Customer Reviews

High Low & In Between

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

How can one gauge this album? I, for one, cannot.

I had never heard of Townes Van Zandt as a 14-year-old Cowboy Junkies fan. I went to a Cowboy Junkies concert in Seattle in 1990, and Van Zandt was the opening act, and I think, even at my young and inexperienced age, I knew then I would never see a live show much more engaging than Van Zandt's opening act. He told stories between songs and connected with the audience on a very human level. I am not a fan of country music, and Van Zandt has a bit of a country feel, but his songwriting transcends the boundaries of categorisation.

I did not buy any of his albums until a few years later, just before his untimely demise. I started with this album because it included many songs I had heard and showcased Van Zandt's superior creativity and songwriting talents. The Cowboy Junkies (one of my favourite bands) had written songs with him and for him (and he for them), recording a beautiful version of his "To Live Is To Fly" on their album Black-Eyed Man. On the same album they recorded Van Zandt's "Cowboy Junkies Lament" (another stunning song, which Van Zandt recorded on one of his albums although it is not included in this compilation.)

This collection has an inherent beauty and a certain "on the road" quality to it. The album provides a variety of Townes'style with more serious ballads like'"High, Low, and in Between" and "Snow Don't Fall" (my two personal favourites) and more playful songs like "No Deal" and the very fitting closing song "Heavenly Houseboat Blues."

When I was 14 I might not have appreciated fully what I was seeing, but now that many friends, acquaintances, and music fans everywhere lament that they never saw Townes Van Zandt live (and did not necessarily give him the credit due him in his lifetime), I can feel blessed that I saw him, listened to him, and loved the experience... well, thanks to the Cowboy Junkies...

This CD is a bargain, with two albums' worth of fantastic songs.

It also remains, after having collected essentially all of Van Zandt's studio recordings, one of my favorites. For one thing, it contains a lot of happy songs ("No Lonesome Tune", "Greensboro Woman" and "No Deal", for starters) -- distinctively, as Van Zandt is famous for the lovely loneliness of his writing.

The CD also includes several gospel numbers (a subset of the happy songs): "Two Hands", "When He Offers His Hand" and "Heavenly Houseboat Blues".

The CD also has several covers. Though Van Zandt didn't eschew covers like certain other famous songwriters do, this CD has four, where most of his studio albums have none or one.

So the net result is that this CD, while feeling completely Van Zandt-ish, has a very upbeat, light, folky feel to it.

And of course, "If I Needed You" and "Pancho and Lefty" are on it.

Buy the album.

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.

There are two separate albums on this portmanteau CD, and it may be best to listen to them separately -- which is not at all a criticism. There's a lot packed into the simplicity of these songs -- Townes was one of very few people who could be described as "intense, in a laid-back kind of way" -- and trying to assimilate all 22 songs at once could lead to an overdose.

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!

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.

'If I needed you' by itself makes this worth owning, but certainly there is much more to hear. I was introduced to Townes' music by a very young Lyle Lovett in the 70's and have been in love with it ever since. I wouldn't rate this as Townes' best but Townes' seconds are better than most peoples first.

I only recently got turned on to Van Zandt after first getting into Steve Earle, and then exploring my father's old record collections (which include Willie and Merle's collaborations). This double album is seamless in its beauty, and infinite in its ability to soothe, elate, or elevate. "If I needed you," "You are not needed now," and "Greensboro Woman" shine alongside the haunting "Pancho and Lefty." But, don't take my word for it. Listen yourself, and experience the man Steve Earle says is "the greatest song writer in the whole world." Earle also insists that he would "stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in his cowboy boots" and say that.

They are great songs, and he's of course an authentic performer of his own work. However, listen to these recordings and you will feel that, but will also come to wish that the job of producer had never been thought of - background keyboard, sudden ambience effects, the works, if only you could go through and take all that stuff out! Still very worthwhile, but what a pity.

A comprehensive disc of Townes' work, exhibiting his range in both style and and voice. Some of the songs will leave you shivering--"Highway Kind" and "Snow Don't Fall". Others will make you giggle--"Mr. Gold and Mr. Mud" and "Don't Let the Sunshine Fool Ya'". Two final opinions on my favorites: "Silver Ships of Andilar" is a DEEP song, delving into Anglo-Saxon literary heritage of the wanderer. I use this song in teaching the heroic cycle, and even high school sophomores appreciate it--won't admit they LIKE it, but they appreciate it. Finally, a true jest from Van Zandt is the last song "Heavenly Houseboat Blues". Considering the persona I've created for him from listening to his tunes, I think he's probably giggling somewhere up there whenever this tune is played.