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Martin Crane's avatar

It's a brilliant piece of writing, Richard. I enjoyed it very much. Perhaps - just perhaps - I was the friend (mentioned above) in your room listening to Flyin' Shoes over and over. I remember wonderful afternoons sitting around in your cluttered (books and records) room on St. Leonard's Road listening to a wealth of music (with an eye on the clock waiting for the pubs to reopen!). Of course, it was you who introduced me to Townes (and Guy too), I hope I didn't scratch your copy of Live at the Old Quarter too badly - played repeatedly on my rickety old stereo. Of live TVZ albums, I listen a lot to 'Rain on a Conga Drum - Live in Berlin' - you taped it for me when it was first released (circa 92?) when I was at Uni. (The tapes you sent me were a lifeline back then.) It has become one of my favourite albums . . . ever. Townes sounds happy, content, (one reason I think why I love the album so) and he plays a storming set. He starts off with Mudd & Gold and plays it (almost) flawlessly so you know it's gonna be a good night. It is incredible the depth of his songwriting when you glance at the eighteen tracks on the record - the second side alone: No Place to Fall, To Live is to Fly, Lungs, Nothin', Tecumseh - one after the other. Not many songwriters can boast of such riches. And I haven't even mentioned a couple other songs on side 2 that measure up to the best of them or the treasures to be found on the first side, If I Needed You, Dollar Bill Blues . . . and a certain Pancho & Lefty. Wow-wee! (I am no longer much of a fan of Steve Earle but I would also get on Dylan's coffee table and claim, at least, that Townes was equal in stature to Mr. D.)

Anyway, Richard, it was nice coming across this piece. Great stuff. I want to also thank you, in closing, of the comp you made for me many, many years ago of The Dark & Cold Dog Soup (by Guy) housed in its own homemade sleeve, created by you. I still have it. A lovely thing.

All the best,

Martin

P.S. I found out recently that Townes wrote both 'Lungs' and 'Nothin'' after reading and being inspired by Nikos Kazantzakis. And there I was thinking my respect for TVZ could not climb any higher!

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Jeff K's avatar

Really enjoyed this. I was also confused for a bit with the part about the Clarksville music scene. I had a hard time picturing the town of Clarksville, Texas having any kind of scene. Once I realized it was a neighborhood in Austin, it made much more sense.

If you’ve never seen it, there’s a great video of Lyle Lovett doing White Freight Liner Blues on Letterman.

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