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TEXAS RAIN
Townes Van Zandt
(Tomato)
Recorded, thankfully, before his death, this album was an attempt to breathe new life, new dialogue into the evocative catalogue of Townes Van Zandt songs. As you can see by the rating, it worked, but it was by no means guaranteed.
If you don't know Van Zandt yet, well, I guess you have the rest of your life. Thank God the man himself saw through this kind of thinking. He knew he wasn't getting any younger. Conversely, the drinking and hard living had made him old fast. Gives a man credibility, like on Snowin' on Raton in which he refers to the road as long and lonely, then soft and lovely, ultimately his friend. Indeed, this kind of imagery, found all over this album of duets, proves easily why so many Texas songwriters mention the man, to the point of cheesiness. It's like Garth Brooks has to mention Hank Williams, even if the modern cowboy's music would probably send Hank to the hills with his ears shielded.
Among the guests here on this strange tribute album, recorded throughout the '90s, are Willie Nelson (several times), Emmylou Harris and Freddy Fender. It's a Christmas album in the truest sense, thoughtful, full of compassion and beautiful.
Women's names front three songs, Maria, Quicksilver Daydreams of Maria and Kathleen, and the leaving of them seems to be as much a part of his relationships as the love of them. Van Zandt gets under your skin and stays there, especially on a song like At My Window, Kathy Mattea appearing this time, that great tradition of woman and man singing something blue. Lord.
Take it from a practised cynic, this is a warm album, easy on the ears and, oddly enough, the tacking on of disparate voices amplifies Van Zandt's own wavery perfection. The dead speak still.
Track Listing
1. If I Needed You (with Emmylou Harris)
2. Pancho & Lefty
3. Waiting Around To Day (with Calvin Russell)
4. Blue Wind Blew (with Jerry Jeff Walker)
5. Kathleen (with The Chromatics)
6. No Lonesome Tune (with Willie Nelson)
7. Brother Flower (with Kimmie Rhodes)
8. Two Girls (with Doug Sahm)
9. Marie (with Willie Nelson)
10. Quicksilver Dreams Of Maria
11. Snowin' On Raton (with James McMurtry)
12. At My Window (with Kathy Mattea)