style cartoons of the video underscore the old timey nostalgia of this song. Ambrosia has a youthful, honest sounding vocal and the music falls in behind the singing like a timeless charm. Subtle touches like organ chords, piano, dobro and strings support the vibe without ever overstepping. It’s quite charming.
You can find the music here: https://sym.ffm.to/rideemcowboy