Steve Earl just released a new record “Townes” in tribute to this great song writer from Texas. Its a good record and has been getting a lot more play than the recent drivel from Ben Harper. But that’s another story.
So I went through my live recordings, which I recently named The Great American Music Archive, for something to blow you away. This is by no means a substitute for the essential Townes Van Zandt record “Live At The Old Quarter“. The other recordings I have of Van Zandt he is playing solo. This set features some tasty licks from another guitarist and also some color from a flute / sax player.
Townes Van Zandt tunes have been recorded by many other artist. Willie Nelson had a huge hit doing a duet of “Pancho and Lefty“. Leftover Salmon made a barn-burner out of “White Freightliner Blues” which they learned from New Grass Revival.
The track “To Live Is To Fly” is featured on my Tumblr Page.
You can listen to the terriffic closing tune “Colorado Girl > Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues > Colorado Girl” right here.
Download MP3
Townes Van Zandt
The Down Home – Johnson City, TN
1985-04-18
1 NPR Intro
2 Intro
3 Dollar Bill Blues
4 Pancho and Lefty
5 Buckskin Stallion Blues
6 No Place To Fall
7 Talking Thunderbird Blues
8 Mr Gold & Mr Mud
9 If I Needed You
10 Snowing On Raton
11 To Live Is T Fly
12 Don’t You Take It Too Bad
13 Snake Mountain Blues
14 Rake
15 Fraternity Blues
16 Colorado Girl > Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues > Colorado Girl
17 Outro
18 NPR Outro
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great boot!! – one of my biggest influences…barnyardmusic.blogspot.com
Glad you found it, Jeff. Townes has been a big influence on many.
Thanks for posting this–the medley of Colorado Girl / TT’s Blues is wonderful, and I haven’t heard this on any of his other live shows.
The medley that you mention really is something! On that other live shows you have does he ever have a band configuration like on this one, or is he solo? Thanks for the comment…
I have a few with bands; these seem mostly to be when he played outdoor gigs like fairs; I don’ t recall any with a cello(?) like in this one though. I think I prefer the solo stuff still!
i was quite happy to have the chance to work on this recording and to get it out to the masses. i’m very glad it’s gone over so well.
dave
Thanks for stopping by, Dave. And thanks for all the work you do for the trading community. Your generosity is commendable and your recordings are remarkable. Cheers, Luke