The Flatlanders
Live ’72 (New West)Since the first incarnation of the Flatlanders performed fewer than 20 times, that this recording exists at all is remarkable. Considering that few people in 1972 had the means to record shows from the audience, the fact that it’s aurally pleasing is beyond belief. The story goes that the band didn’t even know the tape existed until the spring of 2003. Recorded at the One Knite, a hole-in-the-wall located where Stubb’s currently stands on Red River, the place had only recently started hosting bands, who played for tips. At times it’s obvious that the crowd isn’t exactly paying attention to what Jimmie, Joe, Butch, and pals are laying down; the background conversations are audible, you can occasionally hear the clatter of pool balls, and there’s little crowd response after a couple of tunes. The Flatlanders don’t seem to mind. The playing is unrestrained, and the vocals are soulful. The set features songs from Lubbock Mafia friend Al Strehli, two from Butch Hancock (who oddly didn’t get a lead vocal that night), and a typically eccentric mix from the likes of Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt (“Tecumseh Valley” is a standout), Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, and Jesse Fuller. It’s interesting to note how much in common the Flatlanders had with contemporaries such as Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks and Hot Tuna. The acoustic nature of their sound qualified them as a “folk” act with a sense of nostalgia, and like Hicks, the Flatlanders’ take on “Hesitation Blues” shows they’d probably been listening to Jorma ‘n’ Jack, who popularized that tune at the time.
This article appears in July 16 • 2004.