townes van zandt.

[telemaster1953]

words can not describe the talent this man had.

[MT Tele]

TVZ, lives forever.

[Martin R]

There's a YouTube clip of "Marie" that always makes me cry...very embarrassing.

We cover Flying Shoes. I always liked the images in the song. Then heard Townes intro it...not at all what I thought the song was about.

I can't remember who told this, but a musician was part of a song circle with Van Zandt. They took questions from the audience. Someone asked why Townes didn't write any happy songs. He said, "Darling, these are the happy songs".

We play a club in Santa Fe that I've been told is where Townes played his last gig. (If it's not true, please don't tell me.)

[DrumBob]

I watched a documentary film on Townes recently and found myself depressed by the end. He was a talented and very troubled man for certain, with serious substance and emotional issues. I found his music-at least what I heard in the film-to be extremely low key, desperate, sad, and dare I say, very one-dimensional. I have enjoyed his songs more when performed by others.

[Lenderman_k]

I love Steve Earle's version of Lungs

[Stubee]

I love Townes stuff, play several of his tunes.

I saw him at the Arc fronting for Guy Clark. As Guy said when he walked onstage after Townes' set: "Well, was that dark enough for ya"?

Dark life, great songwriter.

[DuncanAngus]

Townes was Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash all in one. Amazing, but sad talent....

[getbent]

for me, there is a lineage from

willis alan ramsey to townes to steve earle that is both tragedy and kind of texas gothic in a sense...

If you don't have 'live at the old quarter' nor willis alan ramsey's first record (and his only for like 40 years!) get them and sit in the dark (preferably a smolderingly hot set of nights) and just listen...

I bought both used in my youth and absolutely wore them out... great great great great music....

I don't go a day without quoting something that townes said or wrote.

[Martin R]

^^^^
What he said

[elihu]

Originally Posted by Martin R

^^^^
What he said

Yeah, he says things pretty well.

Live at the Old Quarter is bone chillin' music...simple melodies with complex, oblique lyrics that lead you through powerful emotions. The great writers never finish the puzzle for you, thus ensuring your involvement.

I like your Texas Gothic concept Getbent...a case could be made for the inclusion of Steve Fromholtz and B.W. Stevenson along with Willis Alan Ramsey.

[telemaster1953]

townes van zandt and guy clark are the reason i started writing songs.