Search - Townes Van Zandt :: Live at the Old Quarter

Live at the Old Quarter
Townes Van Zandt
Live at the Old Quarter
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (13) - Disc #2

Legendary Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt was just 29 years old when he recorded Live at the Old Quarter. The result of a five-night stand at a tiny club in Houston, what is arguably his best album was originall...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Townes Van Zandt
Title: Live at the Old Quarter
Members Wishing: 9
Total Copies: 0
Label: Charly UK
Release Date: 7/1/1999
Album Type: Import, Live
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop, Rock
Styles: Americana, Outlaw Country, Classic Country, Traditional Folk, Contemporary Folk, Singer-Songwriters, Country Rock
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Legendary Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt was just 29 years old when he recorded Live at the Old Quarter. The result of a five-night stand at a tiny club in Houston, what is arguably his best album was originally released on vinyl as a two-album set, and later on compact disc in a slightly abbreviated version. Tomato's reissue, however, restores the album to its full glory, complete with remastered sound and insightful liner notes by music writer Chet Flippo. Van Zandt, who died of a heart attack in 1997, sings of love and loss in a world-weary voice that begs you to pay close attention. After apologizing for the club's broken air conditioner, he kicks things off with a stirring version of "Pancho and Lefty," perhaps his most famous song. But that's just one gem among many, such as the longing "If I Needed You," the fatalistic "Don't You Take It Too Bad," the bleak "Kathleen," the bitter "Tower Song," and the touching "Tecumseh Valley." Unlike his studio albums, some of which suffer from overly busy arrangements, Live at the Old Quarter finds Van Zandt performing solo and acoustic, which only makes his emotionally honest music all the more powerful. --David Hill

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Member CD Reviews

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 8/13/2023...
Nope!
Len S. (3)
Reviewed on 1/9/2012...
This masterpiece does not suffer from overblown production like most of TVZ's albums. Just the immense talents of one of our greatest singer/songwriters, his guitar and his off-beat sense of humor.

Townes' voice takes a little getting used to, but once you're hooked you'd rather hear him sing his own songs than the big stars who made them famous.

CD Reviews

Corny jokes a nice touch
a.b. | AWOL | 03/06/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is beautiful, totally unpretentious music, and the lyrics are incredible. I'm new to TVZ but I like his work and'll probably wind up getting more of it. Of less importance, the packaging is nice and the between-song jokes are left in. Good price too. Buy it!"
Twenty-seven Years Later...Still Live
Steven A. Fischer | USA | 06/28/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unfortunetly Townes Van Zandt passed away three years before I discovered his music. The good news is that there are these recordings for those of us who never had a chance to hear the man's music live. This is great, poetic music- it's just the man, his guitar and his music. It is music intimately communicated. The liner notes give a great description of The Old Corner's audience at these recordings. It was a hot night and the air conditioner was busted, but still they packed in tight to hear Van Zandt play. According to the notes it was so packed, the wait staff couldn't deliver the beers that were ordered but the patrons were cooperative and passed them into the crowd. Despite the beer and the crowd and the heat, some great music and audience/ artist communing went down and these discs document it perfectly. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"