Hi Brett. Hope I don't go on too long here. I've got most of Townes's studio albums plus "The Old Quarter." Agree that "At My Window" is best studio album. I don't listen to his albums very much nowadays as I find them a bit depressing, especially as decrepitude is round the corner. However, saw Townes in Scotland 3 times between 1991 and 1994. The first time was in a biggish venue in Perth and he shared the stage with Guy Clark, alternating songs and telling stories about each other. Enjoyed it very much but not as much as the next time I saw him in a small venue in Perth with less than 100 in the audience. He was outstanding. Unfortunately the last time I saw him was in a big venue in Edinburgh in December 1994 when he had obviously drunk too much. - He would start a song and after a couple of lines forget what song it was. At his best live he sounded great, voice and guitar, was very funny and friendly. - And he wrote great songs. My late brother had been with .me the second time I saw him in Perth and met him the next day in the street. Townes was more than happy to stand and chat with him. I looked out a newspaper review of the concert in Edinburgh and it described him as a "wayward genius." If you add "kind hearted" to this description I think it sums him up.
I can't hit the "love" button enough to your response! Getting to see great shows AND meet him? I'm envious in the best of ways, my friend :) His music (and Guy's) have meant so much to me over the years. I, too, don't spin it as often as I used to. But when I do, when I'm in the mood, there's nothing better. Thank you so much for sharing your story. It's great knowing he was a kind person as well as immense talent!
@@russellcampbell3274 Thank YOU for the kind words! I enjoy making them because I love sharing what I'm into, as well as talking with fellow music lovers like you. I genuinely appreciate the interaction!
What a wonderful collection!! Townes is simply unparalleled. It is really too bad that his early stuff is so thin sounding and ornamented. Old Quarter is probably the most emotionally stark album ever put out. Should be in every collection. Interesting that both he and Hank died on New Year's Day. Are there any two more spiritually connected artists? Cheers to Townes 🍻!
Old Quarter SHOULD be in every collection, you're right :) There are others who I spin more (Prine, Guy Clark, Gord), but Townes may be my GOAT of songwriting, despite not having a prolific body of work. The good & great live albums (OQ, Rear View Mirror, Live & Obscure) have a lot of overlap but each performance was so different from the next. OQ was recorded over 50 years ago but is as imminent now as ever. It has held up extremely well because the songs & performances are timeless. One of my favorite Hank songs is Alone & Forsaken, which I first heard on an album of demos with just he & his guitar. I remember thinking how much like a TVZ song it sounded! A few years back, I happened to be looking at the live stuff from the end of Townes' life and there, on a collection called In Pain, was Alone & Forsaken! The desperation is even greater than in Hank's original - I think TVZ knew his time on earth was drawing to a close sooner than later. Cheers, friend!
