Who was/is Townes Van Zandt ? - CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more

Townes Van Zandt

Pancho And Lefty

During the third week of February, 1973, Townes Van Zandt's sixth album, 'The Late Great',shipped out of United Artists Records' five warehouses across the country. The austere, black-and-white gatefold sleeve was embellished with two photos and a little over one hundred words, its minimalism foretelling the content. Townes' music hadn't always been so perfectly framed, nor had he so successfully balanced light and dark. The arrangements on his earlier LPs had sometimes been prettified or overwrought, but this time the backing was more in keeping with the tenor of his music. The album's title was a joke that probably alluded to the fact that Townes had nearly overshot the runway several times. The front cover still-life was framed by Gothic type as if it were a funeral invitation. The back cover photo was the polar opposite; Townes was alive and buzzed. Poppy Records boss Kevin Eggers said that he came up with the title to generate a little interest. Most people didn't know Townes was alive; perhaps they'd take notice if they thought he was dead.

All the words expended on Pancho And Lefty have compounded more than unraveled its enigma. In concert, Townes would preface it with a story longer than the song itself of how he wrote it in a motel after devotees of Billy Graham and the Guru Maharaji had taken every hotel room in Dallas. Was it set in the past or present? Were Pancho and Lefty men or metaphors? Cosmic Butch Cassidys? Perhaps even Townes wasn't sure. Jack Clement, who'd dubbed trumpets on Johnny Cash's Ring Of Fire, added mariachi horns to one verse and strings to another. Neither was obtrusive, although Townes claimed that they went on without his say-so. Eggers wanted drums on the track but Townes refused. Emmylou Harris - a latter-day songcatcher, ferreting out obscure songs just as folklorists sought them in the mountains - recorded Pancho And Lefty in 1977. Six years later, it became a #1 country hit for the duo of Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. Since then hundreds of performers have recorded it, most recently the duo of Elizabeth Cook and Jason Isbell. Detail hounds note that the original 45 rendered the title as Poncho & Lefty and the original LP as 'Pauncho & Lefty,' Spanish clearly not being the first, second, or third language of anyone at Poppy Records.

Various Truckers, Kickers, Cowboy Angels - The Blissed-Out Birth Of Country Rock, Vol. 6: 1973 (2-CD)
Read more at: https://www.bear-family.com/various-truckers-kickers-cowboy-angels-the-blissed-out-birth-of-country-rock-vol.-6-1973-2-cd.html
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More information about Townes Van Zandt on Wikipedia.org

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Live In Johnson City, TN. April 1985 (LP)
Townes van Zandt: Live In Johnson City, TN. April 1985 (LP) Art-Nr.: LPMIND858

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(Mind Control Records) 13 tracks
$21.94 $27.44
Sky Blue (CD)
Townes van Zandt: Sky Blue (CD) Art-Nr.: CDFP17062

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(Fat Possum Records) 11 Tracks - Digipack - To mark the 75th birthday of the great singer/songwriter, Fat Possum releases unpublished acoustic recordings made 46 years ago, including two never-heard pieces. I met Townes when I played...
$19.74
Sky Blue (LP, Sky Blue Vinyl, Ltd.)
Townes van Zandt: Sky Blue (LP, Sky Blue Vinyl, Ltd.) Art-Nr.: LPFP17061

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(Fat Possum Records) 11 Tracks - Gatefold cover - To mark the 75th birthday of the great singer/songwriter, Fat Possum releases unpublished acoustic recordings made 46 years ago, including two never-heard pieces. I met Townes when I...
$29.64
Sky Blue (LP)
Townes van Zandt: Sky Blue (LP) Art-Nr.: LPFP1706

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(Fat Possum Records) 11 tracks, gatefold cover Sky Blue, a collection of unreleased songs by one of the most famous songwriters of the 20th century, is a time capsule created by Townes Van Zandt 46 years ago, and we discover and open it...
$29.64
A Far Cry From Dead (LP)
Townes van Zandt: A Far Cry From Dead (LP) Art-Nr.: LPFP17591

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(Fat Possum Records) 13 tracks, gatefold cover. "A Far Cry From Dead" is a posthumous collection that presents new versions of some of Van Zandt's best songs. He recorded the vocals for these tracks in a neighbor's home studio in the...
$32.95
Down Home & Abroad (2-CD)
Townes Van Zandt: Down Home & Abroad (2-CD) Art-Nr.: CDFLOATD6377

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(Floating World) 31 tracks The influence of the Texan, who died in 1997, on the alternative country scene was quite simply decisive. His songs have been interpreted by numerous stars, including Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Emmylou...
$21.94
Live At The Old Quarter, Houston,TX (2-CD)
Townes van Zandt: Live At The Old Quarter, Houston,TX (2-CD) Art-Nr.: CDFP1118

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(2008/FAT POSSUM) 27 tracks - digipac
$24.09
Delta Momma Blues  180g Limited Edition
Townes van Zandt: Delta Momma Blues 180g Limited Edition Art-Nr.: FP1088

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FAT POSSUM - 9 tracks​
$26.34
Rear View Mirror (CD)
Townes van Zandt: Rear View Mirror (CD) Art-Nr.: CDTVZ1107

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(2007/TVZ Records) 17 tracks
$14.24
No Deeper Blue (LP)
Townes Van Zandt: No Deeper Blue (LP) Art-Nr.: LPFP11732

only 1x still available
Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

(Fat Possum Records) 14 tracks “No Deeper Blue” was recorded in Ireland in 1994 with the support of musicians Frank Breen (drums), Percy Robinson (guitar) and folk pioneer Donovan. The album was produced by Phillip Donelly. Despite the...
$40.65
NEW
Flyin' Shoes (LP, colord Vinyl, Ltd.)
Townes Van Zandt: Flyin' Shoes (LP, colord Vinyl, Ltd.) Art-Nr.: LPTOM7017

deliverable within 1-2 weeks (as far as available at the supplier)

(Charly Records) 10 tracks, colored vinyl in blue, limited edition with colored insert, accompanying text, interview, and complete lyrics Townes Van Zandt's debut studio album from 1978 for Tomato Records was produced by the legendary...
$32.95
For The Sake Of The Song
Townes van Zandt: For The Sake Of The Song Art-Nr.: CDMR532

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$12.37
Our Mother The Mountain
Townes van Zandt: Our Mother The Mountain Art-Nr.: CDMR542

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$12.37
Delta Momma Blues
Townes van Zandt: Delta Momma Blues Art-Nr.: CDMR562

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$12.37
Flyin' Shoes
Townes van Zandt: Flyin' Shoes Art-Nr.: CDMR582

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$12.37
Be Here To Love Me (2-CD) Soundtrack
Townes van Zandt: Be Here To Love Me (2-CD) Soundtrack Art-Nr.: CDMR592

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$12.93
Live At The Old Quarter (2x180g Vinyl LP)
Townes van Zandt: Live At The Old Quarter (2x180g Vinyl LP) Art-Nr.: FP1118

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(2009/FAT POSSUM) 26 tracks Gatefold/Klappcover
$22.00
Our Mother The Mountain (CD)
Townes van Zandt: Our Mother The Mountain (CD) Art-Nr.: CDFP10902

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(2007/Fat Possum) 11 Tracks - Digipack
$17.54
For The Sake Of The Song (CD)
Townes van Zandt: For The Sake Of The Song (CD) Art-Nr.: CDFP1087

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(2007/Fat Possum) 11 tracks, digipack
$16.44