Customer Reviews

Live at The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(0)
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Last May Steve Earle released an album of Townes Van Zandt covers. He came to Seattle and did a free solo gig at an independent record store to promote his new album. I talked my brother-in-law into going. Earle played for about forty minutes or so, some of Townes' songs and his own tunes, one in particular called the Fort Worth Blues. Then he went behind the cashier counter to sign stuff. The
store had been packed with people and the autograph line was really too
long. Instead of waiting in line my bother-in-law and I went across the street and into a pub.
While we were having a beer I was thinking about whether to get a Townes Van Zandt CD instead of Earle's new one. During the show I had noticed that the store had stocked up on a lot of Townes' CD reissues. I remembered talking to Jerry, an old high school friend, once about Townes Van Zandt and he had recommended Live at the Old Quarter, saying that it was a classic. I decided I would pick up the Townes' Live CD and then ask Earle to sign it.
We went back, stood in the line and a half an hour later we got up to the counter. However, the joker just in front of us happened to be Steve Earle's biggest fan. He had his family, stack of CDs, a book, and a free poster for Earle to sign, and they also did a photo session with the rock star. Then it was my turn. I handed Steve Earle the same poster to sign and told him that I liked his Fort Worth song and that that was where I was born. He said that was also where Townes had been born. Then I handed him the Live at the Old Quarter CD and told him that he had inspired me to finally get it. He signed a big S and E on the inside cover and then stated that this was the "BEST RECORDED DOCUMENT OF TOWNES'S SONGS". Then my brother-in-law and I went back across the street to have another brew. I was happy. I hadn't felt that good about a music purchase in a long time.

I have listened to the Townes live album several times. It really is great. Townes' jokes are funny and the songs and the performance are amazing. He is a fine guitar player. I have also listened to Steve Earle's album. Earle does terrific versions of Townes songs. But the Townes' live album is certainly special.

I didn't buy this from amazon (got it at a bargain CD place in my area), but I wanted to post a review somewhere, especially on a site I respect.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that Townes is now officially one of my favorite musical artists, ever. I'm a guy from NYC, born and raised, by the way, relatively young for a fan of his: 29, but this music translates to any mind or heart that appreciates the heartfelt experiences that Townes communicates through his music. His work is timeless, in my opinion. And it draws you into a feeling of being out west somewhere, living the life of a desperado or some other character, even if you're from NYC, like me.

I've listened to a lot of country, by the way, believe it or not, and I know Van Zandt isn't pure country, but he deserves a lot more recognition than some of the guys considered the greatest country artists in the genre, e.g, George Jones, Hank Williams (father and son), Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, etc.

For people who are fans of those guys, I am one too, I don't intend to offend anyone with my opinion; but Townes is really on another level, his music is pure: no pretentiousness, no interest, or at least it seems so, in impressing the listener. He's just a special musician. I'll be looking for more of his stuff.

Best to all, and listen to this, if you want to experience some great music. Thanks for reading.

This CD is a must for anyone even casually interested in the singer songwriter genre. Unfortunately, much of Townes music is woefully misrepresented by the misguided efforts of producers attempting to package his sound for the masses. All he needs is the acoustic guitar and a willing audience which is what Live at the Quarter is all about. The recordings are surprisely clear and offer a great testimony on why he is so revered. His idle chatter and off-kilter humor is priceless.

The set-list is amazing. The intimate setting allows you to really appreciate his songwriting gift. The man had his demons but has very few peers. To paraphrase the great Townes, "We all got holes to fill and them holes are all that's real".. Do yourself a favor and get this CD.

We are SO Fortunate that someone thought to record Townes live at the height of his performing career. Or maybe I should say his height as a performer as he was certainly more popular in his latter days and regularly drew more than the 100 or so patrons crammed into this tiny venue in Houston, TX over several hot July nights in 1973. It remains one of the profound mysteries to me when I contemplate how utterly unkown and therfore unappreciated Townes was during his career, particularly outside of Texas. Since I discovered his music in 2002 I have been transformed by his brilliance.

A lot has been written recently about Townes' life and his music is gaining in popularity. As with Van Gogh, the staggering work of TVZ and the shining genius of his songs just cannot be kept hidden forever and it seems there is a zeitgeist occurring in the present day that is elevating the man's music to the heights it deserves. Steve Earle's "Townes" and the new Robert Plant version of "Harm's Swift Way" are many examples of activities of other artists that are paving the pathway to this surge in respect and popularity of Townes and his music.

"Live at the Old Quarter" is phenomenal in its simplistic approach to folk music and folk performance. Each song is sung with the emotional depth of feeling that each deserves as none seem rushed or used for filler. As you listen, you will be struck by his pristine picking, his soulful voice, and his poetic songwriting that seems to be so simple at first but reveals deeper secrets upon repeated listening. Like great paintings or great movies, one of the marks of a great album is how one can develop new perspectives upon each listening and cannot imagine a scenario where they might never get to hear it again.

There are other very good live albums by TVZ, notably "Rear View Mirror", "Roadsongs", "Live and Obscure, and "In Pain". But this album is a masterpiece by any standard and we are very, very lucky that it exists.

I've been a Townes Van Zandt fan for a long, long time. Used to see him live regularly at Poor David's Pub in Dallas and other venues. Had most of his records, but, for some reason, not this one--and it is the BEST REPRESENTATION OF THE MAGIC OF TOWNES VAN ZANDT! Listening to this recording brought back so many memories. It is the closest you can get to a live Townes show, complete with corny jokes. And I can't believe the recording quality--recorded on an old reel-to-reel with modest mics the way God intended. Townes was a unique poet/songwriter/singer, and his uniqueness is captured here in ghostly glory. Get it! It will make you smile, and possibly shed a tear. -Jim Bush

Just about everyone rates this five stars, which is about as right as air conditioning in Houston in August. Most of the reviewers have an anecdote about meeting Van Zandt, and I do too, but I want to talk a little about the album first.

I'm not sure that I've ever heard a bad recording of his "Waiting Round To Die", but this is my favorite. He cracks a few jokes between songs, mostly unreusable (but he learned one from Jerry Jeff Walker!)

Most of this is his original early work. A few covers--some Lightnin Hopkins, Nine Pound Hammer? (don't remember whose that was), an interesting take on Who Do You Love. None of it feels produced or polished, but the sound is clear, and the background sounds have been partly knocked out--or else folks was being real polite. I'm not a sound guy so I don't know about that stuff. But the music is about as honest playing in a cramped bar as it gets, and ambient sound doesn't distract. A few words on atmosphere...

1970s Houston, humid summer heat and still air, no air conditioning, cramped bar, 100+ obviously insane people. For those not from here, it's called the Armpit of the Southwest for good reason. No aircon = hell on earth, beer in hand or not. I've read that it was so packed that beers were moving from the bar to the buyer hand-by-hand-by-hand. And in the recording, Townes appreciates the crowd for their devotion and even gets a quiver in his voice when he talks to them about it. Maybe it was just the heat, but seems he was really happy to be there, and if you haven't been in an old school Texas bar before and can't appreciate the next point, I've put it in asterisks--the crowd was *respectful*.

I wish I'd been there during that time. I was one year from being born when this was recorded. I met him years later when I was in college at a particular venue in Austin (details purposefully withheld). He was the most easy-goin' guy you ever met. And drunk as Punch, but at least coherent. The bar manager was obsessed with making him comfortable and ready to play, which was amusing then but admirable now. Sad to hear that he left us when it happened, sad still today.

I lived in Nashville for years and heard rumblings of Townes's brilliance, but didn't follow up until much later, when a friend loaned me this CD. To say I was blown away is an understatement -- this was (and is) the best music I have ever heard. Townes's plaintive songs, tinged here and there with humor and love and restleness, will blow you away. Listening to the poetry of his words...the only comparable experience I can think of was reading William Gibson's prose for the first tme, back in the late 1980s.

Buy it.

This is a must have recording for the faithful and a great first time introduction to Townes Van Zandt. One of those rare recordings that keep getting better no matter how many times you listen to it. What a gift to leave behind.

I've owned a copy of Live at the Old Quarter for 10+ years and I'm writing this review just in case someone is 'on-the-fence' about buying it. I'm not normally a huge fan of most live albums ( excluding Live at Folsom Prison, The Last Waltz, Before the Flood...) but this is the ONLY way to listen to Townes. Townes is one of those artists that really only shines live. Don't get me wrong, I own everything Townes ever recorded, but his live recordings by far outshine his studio recordings. I can't believe how many people still don't know about Townes. He is one of the greatest song-writers ever recorded; his songs speak directly to the soul. I watched 'The Big Lebowski' tonight and when it ends with the Townes recording of 'Dead Flowers,' I feel like I'm hearing the voice of an old friend. I never got the opportunity to see Townes in concert, but when I listen to Live at the Old Quarter I feel like I was there. Townes may not have been meant for this world, but what he left behind is his gift. ALSO LISTEN TO GUY CLARK, BILLY JOE SHAVER AND STEVE EARLE!!!!!

As legendary as it's reputation, Live at The Old Quarter, a small juke joint measuring only 18x38, over a hundred people were jammed in this smokey barroom back in 1973 to listen to the unique songs of Townes Van Zandt, the man and his guitar, imagine a hundred people packed in this room, passing beer mugs and sawbucks back and forth to the bar, standing on each others' shoulders, I remember playing gigs like that... the songs of Townes Van Zandt, the words are intelligent, mesmerizing, and most of all realistic... these recordings are almost hypnotic or desolate, similar to the atmosphere of John Prine's debut album, Van Zandt literally takes total control here captivating this audience with his songs, "Poncho And Lefty", "If I Needed You", "Tecumseh Valley", "No Place To Fall", "To Live Is To Fly", "Two Girls", "For The Sake Of The Song", "White Freightliner Blues", also some fine covers on here, "Who Do You Love", "Nine Pound Hammer", "Cocaine Blues", another Townes' song that really catches my ear, Flyin' Shoes, is featured on the live release "Rear View Mirror"... really, this recording doesn't need a review, the songs of Townes Van Zandt speak for themselves, the closest thing to being there... if you like acoustic, a touch of the blues and folk, don't miss this one.