Search - Townes Van Zandt :: Texas Troubadour (Reis)

Texas Troubadour (Reis)
Townes Van Zandt
Texas Troubadour (Reis)
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (22) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (20) - Disc #2
  •  Track Listings (22) - Disc #3
  •  Track Listings (22) - Disc #4


     
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CD Details

All Artists: Townes Van Zandt
Title: Texas Troubadour (Reis)
Members Wishing: 7
Total Copies: 0
Label: Snapper UK
Original Release Date: 1/1/2005
Re-Release Date: 6/21/2005
Album Type: Box set
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop, Rock
Styles: Americana, Outlaw Country, Singer-Songwriters, Country Rock
Number of Discs: 4
SwapaCD Credits: 4
UPC: 803415572922
 

Member CD Reviews

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 8/13/2023...
Nope!
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

CD Reviews

Absolutely essential--7+ complete albums on 4 discs
Elliot Knapp | Seattle, Washington United States | 03/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's too bad this compilation of Townes Van Zandt's music is getting harder to find--it's got his first 7 complete studio albums, which includes all of the music he made in the 60's and 70's, plus most of the live album he put out in the 70's as well. Why is this box essential? First of all, because of the quality of Van Zandt's music, and second because of the value--just check around. Some of these individual albums go for $60 or more, and here they can all be purchased together for much cheaper (I got my copy from caiman_com through Amazon's alternate sellers for $22). If you're looking to start getting into his music, it's a no-brainer that this CD has the most complete introduction at the best price.



If you haven't heard Van Zandt's music yet, you've probably at least heard ABOUT it. It's country-flavored, but definitely not straight up country, nor is it the slick "country-rock" put out by bands like the Byrds. No, it's not easy to stick TVZ into one genre, but he does touch on country, folk, rock, and pop. His earlier work sounds lyrically much like Bob Dylan, though he eventually develops more of a unique written voice for himself. Van Zandt's singing voice is definitely unique--southern, understated, yet capable of powerful, wavering emotion and subtle texture.



I'm not sure if this is the best place to delve into the merits of each album, since that would take way too long, but I can say that each of these albums has great highlights, and each album is worth listening all the way through. Van Zandt does get the best around The Late Great Townes Van Zandt, which includes his best-known song "Pancho and Lefty," but he's also a great interpreter of gospel tunes and classic Hank Williams. If you're interested in Townes Van Zandt, I urge you to start with this collection--even if you pay $40, you'll still come out saving a lot of money at $5 per album. Hope you enjoy checking out one of folk music's best kept secrets!"
The Late Great Townes Van Zandt
Leven1 | West Lothian | 09/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Townes Van Zandt has a lot of CDs available and not all of them are good. Be careful what you buy. Check out the reviews and track listings on Amazon first. In my opinion there are too many later CDs which are just repacked old songs with little or no new material. I love his music but I am not prepared to pay full album price for one or two songs. Therefore I was unsure where to start with his back catalogue then I found this boxset.



The box set is amazing value. You get Townes first 7 albums (and arguabley his best) plus a live CD for $20 or so. All of these CDs contain Townes songwriting at its most prolific and his best. The first CD contains his first two albums and is possibly the weakest (but by no means weak) of the set. This is because of his first album which was overproduced and they added in some questionable (on some tracks) backing arrangements to Townes' songs. This is particularly noticable on the classics like Waitin Round to Die. This does not ruin the songs but it is not the way the songs were meant to sound (compare the 1st version of Tecumseh Valley from his first album on CD1 to the second version also on CD1 but from his second album) and by all accounts Townes himself was not overly impressed with the sound of his first album.



For those unaware of Townes, his songs vary between country, folk and blues. My personal favorites are when Townes' songs are at their most dark, vulnerable, fragile and beautiful. However, he also does some good upbeat numbers, talking blues and humourous songs. Townes was a poet and as such expect to find most songs filled with beautiful and intelligent lyrics. He was not the greatest singer in the world but his voice fits perfectly to his own songs and I have not heard any better versions of his songs than his own.



Townes did re-record many of his best known songs on several of the albums here so there is some repitition but the songs are so strong that you cannot get fed up hearing them and there are also many hidden gems that I fail to understand how they are not better known (such as "Like a Summer Thursday" and "Snow Don't Fall").



I am reviewing this box set and not Mr Van Zandt as a whole but in my opinion the albums in this boxset are his best and are pure classics that you will come back to time and again and never tire of listening to. Townes was a very flawed character and as such his talent suffered. He was never as prolific again in his career but there are some decent later albums that contain mostly new material and I am now seeking them out.



Townes Van Zandt seems to instill a strong sense of loyalty and awe amongst those who appreciate his music. Will everyone like this? No of course not but his talent cannot be denied (I don't doubt Madonna's talent but her music just isn't my thing) and if you like (mostly acoustic) folk, country and blues then you should love Townes. Once you have discovered him you will want everyone else to hear and like his music as much as you do. I haven't and probably can't (in words) say just how much I love these songs. This is by far the best CD (for value and content) that I have ever bought."