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New Townes Van Zandt Album

08 Jul 99 - 09:43 AM (#93385)
Subject: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: bob schwarer

Read yesterday there is a new TVZ album out. Material he recorded 1989-1991. The name of the album is "A Far Cry From Dead". Has anyone here had a chance to listen to this yet? I guess I'll get it just on reputation.

Bob S.


08 Jul 99 - 10:36 AM (#93398)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Reslems

All the Zandtanistas I know say it's his best work ever. Two tracks on it have never been recorded before, "Sanitarium Blues" and "Squash". If you'd like a little background ... TVZ put down guitar and vocal on a friends DAT. After his death, Jeanene Van Zandt produced the album "A Far Cry From Dead" with Eric Paul (I think that's his name), brought in some great musicians for backgrounds, etc. Then, of all things, got a record contract. Why aren't people like Townes appreciated more when they're alive? Res


08 Jul 99 - 11:45 AM (#93409)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Reslems

Forgot to tell you, you can order directly from Jeanene Van Zant at: http://www.townesvanzandt.com/order.html Reslems. AFCFD is $15.00 I'm not spamming here, just trying to be helpful. Also, I'd like to see JLVZ and her kids get as much from this project as they can. Res


08 Jul 99 - 11:51 AM (#93411)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Mudjack

I always thought Townes was very appreciated. I know he was regarded as a songwriter's songwriter. His passig was unfortunate but his life style was his worst enemy and likely prevented him from having a huge financial success.I'm looking forward to hearing the new project but a bit skeptical when someone reworks some one elses material. My favorite Townes material is what is captured "live" and not over produced with studio intrusions.I know what you mean Reslems, It seems an artist has to be deceased before they get the recognition they deserve. Townes had a lot of respect and his music will always remind us of his genius writings.
Mudjack


08 Jul 99 - 03:36 PM (#93461)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Res

His lifestyle killed him, no question. About success tho, he'd run away from it any time it got close. In the early years, (late 60's) he and I were playing the same club in San Antonio. He was very excited about a new album (vinyl of course) coming out the next week. Apparently, at that time success meant something to him. later he avoided it. He told his wife, something to the effect that, "after I'm gone you're gonna be busy". Well, he predicted that one with accuracy. He also predicted that he would die at the same age as his father did. He was correct on that one too. Throughout his musical career, I kept hearing alot about death, dying in his songs. Death wish? Not sure. Sorry for the ramble. Res


08 Jul 99 - 04:28 PM (#93475)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Cow Tooth

It sort of makes you wonder whether there are just some people who have to be living a 'death wish' kind of life in order to find their muse. Do you think that if Townes Van Zandt had managed to quit drinking early on and courted commercial success his songs would have resonated the way they do? Would there be that haunting, beautiful sadness to his writing and that wry wit behind his humor? Or would it be the same kind of chaff as most of country music? I would hate to think that self-destructiveness is part of what made his (or anyone else's) music great, but it's also hard to separate his life from his music.


08 Jul 99 - 04:29 PM (#93476)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: bob schwarer

Ramble on. I sure enjoy listening to his work.

Bob S.


08 Jul 99 - 05:17 PM (#93487)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Res

Folks, you may want to visit this site, its a mailing list where you can meet all of the friends of Townes. We sometimes get off topic and refer to OKOM (our kind of music), could be Steve Earle, Scotty Melton, and many others. I've met some of these people up close and personal, others I've been corresponding through the list and "back channel" for several years. Try it, ya just might like it. Give it some time and don't let "mean ole sumbitch Wayne" fool ya. TVZ's widow (Jeanene)is a member of the list too! So you'll get some close to first hand information.

To subscribe to the TVZ list send an e-mail to: Majordomo@listbox.com and put "subscribe about-townes" (don't use the quotes) in the msg. body, (not the subject line). Let me know if you do it and if you like it. Reslems@aol.com I'll see ya on the list. Res


08 Jul 99 - 05:22 PM (#93490)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Res

Folks, you may want to visit this site, its a mailing list where you can meet all of the friends of Townes. We sometimes get off topic and refer to OKOM (our kind of music), could be Steve Earle, Scotty Melton, and many others. I've met some of these people up close and personal, others I've been corresponding through the list and "back channel" for several years. Try it, ya just might like it. Give it some time and don't let "mean ole sumbitch Wayne" fool ya. TVZ's widow (Jeanene)is a member of the list too! So you'll get some close to first hand information.

To subscribe to the TVZ list send an e-mail to: Majordomo@listbox.com and put "subscribe about-townes" (don't use the quotes) in the msg. body, (not the subject line). Let me know if you do it and if you like it. Reslems@aol.com I'll see ya on the list. Res


08 Jul 99 - 05:23 PM (#93492)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Res

Sorry I sent that one twice. But cut me some slack, I only met-up with this CAFE yesterday. Res


08 Jul 99 - 05:34 PM (#93496)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Jeri

Welcome Res! We don't yell at people for making oopsies - that's all we'd ever have time for!

Now, I may be clueless, but I thought TVD died of complications following surgery? I don't understand how that's attributible to his lifestyle.


09 Jul 99 - 08:56 AM (#93649)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Res

His wife brought him home from the hospital - actually had to get him out of the hospital as he was going through the "DT's". It is my understading that anesthesia and the DT's don't mix. So, the story, as I remember it, wifey took him home, gave him is booze and he was in quite some pain. Thought he was taking some pain killers when actually the bottle of pills were antihistimines. I'll try to find the article that Jeanene Van Zandt wrote to the TVZ list concerning those events. I doubt that I still have it but if I can find it anywhere I'll post it for you. There are a number of "remembering Townes" articles available to read and I'll try to post those sites soon. Apparently there are a few people who are interested. -- Res


10 Jul 99 - 06:43 PM (#94006)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Res

For all those who may be interested in TVZ links, visit my friend Rolland's web site. Lots of links, enjoy. Res

http://www.wolfenet.com/~rheiss/index.htm


11 Jul 99 - 03:59 PM (#94154)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: WyoWoman

Welcome, Res. The Mudcat Discussion Forum is most certainly one place where one doesn't need to apologize for "rambling." (See the flatulence thread if you doubt my word.)

Perhaps you can answer a minor wonder I've been having for a while. I sing the song "Night Rider's Lament," and was told that TVZ wrote it. However, the only recording I have of it is by Nancy Griffith on a mix tape someone handed me; ergo, no songwriter listed.

Do you happen to know the answer to this?

WyoWoman


11 Jul 99 - 04:02 PM (#94155)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: WyoWoman

Oh, and by the way, I wasn't certain what the URL for the discussion group was. Or was it through the email address you listed? I don't know enough about Van Zandt's music to contribute much, but I have really liked several songs he's written and would enjoy lurking about eavesdropping on the conversation.

WW


11 Jul 99 - 06:52 PM (#94200)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Frank of Toledo

"Night Rider's Lament" was written by Michael Burton, recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker,Ian Tyson, Ed Trickett with Bok, Trickett and Muir, Suzy Boggus and Nancy Griffith.


11 Jul 99 - 10:27 PM (#94239)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: WyoWoman

Thenkyew. I shall inform my source. (It's still kind of a cool song. Inspired me to learn the yodel...)

WW


12 Jul 99 - 01:26 AM (#94284)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Mudjack

OK Frank,
I've known for sometime that M. Burton wrote NRL, but just who is he? He's pictured on Nancy Griffith's CD. Art Thieme covered it on his 1980 (yr) KM 180 LP. Do you know his background, bands he's played in etc. Sorry to get away from the TVZ subject.
Mudjack


12 Jul 99 - 09:12 AM (#94366)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Mike Regenstreif

Michael Burton is from Alaska (or was from Alaska back in the '70s when Jerry Jeff Walker was first doing "Night Rider's Lament). Other than "NRL," I'm not familiar with anything else he's written.

Mike Regenstreif


14 Jul 99 - 09:52 AM (#95058)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Res

I have all of TVZ's albums and can't recall NRL, I don't think that it is a TVZ song.

For those interested, here is a review of "A Far Cry From Dead" from Rolling Stone.

Ooops, it wouldn't copy here. Now what do I do.

If any one wants to see it, send me your e-mail address and I'll respond with the review as an attachment. Keep on Keepin' on "For The Sake Of The Song" (TVZ) Res


14 Jul 99 - 10:03 AM (#95061)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: WyoWoman

Well, as I was going through my music last night, trying to sort out what is actually charts and what is just scribbling, I discovered how I came to associate TVZ with NRL in my mind. I got "Tecumseh Valley" on the same night I got "NRL" and somehow morphed the two together in my wee little brain.

But how 'bout that "Tecumseh Valley..."

WW


14 Jul 99 - 11:35 AM (#95092)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Res

A story, and I'll try to make it quick. Late 67, early 68, Townes and I were playing the same coffee house in San Antonio. He was doing Tecumseh Valley every night. When I got transferred to Tacoma, I didn't know the lyrics so i wrote my own. "Wenatchee Valley", I remembered the story and the melody. About six months later I found a TVZ album (Our Mother The Mountain [still my fav]) and learned hislyrics. Don't know what happened to mine but they weren't nearly as good as his. Tecumseh Valley was the first song of his that I learned.

Forgot to include my e-mail address in the prev. post. If you want that review from Rolling Stone, let me know. Res Reslems@aol.com


15 Jul 99 - 11:31 PM (#95673)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: WyoWoman

Hi Res -- I tried to email you and couldn't get it to go. Is this correct:

Res Reslams@aol.com

?? My machine doesn't seem to like that space. (Sorry. It's not that I don't want to give you your space...)

Anyway, if you could email it to me, that would be funkengruven:

kcompton@trib.com

Thanks, WW


16 Jul 99 - 11:49 AM (#95887)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Res

Nope, its just: Reslems@aol.com

I'll send the review to your e address. Res


10 May 11 - 08:26 PM (#3151765)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Art Thieme

These threads on Mr. Burton and NRL surely do weave the proverbial tangled thread.

Michael Burton, if you are out there, please "come on in!" The coffee is ready---and the herd is bedded down...

Art


10 May 11 - 08:41 PM (#3151767)
Subject: RE: New Townes Van Zandt Album
From: Charley Noble

Art-

Thanks for refreshing this old thread...

Out of kindness, I suppose...

Charley Noble