In celebration of 50 years since the start of Townes Van Zandt’s career in music Charley Records have released a remastered edition of his last album for Poppy Records, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt (1972). It comes complete with the four bonus tracks by way of early mixes and alternate versions of album “Pancho And Left”, “If I Needed You”, “Snow Don’t Fall” and “Heavenly Houseboat Blues”. Die-hard TVZ fans will no doubt go through them with a toothcomb. Regardless of the verdict, the rare beauty and soulful folk blues hues are there (both versions) for all to savour.
Produced by famed Sun Records producer and beyond (Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride and others) Cowboy Jack Clement, The Late Great… is adorned with superb Nashville pickers. It was an album that nearly didn’t happen due to Townes over dousing on drugs and alcohol, thankfully, he survived to live a good 25 years afterwards, and though his studio work never bettered his Poppy days, 1987 album, At My Window (Sugar Hill) once again with Clement involved, only this time he had Jim Rooney share the duties on an album worthy of Townes’ name. As for the Late Great… it is a fine recording, and with “Pancho And Lefty” and “If I Needed You” covered by and well known to the audiences of Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard, Hoyt Axton and for the latter you have Don Williams and Harris, Doc and Merle Watson, Ricky Skaggs and Sharron White and Mumford & Sons not lacking in interest of those outside his regular following. Alongside the above you also have his timeless composition “No Lonesome Tune”, for it alone I suggest you at least listen to / buy the record. Loose blues ode “German Mustard”, complete with informal opening backed by sombre tale “Silver Ships Of Andilar” and “Sad Cinderella” likewise underline Townes' art as a writer.
Townes also saw fit to pay homage to Hank Williams via covers of “Honky Tonkin’ and “Fraulein” plus one of Guy Clark’s earlier and lesser known songs, “Don’t Let The Sunshine Fool Ya’. To go with aforementioned, fiddle, mandolin and harmony vocals warmed gospel tune “Houseboat In Heaven”, a brilliant old time styled co-write with Susanna Clark it flows, effortlessly as do a great many of his songs, in rich poetic fashion.
A legend, and though troubled, TZV was a great songwriter and recording act, his albums for Poppy his use of lyrics a study no budding writer can ignore. No fanfare, just timeless music by a man who in many ways was ahead of his time, in the thinking of both his contemporaries and even himself. Townes who struggled almost his entire life against drugs, the bottle and depression through his writing has been an inspiration of countless others. Such acts as Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Eric Taylor and David Olney among them. The Late Great Townes Van Zandt is also available on 180-gram vinyl Lp and Digital Download.
Maurice Hope