‘Hot Burrito’ Redux: In Defense of #2

The article revisits the question of which Flying Burrito Brothers song is better, “Hot Burrito #1” or “Hot Burrito #2”, prompted by Gram Parsons’ posthumous induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It describes how the songs reflect the band’s blend of country and soul, and reports that everyone on the panel favoured the first song.

Both tracks were written by Parsons and bassist Chris Ethridge from melodies Ethridge brought to Burrito Manor, then recorded for the band’s 1969 debut album, *The Gilded Palace of Sin*. “#1” is a yearning ballad, while “#2” is a more upbeat, distorted country-soul song. Contributors including filmmaker Ron Mann, singer-songwriter John Fullbright and Parsons’ daughter Polly chose “#1”; Elvis Costello later covered it as “I’m Your Toy” on his 1981 album *Almost Blue*.