20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!, August 28, 2003
I am a songwriter based in Nashville and I'm so glad to see that this movie has made it to DVD. These guys, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, etc., are the ones who made me want to become a writer in the first place and it's so great to see them so young and hopeful, like they might be able to do something new and inpired, heartfelt and intelligent. The most moving scenes, for me, are the ones with Townes Van Zandt. He had such a sparkle in eyes back then in '75.
The songs are wonderful and the performances are rough and real, like country music was for a time. Check it out!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whew!!!!!! What a treat, August 21, 2003
This is a film that won't get much press, and many will miss. Make no mistake, this is a raw, underground masterpiece. Sound Quality is excellent, and this footage is RARE. I recently read the Steve Earle bio "Hardcore Troubadour" (not a bad read-4 stars) and several times it talks about the jam sessions at Guy Clarks's house. I could only visualize the magic from those mid 70's get togethers. This dvd captures those actual moments. Steve Earle must be under 20 (and hard to recognize). Many other artists also. Guy Clark does a great "Desparadoes Waiting For The Train". One full hour of unreleased music as an extra, is a real treat. This is a sleeper, not to be missed.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A musical vision fulfilled - Townes Van Zandt and friends, August 2, 2006
This review is from: Heartworn Highways (DVD)
I was stunned by this movie. I learned of it and purchased it in 2003. For various reasons it remains for me the best, most emotional movie I have seen about musicians and their music. The producer chose well: He found the songwriters that shaped country and rock for the next 30 years: Townes Van Zandt, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Steve Young, John Hiatt, Charlie Daniels and a tribute to the late Skinny Dennis, immortalized in Guy Clark's "LA Freeway." I wish David Allen Coe had been left out, but no film is perfect.
The songwriters are shown at their best and worst: a drunken, funny TVZ falls into a rabbit hole and Silent Night is rendered by fine musicians too drunk to remember the lyrics.
This movie was made when I was a poor student and musician with a small circle of talented friends in Tampa at the University of South Florida. The difference is that most of my friends and I got straight jobs [we still tried to make a difference] but these musicians changed the world, just a little.
I married the singer/Business major I met at USF and divorced 30 years later. I still play guitar, write and record at home and dream of making it in music - but mostly I learn songs written by artists like those in this movie and try to understand the magic they have that still captures me.
When TVZ sang 'Waiting around to die' he brought tears to the eyes of his 70+ blacksmith neighbor, while Cindy comforts him. It was magical. TVZ does a "medley of my hit" and sings "Pancho and Lefty," and Rodney Crowell sang "Bluebird Wine," both covered by Emmylou. Steve Young's "Alabama Highways" was wonderful too. It was a look into my past - and the past and future of the intelligent, emotional music I love best.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
