Townes Van Zandt

Townes Van Zandt

Townes Van Zandt

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Reissue of his third album from 1969 includes '(Quicksilver Daydreams Of) Maria', 'Lungs', 'Colorado Girl' and 'Waiting Around To Die'. Tomato Records. 2002.

Townes Van Zandt,Townes Van Zandt,Tomato Music,Folk,Folk & Traditional,Pop,Progressive Country,Singer/Songwriter
Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Townes live in Houston
  • Great Folk Singer
  • Best intro to TVZ
  • Pure genious
 Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas
Townes Van Zandt
Manufacturer: Snapper UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Legend
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  4. To Live's to Fly: The Ballad of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt
  5. A Gentle Evening with Townes Van Zandt

ASIN: B000089AQO
Release Date: 2007-02-05

Tracks:

  1. Announcement
  2. Pancho & Lefty
  3. Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold
  4. Don't You Take It Too Bad
  5. Two Girls
  6. Fraternity Blues
  7. If I Needed You
  8. Brand New Companion
  9. White Freight Liner Blues
  10. To Live Is to Fly
  11. She Came and She Touched Me
  12. Talking Thunderbird Blues
  13. Rex's Blues
  14. Nine Pound Hammer

Tracks:

  1. For the Sake of the Song
  2. Chauffeur's Blues
  3. No Place to Fall
  4. Loretta
  5. Kathleen
  6. Why She's Acting This Way
  7. Cocaine Blues
  8. Who Do You Love?
  9. Tower Song
  10. Waiting 'Round to Die
  11. Tecumseh Valley
  12. Lungs
  13. Only Him or Me

Album Details

Culled from Van Zandt's Years of Independently Released Country-folk Records, the Austere Collection of Songs Here Serves, in Effect, as a Greatest-hits Package, Albeit with Glitches, Errant Noises, Goofy Jokes and Witty Anecdotes. Van Zandt's Dry, Narrative Wit was the Source of Influence for Such Singer-songwriters as Lyle Lovett, but One Would Be Hard-pressed to Find a More Simple, Prettier Love Song Than "if I Needed You" (A Hit for Emmylou Harris) Or a More Riveting Ballad Than "Kathleen", Both Sung with Focused Precision. The Old Quarter Falls as Silent as a Church. "Brand New Companion" Shows off Van Zandt's Blues-picking Expertise. "Talking Thunderbird Blues" Demonstrates his Wit. One of his Best Creations, "For the Sake of the Song", Shows off his Poetic Strength. This is the Place to Start If You Are Just Entering the Parched, Spare Domain of Townes Van Zandt. By Album's End, You Will Be Thirsty for More.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Townes live in Houston.......2007-05-30

A great cd for those of us who were not blessed to see and hear Townes Van Zandt live during his lifetime. If you have never experienced the unbelievable talent of this Texas Troubadour, then this is the perfect cd to make his acquaintance and fall in love.

5 out of 5 stars Great Folk Singer.......2007-05-23

I haven't listened to this since about 1985 which I had on an album and I was very glad to be able to purchase it on C.D. It has brought back some old memories and inspired me to play some more of his songs on guitar, some of which I learned from my guitar teacher when I was a teenager. I hope more people buy this and realize how good of an artist Townes Van Zandt is and know he is the person who wrote the song "Pancho and Lefty"- not Willie Nelson. Thanks Amazon for providing me the access to be able to get this recording again.

5 out of 5 stars Best intro to TVZ.......2007-05-14

If you are new to Townes Van Zandt, this is a great first purchase. It is Townes at his best - live, relaxed, and having fun.

5 out of 5 stars Pure genious.......2007-03-08

Everyone who loves or even likes singer/songwriters has to buy this CD... It is without a doubt one of the top five finest cd's ever made...

Buy this as soon as possible.

Peace.
Legend
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Perfect....
  • Legendary
 Legend
Townes Van Zandt
Manufacturer: Snapper UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. High, Low And In Between/Late Great
  2. Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas
  3. A Gentle Evening with Townes Van Zandt
  4. Poncho & Lefty
  5. Townes Van Zandt - Be Here to Love Me

ASIN: B0002TRURA
Release Date: 2005-05-30

Tracks:

  1. If I Needed You
  2. Pancho and Lefty
  3. Snow Don't Fall
  4. No Lonesome Tune
  5. Silver Ships of Andilar
  6. Heavenly Houseboat Blues
  7. Be Here to Love Me
  8. Kathleen
  9. Snake Mountain Blues
  10. St. John the Gambler
  11. Our Mother the Mountain
  12. For the Sake of the Song
  13. None But the Rain
  14. Waiting Around to Die
  15. Lungs
  16. Colorado Girl
  17. I'll Be Here in the Morning
  18. Nothin'
  19. Tower Song
  20. Come Tomorrow
  21. Marie [Duet][*] - Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt
  22. Pancho and Lefty [Duet][*] - Freddy Fender, Townes Van Zandt
  23. If I Needed You [Duet][*] - Emmylou Harris, Townes Van Zandt

Tracks:

  1. Turnstyled, Junkpiled
  2. Brand New Companion
  3. Delta Moma Blues
  4. No Deal
  5. You Are Not Needed Now
  6. Highway Kind
  7. To Live Is to Fly
  8. Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold
  9. High, Low and In-Between
  10. Loretta
  11. No Place to Fall
  12. Flyin' Shoes
  13. Who Do You Love
  14. When She Don't Need Me
  15. Snake Song
  16. Fraternity Blues [Live]
  17. Tecumseh Valley [Live]
  18. Cocaine Blues [Live]
  19. White Freight Liner Blues [Live]
  20. Only Him or Me [Live]
  21. Brother Flower [Duet][*] - Kimmie Rhodes, Townes Van Zandt
  22. Two Girls [Duet][*] - Doug Sahm, Townes Van Zandt
  23. At My Window [Duet][*] - Kathy Mattea, Townes Van Zandt

Album Description

Two CD compilation covers the artist's most creative period, when he was recording for the Poppy & Tomato labels between 1968 & 1978, & includes six duets with country stars including Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, & Freddy Fender. Snapper Music. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Perfect...........2007-07-30

If you like Townes this is the essential CDs to own. He was/is one of the greatest hardly known singer/songwriters of our time.

5 out of 5 stars Legendary.......2007-02-15

What more can I say? This is an excellent collection of a music legend's early works. If you are at all interested in the blend of folk, blues, and country that is Townes van Zandt, you can't go wrong buying this one.
High, Low And In Between/Late Great
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great introduction
  • other stuff to check out
  • Sweet writer, with a voice that grows on you...
  • For The Sake of the CD
  • Wrong track list
 High, Low And In Between/Late Great
Townes Van Zandt
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002UHX
Release Date: 1996-10-01

Tracks:

  1. Two Hands
  2. You Are Not Needed Now
  3. Greensboro Woman
  4. Highway Kind
  5. Standin'
  6. No Deal
  7. To Live Is To Fly
  8. When He Offers His Hand
  9. Mr. Gold And Mr. Mud
  10. Blue Ridge Mountains
  11. High, Low And In Between
  12. No Lonesome Tune
  13. Sad Cinderella
  14. German Mustard
  15. Don't Let The Sunshine Fool Ya'
  16. Honky Tonkin'
  17. Snow Don't Fall
  18. Fraulein
  19. Poncho & Lefty
  20. If I Needed You
  21. Silver Ships Of Andilar
  22. Heavenly Houseboat Blues

Amazon.com

Packaged as two albums on one disc, these are among the best of Van Zandt's erratic studio recordings. The first is often overlooked, but it has many songs of dark, marvelous realism, true and accurate as arrows. Kevin Eggers's production is never heavy or busy: he mostly lets the songs breathe beside piano and guitar. And the poetic heights of the title track and "The Highway Kind" are remarkable by any standard. Late Great is important for a little known Guy Clark song "Don't Let the Sunshine Fool You," as well as an orchestrated "Pancho and Lefty" and the sweetly simple "Heavenly Houseboat Blues." Both records show Townes's belief in the abracadabra of words, that their magic is as primary to being human as love and death and kindness and cruelty--those intense qualities that distinguish his work. --Roy Kasten

Album Description

UK reissue of original 1972 Poppy label album. Musicians include Larry Carlton & David Cohen (ex-Country Joe & The Fish). Includes detailed sleevenotes.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Great introduction.......2007-02-16

I'm not a big fan of compilations and "best of" CDs; like a lot of music fans I prefer to hear entire albums in their original context. That's why this economically-priced two-fer from Townes Van Zandt is such a good introduction--it includes two entire albums from one of his most productive periods, and offers a wide variety of his music to get you interested in exploring more. Between these two albums, you can see what a talented songwriter, understatedly excellent vocalist, and all-around worthwhile musical personality he was. Not only that, you'll have over an hour of great country-tinged folk to listen to.

The first album included is High, Low, and In Between. It's probably the lesser of the two choices, but still very worthwhile. Van Zandt is usually accompanied by some subtle acoustic guitar, often combined with some bass, or even bigger band arrangements. He certainly has a skill for melancholy--songs like "You are Not Needed Now" and the title track really get under your skin with simple melodies and some occasionally chilling lyrics. He does include a few upbeat numbers, though, like the great and humorous "No Deal," and the groovy "Standin.'" There are a few weaker tracks, most notably the gospel tunes "Two Hands" and "When He Offers His Hand;" they lack the personality that Van Zandt is so capable of injecting into a great song. Overall, though, there are some great highlights.

The second album is even better. The Late Great Townes Van Zandt opens with "No Lonesome Tune," a very homey, heartwarming tune combined with some really cool music--the heavy bass sounds great combined with the mandolin. The singer sounds totally at ease in the relaxed "German Mustard" blues, and rips out some of his most harrowing compositions, the mysterious "Ships of Andilar," and the oft-covered "Pancho and Lefty." On both discs, he shows great skill at storytelling, and it's too bad every other country singer had a hit with "Pancho and Lefty," but its own composer couldn't. This album really shows off his deft skill at mystery, since more often the music matches his deceptively dense words. Again, though, there are also fun moments like the cover, "Honky Tonkin.'" Also again, though, there are a few weaker moments--"Sad Cinderella" sounds like a textbook paraphrased rewrite of Dylan's "Queen Jane Approximately," and "Heavenly Houseboat Blues" isn't quite a compelling closer.

All in all, though, Townes Van Zandt has made some great music, and deserves to be much better known. This disc is a steal, containing two solid albums' worth of music, with some music that's good, and some that's GREAT. If you're unfamiliar with TVZ, I recommend that this is as good a place as any to get into some great music!

4 out of 5 stars other stuff to check out.......2006-06-21

I am a huge fan of catchy, quiet folk music with insightful lyrics. If you enjoy this album then I strongly recommend that you check out the following:
1) Ghosts Of The Great Highway by Sun Kil Moon
2) Kings Avenue Joe Kile
3) Subtitulo by Josh Rouse

5 out of 5 stars Sweet writer, with a voice that grows on you..........2005-07-03

This single-CD collection of two of Townes' early LP's should confirm for any lover of country/folk that Van Zandt's reputation is well-deserved. People such as Guy Clark, Nancy Griffith, Emmy Lou Harris, Billy Joe Shaver, Todd Snider, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle and many others who had more successful performing careers than Townes all praise his writing. I was pleased with the writing, but pleasantly surprised that TVZ could sing so well. His voice is limited, but endearing. He is one of a long line of artists who could not survive alcohol and drugs and the stress of the music business. All of the songs on here, all 22, are worth hearing, but more than half of them deserve and reward repeated listening. Those stand up to dozens of playings without getting stale. I'm speaking of songs such as "To Live is to Fly" and "No Lonesome Tune" and "Don't Let the Sunshine Fool Ya'" and "Poncho and Lefty" and "If I Needed You." While "Sunshine" was written by Guy Clark, Townes' version is almost as good as Clark's own. Eighteen of the tracks were written by Van Zandt. These performances were laid down on vinyl in the 1970's, but they hold up pretty darn well. If you have heard about TVZ, and want a good sample of his lyrics and singing, this item is a great value.

4 out of 5 stars For The Sake of the CD.......2005-03-02

Steve Earle is certainly entitled to his opinion, but comparing Bob Dylan to anyone seems kind of foolish. However, just the fact that many, myself included, consider Townes Van Zandt to be in the same league as Dylan as a songwriter speaks volumes about the late Texan's considerable talents. This is a nice pairing of two of his best albums. It's always cool to get two albums for the price of one. A great introduction to a cult hero who deserves wider recognition.

5 out of 5 stars Wrong track list.......2002-10-04

High Low and in Between is a great album. But this page has the wrong tracks listed...
Together at the Bluebird Cafe
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Rarities...an absolute gem
  • Hello, Is Anybody Out There?
 Together at the Bluebird Cafe
Steve Earle , Townes Van Zandt , and Guy Clark
Manufacturer: Snapper Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001E8D3G
Release Date: 2006-03-13

Tracks:

  1. Baby Took a Limo to Memphis
  2. My Old Friend the Blues
  3. [Introduction to Katie Belle] - Townes Van Zandt
  4. Katie Belle
  5. Cape
  6. [Introduction to Valentine's Day] - Steve Earle
  7. Valentine's Day
  8. Ain't Leavin' Your Love
  9. Randall Knife
  10. Tom Ames' Prayer
  11. Interfaith Dental Clinic - Townes Van Zandt
  12. Song For
  13. Dublin Blues
  14. I Ain't Ever Satisfied
  15. Pancho and Lefty
  16. Immigrant Eyes
  17. Sirocco's Pizza - Steve Earle
  18. Mercenary Song
  19. Tecumseh Valley
  20. Copperhead Road

Album Description

Full Artist - Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt & Guy Clark. The holy trinity of modern country songwriters on one stage for one historic night. Features 20 remastered tracks packaged in a digipak. Snapper Classics. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Rarities...an absolute gem.......2006-09-05

Great album, bringing together three of the great songwriter-poets of our time, who along with Blaze Foley constitute a world unto themselves. They got together to perform this benefit for a Dental Clinic! Townes even comments that he can't get dental (or any) insurance. All three are tight and brilliant, but the most heart rendering songs in this collection belong to Guy. The man is a treasure - he plays one of those guitars that he made himself (yes!!), it sounds beautiful..the same care and thoughtfulness is present in the songs..buy this...today!!
Oh..one correction to the other review on this page: Lucinda Williams' Drunken Angel isn't about Townes, but about Blaze Foley.

5 out of 5 stars Hello, Is Anybody Out There?.......2006-03-09

I find it hard to believe that no one has reviewed this beautiful album. So I'll give it a go.
If you're a fan of one or all of these artists, you'll love this album. The intimacy of the live performance in what sounds like a very small cafe is perfect. These guys write personal songs. Songs that are sometimes very, very close to the heart.
Guy Clark, for some reason, is an unknown treasure. His songs have no peer. Steve Earle is a rebel with a cause. And Townes Van Zandt is the drunken angel and poet that Lucinda Williams sang about.
My advice: listen and learn.
And thanks to the reviewer above regarding my Drunken Angel comments. I stand corrected.
But Townes was a bit of a drunken angel himself, I would say.
Our Mother the Mountain
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Our Mother the Mountain
    Townes Van Zandt
    Manufacturer: Fat Possum [Old]
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B000OZ2CZ2
    Release Date: 2007-05-15

    Tracks:

    1. Be Here to Love Me
    2. Kathleen
    3. She Came and She Touched Me
    4. Like a Summer Thursday
    5. Our Mother the Mountain
    6. Second Lover's Song
    7. St. John the Gambler
    8. Tecumseh Valley
    9. Snake Mountain Blues
    10. My Proud Mountains
    11. Why She's Acting This Way
    At My Window
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Darn near his finest
    • This album just isn't getting enough reviews...
    • Jack Clement at it again...
    • A true masterpiece
    • genius
    		 At My Window
    Townes Van Zandt
    Manufacturer: Sugarhill [Country]
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000000EVY
    Release Date: 1992-12-01

    Tracks:

    1. Snowin' On Raton
    2. Blue Wind Blew
    3. At My Window
    4. For The Sake Of The Song
    5. Ain't Leavin' Your Love
    6. Buckskin Stallion Blues
    7. Little Sundance #2
    8. Still Lookin' For You
    9. Gone, Gone Blues
    10. The Catfish Song

    Amazon.com essential recording

    The first and best album the late Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt made for Sugar Hill Records, this 1987 set mixes older material ("For the Sake of the Song") with fresh material (the instant classic "Buckskin Stallion Blues"). As is usually the case with Van Zandt albums, the originals shine. The funky "Ain't Leavin' Your Love" comes complete with an unlikely saxophone solo, while "Catfish Song" boasts the kind of gospel melody that marked this gentle, hard-living man as one of the finest songwriters to have ever worked in a country-folk vein. His voice--never the acquired taste of a Jimmie Dale Gilmore or Bob Dylan--had lost some of its certainty and range by this time. Fortunately, what's absent in reach is more than offset by a very appealing world-weary hue. This set features a raft of first-class supporting players, including bassist Roy Huskey Jr., fiddler Mark O'Connor, and guitarist Mickey White. Horn accents abound in the arrangements, and the whole session hangs together in a warm, rewarding way. Van Zandt's last studio album stands as his final bona fide classic. --Robert Baird

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Darn near his finest.......2006-09-08

    This is darn near Townes' finest, and that's saying a lot. Mellow, easygoing folk/country music coupled with Townes' lyrical magic and terrific recording quality - the result is beautiful music that deepens with each listen, possibly his most consistent recording. Get this and "Texas Troubadour" and "Live at the Old Quarter" from Amazon UK (www.amazon.co.uk), and you'll have a TVZ collection to be envied.

    5 out of 5 stars This album just isn't getting enough reviews..........2005-06-17

    This is one of my favorite albums of all time. It's a mellow one to be certain, but highly invigorating nonetheless.
    Having heard Townes Van Zandt at length by chance - I had a friend with all original vinyl albums from the 70's and I sat and listened to all of them during a weekend stay - I went and got this, which I hadn't heard yet. While other reviewers are entitled to their opinion, I don't think the production on this album is marred - I think it's very restrained and quite well done. It's all acoustic instruments with some tasteful horn and string arrangements in a few spots, far more understated than they had been on the early Townes records (including For The Sake of The Song). This album is class, and practically every song is a mini masterpiece. While the amazon review mentions that Townes re-recorded old songs for the album, only one song is actually re-recorded - For The Sake Of The Song - and I think it's an improvement over the original, which suffered from overproduction in its original form.
    Townes was one of the most gifted songwriters the USA has ever produced, and his catalogue is well worth investigating. This album (or perhaps Live at the Old Quarter) would not be a bad place to begin your foray into this man's career. Thanks Townes, for writing such excellent material and treating it right.

    3 out of 5 stars Jack Clement at it again..........2002-06-12

    Well, tarnishing Townes' first album, For the Sake of the Song, with overproduction and inappropriate arrangements was not enough for Cowboy Jack. No, he had to do the same thing, although in a little different manner, with different instruments, to At My Window. Before, it was mostly drums and percussion. This time Clement enlists the aide of the sax and flute and uses them in very distasteful arrangements. Almost every song after track 3 is marred. Clement should have learned his lesson the first time-Townes's songs should stand on their own. However, the poor production does not completely destroy the album and Townes songs still shine, albeit with just a little less lustre. While I wouldn't use this album to initate a new TVZ fan, it is still a welcome addition to the TVZ catalogue.

    5 out of 5 stars A true masterpiece.......1999-08-14

    This CD is one of the best from Townes in my opinion, and that's saying a lot. From beginning to end, virtually every song on this CD is alone worth the price of the CD. And although a lot of folks argue different viewpoints on the varying production qualities of Townes' recordings, to me this one is the best produced. Not too sparse, not overdone, but balanced very well between the excellent lyric representation and backing music. Even as a fan of many different styles of music, I highly, highly recommend it.

    5 out of 5 stars genius.......1999-02-11

    Townes Van Zandt was one of the greatest poets who ever lived ........... the fact that he could set his magical words to music and play superb guitar and deliver their combined message in a haunting voice .... makes him totally unique among American folk artists. GET THIS CD! (and every other one as well)
    Flyin' Shoes
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Surprised this has not been reviewed already
    		 Flyin' Shoes
    Townes Van Zandt
    Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Country | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B0000AKXFQ
    Release Date: 2003-08-26

    Tracks:

    1. Loretta
    2. No Place to Fall
    3. Flyin' Shoes
    4. Who Do You Love
    5. When She Don't Need Me
    6. Dollar Bill Blues
    7. Rex's Blues
    8. Pueblo Waltz
    9. Brother Flower
    10. Snake Song
    11. Spider Song [*]
    12. Upon My Soul [*]
    13. Buckskin Stallion Blues [*]
    14. At My Window [*]

    Album Description

    2003 remastered reissue of 1978 album features 14 tracks including 4 bonus tracks in the form of four out-takes from 1973 (originally included on the 1994 reissue), 'The Spider Song', 'Upon My Soul', 'Buckskin Stallion Blues' & 'At My Window'. Charly.

    Album Details

    Includes Four Bonus Tracks.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Surprised this has not been reviewed already.......2007-02-03

    Started listening to Townes back in the mid 70ties when this LP first came out on the Tomato label. Back then even in Atlanta, GA it was extremely hard to find such an esoteric artist. WREK the GA Tech station would play Flyin' Shoes on their very diverse rotation and it's haunting melody is today as mesmerizing as it was then. I have every Townes CD made, even a few bootlegs, and this one stands as my go to CD every time I need the magic of his song. Out of the 10 selections, Who Do You Love, is the only one that doesn't seem to fit. Per the polls, there may be better CDs in his catalog but this one has my vote. As a bonus I might add that the liner notes to this CD and original LP are exceptional in their telling.
    Townes Van Zandt
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Townes Van Zandt
      Townes Van Zandt
      Manufacturer: Fat Possum [Old]
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B000OZ2CZM
      Release Date: 2007-05-15

      Tracks:

      1. For the Sake of the Song
      2. Columbine
      3. Waiting Around to Die
      4. Don't You Take It Too Bad
      5. Colorado Girl
      6. Lungs
      7. I'll Be Here in the Morning
      8. Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel
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      Poet: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • sheesh
      • 3-5 stars really, depending on if you are a TVZ fanatic
      • A Great Tribute to America's Poet of Loss and Longing
      • One of the Best I Own!
      • ... that you don't know what you've got 'til he's gone ?
      		 Poet: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt
      Various Artists
      Manufacturer: Free Falls Ent.
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      1. Live at the Jester Lounge: Houston, Texas 1966
      2. Rear View Mirror, Vol. 2
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      4. A Gentle Evening with Townes Van Zandt
      5. Legend

      ASIN: B00005NT3S
      Release Date: 2001-09-11

      Tracks:

      1. To Live's To Fly - Guy Clark
      2. Tower Song - Nanci Griffith
      3. White Freightliner Blues - Billy Joe Shaver
      4. Highway Kind - Cowboy Junkies
      5. Snake Song - Emmylou Harris
      6. If I Needed You - Ray Benson
      7. Loretta - John Prine
      8. Nothin' - Lucinda Williams
      9. Blue Wind Blew - The Flatlanders
      10. Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold - Robert Earl Keen
      11. Two Girls - Steve Earle And The Dukes
      12. Marie - Willie Nelson
      13. Pancho & Lefty - Delbert McClinton
      14. Waitin' 'Round To Die - Pat Haney
      15. My Proud Mountains - John T. Van Zandt

      Amazon.com's Best of 2001

      The songs of Townes Van Zandt are destined to be for folk artists what the works of Gershwin are to saloon singers. The likes of "Pancho & Lefty," "If I Needed You," and "To Live's to Fly" are the quintessence of troubadour music, thanks to the somber grace of the late Lone Star legend's language and the engaging simplicity of his melodies. Poet gathers a talented assortment of Van Zandt contemporaries and apostles to pay tribute to the man by lovingly reinterpreting his songs. Steve Earle electrifies "Two Girls" while Billy Joe Shaver tackles "White Freightliner Blues" with similar fervor. "Tower Song," one of the most poignant breakup songs ever written, is revived by Nanci Griffith, and Willie Nelson provides a conversational version of "Marie." Stalwart fans of these gems will always prefer hearing the originals and live versions performed by their composer, but they'll find plenty to respect and enjoy in this lovingly compiled salute. --Steven Stolder

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars sheesh.......2007-06-21

      Somebody stole mine and I just came back online to get it again and it's out of print and expensive as all get out. OK, it's also worth it, but . . .

      4 out of 5 stars 3-5 stars really, depending on if you are a TVZ fanatic.......2006-04-10

      If you have listened to TVZ do his own music exclusively, nothing really will ever compare, and this album may never rise to those expectations. But it will still be a good album for you, one to have for your collection.

      But if you like a lot of these other artists from previous work as well as TVZ, this is a great album. After a couple of listens, I have come to like the Cowboy Junkies interpretation the best. It is the most different from the original, but I don't buy these kinds of albums to hear karaoke. The best way to do cover songs is through your own interpretation, not imitation. This is a very good album on those terms.

      5 out of 5 stars A Great Tribute to America's Poet of Loss and Longing.......2003-12-12

      This tribute to Townes Van Zandt could not be more accurately titled: POET. The songs selected for this compilation prove as thoughtfully chosen as the artists who contribute, each emphasizing the power and beauty of TVZ's verse. He is America's greatest poet of loss and longing, as this recording makes apparent. There are few and very minor disappointments here: Cowboy Junkies and Robert Earl Keen offer interesting but ultimately uninspired versions of HIGHWAY KIND and MR. MUDD & MR. GOLD, versions that pale when compared to the originals. Billy Joe Shaver and Pat Haney, on the other hand, virtually seem to channel TVZ on WHITE FREIGHTLINER BLUES and WAITIN' 'ROUND TO DIE respectively, failing, perhaps, to make the songs their own, but capturing the spirit and heart of the originals beautifully. As I write, I listen to Steve Earle's terrific rendition of one my favorite TVZ songs, TWO GIRLS. It occurs to me that Earle gets the balance of this great tune just right, making it his own, while honoring the original. For my tastes, the stand-outs here are by Guy Clark, John Prine, Lucinda Williams, and Willie Nelson. Each of these artists, much like TVZ himself, have voices that could break your heart just reading the phone book. Clark's lovely TO LIVE'S TO FLY, in particular, can leave me blubbering with just a casual listen: "It's goodbye to all my friends/It's time to go again/But think on all the poetry/And pickin' down the line." The respect and love each of these artists feels for both Townes and his work proves evident in every line, every chord. A brief introduction by Susanna Clark (excerpted from the book, SONG BUILDER) reads like a great American short story. Nothing could be more appropriate for a collection like this. With an ouvre like that of Townes, of course, there are bound to be omissions, songs that we know should have but didn't make the cut; let's hope for a sequel.

      5 out of 5 stars One of the Best I Own!.......2003-10-11

      This is one of the all-time best CDs I own. I discovered Townes through other artists and through soundtracks -- smatterings here and there that lead me to the gradual realization that he was one of my favorite songwriters. Frankly, I think he's a better songwriter than almost anyone, but a better songwriter than he is a performer as well -- and this album may prove me right. From John Prine's sweet, lazy cover of "Loretta" to Emmy Lou's chilling rendition of "Snake Song" -- pure folky golk. Guy Clark's cover of "To Live's To Fly" beats the Cowboy Junkies' cover (and I LOVE when they do it). There isn't a single track on this album that I don't jones for when I leave it out of the CD changer for a few days. There's a reason the used copies are so expensive!

      4 out of 5 stars ... that you don't know what you've got 'til he's gone ?.......2002-08-29

      I suspect -- and hope -- that this CD will bring the powerful songs of TVZ to a wider audience. While Townes was the quintessential "songwriter's songwriter", his recordings never reached the wider audience enjoyed by some of the artists represented on 'Poet' .

      Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, and John Prine -- all heard here-- are household names by comparison. If you like these artists, I would encourage you to give this album a listen. In the past several years I have been fortunate to hear these three artists in live performance, as well as Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Delbert McClinton, Steve Earle, and the Flatlanders. Besides being on 'Poet', what do all of these terrific artists have in common ? Each one of them at some point in their performance said (more or less), "Now we're going to play one for Townes." Anyone who commands that degree of respect in this company deserves a wider audience.

      Notable cuts: If there was ever a blacker song written than "Marie", I've never heard it. (Who else could write, "she just rolled over and went to Heaven, with my little boy safe inside" ?) Willie Nelson gives it a powerful, minimalist treatment here. Nanci Griffith sometimes sets my listening ear on edge, but she absolutely nails "Tower Song" here. Maybe I have heard Guy Clark too often in live performance to be objective, but the emotional undercurrents in "To Live is to Fly" are quite moving. Bravo to Lucinda Williams for "Nothing".

      Not so notable: Townes' most widely known song, "Pancho and Lefty", is covered frequently, often badly. Delbert McClinton continues that tradition here. Cuts by the Cowboy Junkies and Robert Earl Keene are forgettable.

      If you're not familiar with the music of TVZ, this is a terrific introduction by some artists you probably do know. Then treat yourself to the original with "Live at the Old Quarter" (young Townes) and "Rear View Mirror" (Townes sounding nearly bone-tired).

      ... and if you appreciate TVZ's music, then start listening to Guy Clark, Townes' longtime friend and traveling partner. He's another songwriting master who is still with us. Let's not let another treasure slip away under-appreciated.
      A Gentle Evening with Townes Van Zandt
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • A glimpse into genius...
      • Lives up to the title...
      • An interesting rarity, but not essential for casual fans...
      • A Gentle Evening with TownesVZ
      • Beautiful
      		 A Gentle Evening with Townes Van Zandt
      Townes Van Zandt
      Manufacturer: Dualtone Music Group
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Country | Styles | Music
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      GeneralGeneral | Folk | Styles | Music
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      ASIN: B0000657WA
      Release Date: 2002-04-23

      Tracks:

      1. Talking KKK Blues
      2. Rake
      3. Like A Summer's Thursday
      4. Second Lover's Song
      5. She Came And She Touched Me
      6. Lungs
      7. Tecumseh Valley
      8. A Joke
      9. Talking Thunderbird Wine Blues
      10. Ira Hayes

      Product Description

      1. Talking KKK Blues
      2. Rake
      3. Like A Summer's Thursday
      4. Second Lover's Song
      5. She Came And She Touched Me
      6. Lungs
      7. Tecumseh Valley
      8. Joke, A (Spoken Word)
      9. Talking Thunderbird Wine Blues
      10. Ballad Of Ira Hayes, The


      Format: CD

      Amazon.com

      His studio albums were tricky affairs generally cursed with overproduction, but Townes Van Zandt's solo live recordings (and his influential songwriting) have made him a Texas music legend. A Gentle Evening with Townes Van Zandt captures the enigmatic performer alone at a 1969 Carnegie Hall concert, sounding a little tentative but still cracking the occasional joke. His set list consists of material from his first two albums, including classics "Tecumseh Valley," "Like a Summer's Thursday," and "She Came and She Touched Me." "Talking KKK Blues," heard here for the first time on record, bears a striking resemblance to the songwriter's "Fraternity Blues" and shows Van Zandt's biting wit. Since the definitive Townes Van Zandt concert document, Live at the Old Quarter, remains out of print, this single CD will serve the late Texan's legion of fans well. Aptly titled, it's a subdued affair, but it's still essential for anyone who wants to hear the performer in his youthful prime. --Jason Verlinde

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars A glimpse into genius..........2007-02-13

      This CD is striking in so many ways....1969...the height of "flower power" and political turmoil over the war....the "Summer of Love"...and along comes a soft spoken Texan with nothing but his mind, heart and guitar to elevate us and to show us a higher truth. Certainly Our Mother the Mountain, The Old Quarter etc. are Townes' masterworks but this one shows a purity, sparseness and "less is more" than even The Old Quarter. This is my favorite Townes album, only a few songs, but maybe its better that way..his picking is precise and rhytmic but not clinical......his voice at age 26 (?)is strong, controlled and has a tinge of bittersweet at times...the sound is wonderful...of course the songs themselves are timeless and pure genius in my opinion...the imagery of "She Came and She Touched me" is nothing short of magical, the lilt of "Like a Summer Thursday" is like a snowflake dancing on a breeze. Tecumseh valley of course, needs no comment. I think this is the best version. Man Townes, what a gift you had and gave to us...God bless you...

      5 out of 5 stars Lives up to the title..........2006-04-18

      This CD may not contain Townes Van Zandt's best known material, but taken in the context of when this performance was recorded the song selection makes sense. Townes was 25 when this was recorded at Carnegie Hall and hadn't written many of his most famous songs yet, therefore other reviewer's complaints that he didn't play "Pancho and Lefty" can be dismissed as ludicrous. If Townes hadn't written the songs yet, he couldn't have included them in his set (!). The previously unreleased "Talking KKK Blues" is Townes at his spoken blues best. The sound on this CD is phenomenal and what is striking is the way he projected in a concert hall like Carnegie Hall. I guess this struck me because I'm so used to hearing his live recordings in tiny dives like the Old Quarter in Texas or McCabe's guitar shop in California. Townes' voice was in top form and his guitar skills were also top notch during this time period, and while his song selection for this gig was his more subdued material I don't find this to be negative. This recording was lost in the shuffle between record labels but now that its been released it serves as a valuable document of Townes' early years and his budding genius. Despite the fact that the songs here could be classified as rarities, I would go so far as to say that this would be a good introduction to Townes Van Zandt's music. His humor and personality shine throughout the performance and it is refreshing to hear him at the peak of his powers.

      3 out of 5 stars An interesting rarity, but not essential for casual fans..........2005-07-08

      This 1969 half-hour concert in NYC gives the young Townes a showcase for early work. He sings eight of his own compositions, two of them in the "talking blues style." He tells a joke. And he concludes with a movingly performed rendition of Peter LaFarge's "Ballad of Ira Hayes." While Townes' version of this famous story/song is not quite as good as LaFarge's own, or Johnny Cash's hit single, it has a quiet power. In fact, the concert suffers most from the fact that Van Zandt's song choices are all mellow. He probably had not yet written his livelier songs, such as "Two Hands" or "To Live is to Fly" or "No Lonesome Tune" or "If I Needed You" or "Rex's Blues." None of those are rockers, but each is a bit quicker than the material on "A Gentle Evening." As a picture of Townes' early in his career, this is a good product, with good sound quality. As a folk/country listening experience, it's a bit uneven, a bit too gentle, somewhat dated, and yet a bit too short to be worth the price. A better value is "High, Low and Inbetween" which also includes a second LP from the '70's, "Late Great Townes Van Zandt" (He became "late" on New Year's Day, 1997, so the title is satirical.) As to WHEN Van Zandt became "great" opinions differ, but that he WAS a "great" songwriter, most serious singer/songwriter fans are in agreement. On this release, by the way, he is in fine voice, better than on his later records, in my opinion.

      4 out of 5 stars A Gentle Evening with TownesVZ.......2002-05-21

      If you want to listen to some early TVZ live you will enjoy this album. It's almost like a boot leg with his talkin' in between his songs. TVZ at his best and not apparently wasted on the wind.

      5 out of 5 stars Beautiful.......2002-04-26

      This is my 3rd TVZ live album (others: Rear View Mirror, Live at McCabes) and it is very very good. Compared to the others that I have heard the two things very different about this album is that one, it is a very very young TVZ (25 year old) and secondly the large audience. A typical TVZ concert usually were to small audiences. My only complaint is that he sings only 6 of his "songs", the rest being a joke, talking blues and a cover.
      All in all, an excellent album. And now I can't wait for the release of the mythical Live at the Old Quarter

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