Townes Van Zandt - Texas Troubadour Reis (86 tracks) +Album 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."

Essential Collection of a True Poet

James Morris | Jackson Heights, NY United States | 05/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Each and every time I play this box set, I am blown away by the stark poetic brilliance of Townes Van Zandt's writing and the simple, pure and unique sound of his voice. Although best known for his iconic compositions, If I Needed You and Pancho & Lefty, there are few, if any, of his songs which do not startle with their vivid, deft portraits of life, love and heartache. Unfortunately, he has been all but forgotten by even many folk and country enthusiasts, but his reputation lives on among the countless singers and songwriters he befriended and influenced, including such diverse talents as Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett and even Rodney Crowell. Steve Earle once called him, "the greatest songwriter who ever lived". A number of highly praised folk and country singer / songwriters of the last 30 years have concurred without reservation, adding his songs to their own repertoires while professing fanatical devotion to his words and music. Artists like Van Zandt simply don't come along every day.

Van Zandt was more of a rebel than almost any other singer / poet that springs to mind, yet his tunes and especially his lyrics are more accessible than one would expect, given his reputation as a wordsmith of uncommon depth and perception. Above all, his songs express a clarity of thought that is almost unequalled among songwriters of the last 50 years, especially for someone who was once confined to a mental institution and labeled a manic-depressive and a schizophrenic. Van Zandt often said that he drew a great deal of inspiration from the guitar playing of Blues legend Lightin' Hopkins and the songwriting style of Bob Dylan, and he covered Hopkins' material frequently in his live shows. Many critics and fellow musicians agree that Van Zandt and Guy Clark mutually influenced each other, each inspiring the other to heights that neither of them might have achieved had their close friendship not existed.

Townes Van Zandt was a prolific writer who recorded about thirty albums in a career that lasted not quite as many years. From his first album, For the Sake of the Song, included here, until his untimely death on New Years day 1997, he produced a body of work that dwarfed the output of many other singer / songwriters who lived through and beyond the same period. This set contains his first seven studio albums plus live material, all on four CD's.

Along with Steve Earle, Guy Clark and David Allen Coe, Townes Van Zandt shared the focus of the acclaimed 1975 documentary, Heartworn Highways. He has also been the focus of many tribute albums and dedications, and enjoys a reputation among his fellow performers that is as solid as it is deserved.

While any of Van Zandt's work is suggested for music lovers of discerning taste, this boxed set is a particularly wonderful collection of his earliest and most essential work. The price seems to vary wildly from dealer to dealer depending on its availability, but at almost any price, this one is a definite keeper. Highly recommended.

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