Townes Van Zandt

Townes Van Zandt

Anthology 1968-1979 (Fuel 2000)

Poet: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt

(Perdenales)

When Townes Van Zandt left this mortal coil on January 1, 1997, he left behind a legacy of songs that no one will ever match. His lyrics captured beauty and truth in a way that could be brutally sad or surprisingly uplifting, while his melodies possessed a magic that, once heard, never leave you. Anthology 1968-1979 is a 2-CD, 40-song set that covers Van Zandt's early years as a recording artist with Tomato Records. It's a strong selection, representing close to half his output for the label, from the album Our Mother the Mountain through Flying Shoes. This collection may surprise those familiar with only Van Zandt's later work, as his vocals are sprightly and the performances more formal than the singer-songwriter we're accustomed to. Three covers are included, from the songbooks of Guy Clark, Hank Williams, and Bo Diddley, and they go a long way to show his varied influences. The real stars here are his own songs, and there are too many highlights to name just a couple. Van Zandt possessed a poet's eye from the start, and this collection is gratifying proof. One minor quibble: Liner notes by noted British writer John Collis attribute the cover of "Pancho & Lefty" to Waylon & Willie, when we all know that it was Merle & Willie. It makes one wonder what effort was put into producing Anthology, which lacks any real information about the recordings beyond the year they were cut and a brief essay from Collis. That aside, the music is excellent and definitely worthy of everyone's attention. Poet: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt has the requisite all-star cast that features Willie, Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, the Flatlanders, Emmylou Harris, and Robert Earl Keen among others. Unlike a lot of other "tributes" floating around these days, this one hits its mark. Each performer is ideally matched with one of Van Zandt songs, there being a good mix of better-known tunes and some that are more obscure. All are lovingly done, with the Cowboy Junkies' dark, mystical take of "Highway Kind" and Shaver's rough and raucous version of "White Freightliner Blues" standing out. Van Zandt's fans and those interested in any of the artists represented are sure to find a lot to like about this exquisite collection of songs.

(Both)