Townes Van Zandt High, Low and In Between Music
by Townes Van Zandt

About this Music

Whether you're familiar with the taciturn charm of Townes Van Zandt or not, this twofer-containing his first two albums from 1971 and 1972, respectively-offers good value and a lot of great tunes. Includes Poncho & Lefty; Don't Let the Sunshine Fool Ya; Two Hands; Greensboro Woman , and more.

Packaged as two albums on one disc, these are among the best of Van Zandt's erratic studio recordings. The first is often overlooked, but it has many songs of dark, marvelous realism, true and accurate as arrows. Kevin Eggers's production is never heavy or busy: he mostly lets the songs breathe beside piano and guitar. And the poetic heights of the title track and "The Highway Kind" are remarkable by any standard. Late Great is important for a little known Guy Clark song "Don't Let the Sunshine Fool You," as well as an orchestrated "Pancho and Lefty" and the sweetly simple "Heavenly Houseboat Blues." Both records show Townes's belief in the abracadabra of words, that their magic is as primary to being human as love and death and kindness and cruelty--those intense qualities that distinguish his work. --Roy Kasten