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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb songwriting, August 1, 2004
This review is from: Texas Troubadour (Audio CD)
One day, I was searching for an MP3 of an old Willie Nelson song my dad used to play, Pancho and Lefty, when I came across the version by Townes Van Zandt, who wrote it. I downloaded it out of curiosity and loved it. Much rawer, much more emotive, much more poetic than Nelson's recording. I searched for more Van Zandt songs and slowly dug my way into a catalogue that is incredible. I looked on Amazon to see which records to buy and found this, Texas Troubadour, which compiles seven studio albums and a live set -- all for price that comes out to something like seven bucks a record. I bought it and have been listening to it almost weekly for more than a year. All I can say about Townes Van Zandt is that if you appreciate great songwriting, you'll appreciate this collection. He didn't have the most radio-friendly sound; Willie Nelson and others who've covered his songs have met that challenge. But nothing beats the emotional connections of a songwriter singing and guitaring his own work. Think Bob Dylan or Neil Young or Johnny Cash or even someone like John Frusciante -- great songwriters with rough but unique voices and instantly recognizable guitar playing. Some of my favorite songs by Zandt at this moment are "Rake," "You Are Not Needed Now," "Flyin' Shoes," "Waitin' Around to Die," "Highway Kind," "Snow Don't Fall," and "Lungs." I wish I would've had the chance to know and see Van Zandt play live when he was around. At least we have his records. Do yourself a favor and buy them!
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Texas Troubadour - Terrific/Tragic Townes Van Zandt, December 7, 2002
This review is from: Texas Troubadour (Audio CD)
1000 words aren't nearly enough to descibe the experience of Townes Van Zandt. I was only lucky enough to see Townes live once and that was through a antibiotic haze following a particularly bad dose of tonsillitis. Although he was tired and reflective it remains one the music experiences of my life. He performed to a pathetically small audience in the seaside town Southport (the one they forgot to close down)England, entertained us laconoically, sensitively and uniquely and was very confused that there was a "curfew" at 11pm. Enough memories and down to business. This is a must for anyone who loves music, enjoys legends, appreciates genius and recognises something special which Townes undoubtedly was and remains through the music he gave us. His emotion is raw, his voice unique but ultimately his legacy his his song which runs the gamut of emotion which defines us all. Perfect music beautiful man. I was lucky and privaledged to catch when he was around and glad I stayed to thanked him. As Nancy Griffith's father said "he is the greatest songwriter ever from Texas" and ranks up there with the best. He had the pose of a gunfighter and the emotion of a poet. The tragedy is that he is not around today to share his success but anyone who leaves this deep legacy is well worth shouting about - whether in your cowboy boots and from Bob Dylan's coffee table or not! Buy this and spread the word. Thank you Townes, Thank you very much.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely essential--7+ complete albums on 4 discs, March 5, 2007
It's too bad this compilation of Townes Van Zandt's music is getting harder to find--it's got his first 7 complete studio albums, which includes all of the music he made in the 60's and 70's, plus most of the live album he put out in the 70's as well. Why is this box essential? First of all, because of the quality of Van Zandt's music, and second because of the value--just check around. Some of these individual albums go for $60 or more, and here they can all be purchased together for much cheaper (I got my copy from caiman_com through Amazon's alternate sellers for $22). If you're looking to start getting into his music, it's a no-brainer that this CD has the most complete introduction at the best price.
If you haven't heard Van Zandt's music yet, you've probably at least heard ABOUT it. It's country-flavored, but definitely not straight up country, nor is it the slick "country-rock" put out by bands like the Byrds. No, it's not easy to stick TVZ into one genre, but he does touch on country, folk, rock, and pop. His earlier work sounds lyrically much like Bob Dylan, though he eventually develops more of a unique written voice for himself. Van Zandt's singing voice is definitely unique--southern, understated, yet capable of powerful, wavering emotion and subtle texture.
I'm not sure if this is the best place to delve into the merits of each album, since that would take way too long, but I can say that each of these albums has great highlights, and each album is worth listening all the way through. Van Zandt does get the best around The Late Great Townes Van Zandt, which includes his best-known song "Pancho and Lefty," but he's also a great interpreter of gospel tunes and classic Hank Williams. If you're interested in Townes Van Zandt, I urge you to start with this collection--even if you pay $40, you'll still come out saving a lot of money at $5 per album. Hope you enjoy checking out one of folk music's best kept secrets!
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