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My son was thrilled to receive this as a Christmas gift. Thanks for being so prompt.
There is a warmth and humor in this set that is rarely heard in any other their respective solo work. I don't ever leave reviews or anything but felt compelled to for this album. As the other reviews have said, it really is just like listening to a few friends trade songs on a back porch somewhere, with each other helping out now and then with a little extra guitar (mostly provided by Earle). I bought this years ago when it first came out, having just gotten into Townes' music and, although I knew who the other two were, I wasn't as familiar with their songs. At the time, I found Earle and Clark's music a lot easier to admire than to love; simply put, this record changed all of that. It just so happens that these three happen to be some of the greatest songwriters the South has ever produced. I think that anyone who's even a casual fan of either one or all of the performers will find a lot to love here.
The songs are exceptional, the performances heartfelt, the wit in good doses. Steve Earle has managed to build a pretty good audience over the years; Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt should be household names in certain parts of the country but remain sadly unknown to the bulk of us. This magical album presents each artist at their stripped-down best: taking turns doing their own songs with just voice and guitar, in the Bluebird Cafe's fine Songwriters in the Round tradition. Townes seemed to be having an especially good night, considering the depth of his alcoholism and depression; his material is probably the most rewarding. If you enjoy the sound of just a man's voice and his guitar, this is a must-have.
Townes even comments that he can't get dental (or any) insurance. Great album, bringing together three of the great songwriter-poets of our time, who along with Blaze Foley constitute a world unto themselves. They got together to perform this benefit for a Dental Clinic. All three are tight and brilliant, but the most heart rendering songs in this collection belong to Guy. The man is a treasure - he plays one of those guitars that he made himself (yes.)., it sounds beautiful.the same care and thoughtfulness is present in the songs.buy this.today.Oh.one correction to the other review on this page: Lucinda Williams' Drunken Angel isn't about Townes, but about Blaze Foley.
Townes Van Zandt's performance on this album made me appreciate his earlier recordings all the more, but he was still my favorite of the three. Hearing him do "Pancho and Lefty" in that rusty old voice made me weep, and his monologue about having a gold tooth extracted as a gambling debt made me laugh till I wept. It means even more now, knowing that this was very likely one of his last public appearances.Anyone expecting perfection here will be disappointed. But it's the roughness of this performance that makes it so damned endearing.
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