Townes Van Zandt was an American singer-songwriter. He is widely held in high regard for his poetic and often heroically sad songs. In 1983, six years after Emmylou Harris had first popularised it, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard covered his song "Pancho and Lefty", reaching number one on the Billboard country music chart.
Much of his life was spent touring various dive bars, often living in cheap motel rooms and backwoods cabins. And for much of the 1970s, he lived in a simple shack without electricity or a phone. He suffered from a series of drug addictions, alcoholism, and was given a psychiatric diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Van Zandt died on New Years Day 1997 from health problems stemming from years of substance abuse. A revival of interest in Van Zandt occurred in the 2000s when two books, a documentary film (Be Here to Love Me), and numerous magazine articles about the singer were written
This two CD set features two live shows recorded in Johnson City, Tennessee in 1985 and Helsinki, Finland in 1993.
Tracks - CD1
The Down Home Johnson City TN April 18 1985
1. Intro
2. Dollar Bill Blues
3. Pancho And Lefty
4. Buckskin Stallion Blues
5. No Place To Fall
6. Talking Thunderbird Blues
7. Mr Gold And Mr Mud
8. If I Needed You
9. Snowing On Raton
10. To Live To Fly
11. Don’t You Take It Too Bad
12. Snake Mountain Blues
13. Rake
Tracks - CD2
Tavastia Helsinki Finland June 18 1993
1. Dollar Bill Blues
2. Pancho And Lefty
3. Brand New Companion
4. Two Girls
5. Lungs
6. Rex’s Blues
7. Nothin’
8. The Ribbons Of Love
9. Kathleen
10. The Cuckoo
11. Brother Flower
12. If I Needed You
13. Pinball Machine (1st Verse)
14. Tecumseh Valley
15. Flyin’ Shoes
16. Don’t You Take It Too Bad
Album Review - New Classics, January 2019
