Review: Steve Earle - Townes
(New West) When it comes to songwriting, accolades don't come much higher than having your work recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris.
(New West) When it comes to songwriting, accolades don't come much higher than having your work recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris.All those legendary artists are among many who have paid country rocker Steve Earle the ultimate compliment.
His uncompromising songs of protest make Earle a one-off but there is one man to whom he is forever indebted. And that man is a songwriter who for Earle is head and shoulders above the rest.
In 1995 Earle proclaimed Townes van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that.''
Earle first met Van Zandt in 1972 and the two formed a strong bond – Earle's son Justin Townes Earle, who duets on Mr Mudd And Mr Gold on this album, was names after Van Zandt.
Sadly, Van Zandt died in 1997, aged 52, but he left behind a glorious back catalogue of work, which Earle has joyfully cherry-picked for this album.
Van Zandt got precious little acclaim for his genius but his peers, and in particular Earle, revere him.
The album begins with one of Van Zandt's best known songs Pancho And Lefty, a tune that Earle has been playing all his life.
Earle's wife, Allison Moorer, a hugely admired artist in her own right, provides backing vocals on two songs while elsewhere a bluegrass band provide the accompaniment. There are no-holds barred rootsy rockers, aching country blues and tender ballads, all played with loving respect.
9 out of 10
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Elsewhere online:
BBC - Music - Review.
Official Steve Earle Web Site.
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