Nov 05 2004
Going to Townes
Townes Van Zandt is one of the best song-writers of the 20th century, and I can count on one hand how many people I’ve met who’ve heard of him. I initially thought his music was okay but nothing special, just another traditional country singer playing his guitar like everybody else. Then a year or so later I listened to him again and realized how extraordinary his music really is. I’m always at a loss when I try to explain this, but in a word I would describe his music as unpretentious. His songs don’t lie. Townes doesn’t lie. That’s what it feels like. The authenticity of his life and his music moves me.
Yeah, I know, you could argue the same about Bob Dylan or Bruce Springteen or Johnny Cash if you felt like it. But trust me, all of them would be humbled by Townes Van Zandt.
Townes died in 1997, but his influence continues to grow. Greg Brown is becoming this century’s Townes Van Zandt, while some of Townes’s closest friends like Guy Clark keep making music the way they always have (by telling a good story), and it keeps getting better.
Since his death, everyone’s been trying to make money off Townes, and some of the stuff that’s been released is shameful. But the best introduction to his music is the 4-CD box set, Texas Troubadour, which contains some excellent bonus material and at least four of his best albums, Delta Momma Blues, High, Low and In Between, Flyin’ Shoes, and The Late Great Townes Van Zandt.
Give ‘em a listen. You might like what you hear. And if you happen to own the recent DVD release of a concert he did in 1988, please let me know what you think of it (because I can’t afford to buy it at the moment).
P.S., It’d be great to hear Townes Van Zandt on Whole Wheat Radio some day.
P.S. #2: My other Townes Van Zandt post.
