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* Some of my most favorite memories in life involve hanging out at parties with musicians, sharing a jug and listening to them play guitar and talk about their craft. Those parties were usually at some run-down house with beat-up furniture and dogs running around loose. The parties would often last all night, and sometimes a group breakfast was prepared come morning. And then it would start all over again.
The documentary film Heartworn Highways is about as close as you can get to having that experience without actually doing so.
Shot on a shoestring budget in late 1975 and early 1976, Heartworn Highways doesn’t really tell a story. Instead, we’re invited to those parties, with empty beer cans strewn across the table, ashtrays overflowing with cigarettes and some of the best young songwriters of their generation playing music straight out of Heaven.
James Szalapski’s film wasn’t released until 1981, and it’s hard to find these days, although you can watch it on Netflix if you subscribe. I stumbled across several YouTube videos the other day while looking for something else, so let’s get to it.
* At the beginning of our first video, you’ll see the great Guy Clark saying “Listen to this song,” and pointing with reverence to a babyfaced Steve Earle.
“Listen to that song!” Guy again commands the cameraman, knowing - and wanting all of us to know - that his young protege is destined for a greatness that nobody save him can possibly imagine at the time. Unfortunately, the filmmakers failed to heed Clark’s prescience and the song didn’t make the movie’s final cut. Thankfully, it’s on the bonus DVD.
“Did you hear the verses at all?” Clark asks Rodney Crowell toward the end of the song, shaking his head in wonder and amazement. Earle was just 20 years old at the time and this is his first known recording. Steve later said he wrote “The Mercenary Song” on the back of a menu at a pizza restaurant where he was a cook. It’s probably one of my favorites in his vast repertoire…
I guess a man’s got to do what he’s best at
Ain’t found nothin’ better so far
Been called mercenaries and men with no country
We’re just soldiers in search of a war
* Rodney Crowell has written for many of the greats, including Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Crystal Gale. Bob Seger made a big hit out of Crowell’s “Shame on the Moon.” He’s a Grammy winner, was once married to Rosanne Cash and has a slew of hits, including five number one singles in a row in the late 1980s. But we see him here as a 25-year-old who is still learning at Guy Clark’s feet.
Fair warning: Crowell’s song “Bluebird Wine” will not leave your brain easily or quickly. It’s an incredibly catchy tune that was covered by Emmylou Harris. She eventually asked him to join her band and the rest is history…
The party just started
And I’m drunk on Bluebird Wine
By the way, that’s David Allan Coe driving the tour bus.
* Richard Dobson never made it big and I don’t know why. But his songwriting is top notch. Johnny Cash covered his song “Baby Ride Easy,” as did Dave Edmonds and Carlene Carter. He also wrote a book called The Gulf Coast Boys. It’s full of stories about his running buddies, including Townes Van Zandt. Dobson lives in Switzerland and tours mostly in Europe, but you can catch him every now and then in Texas. Check his website for info.
Guy Clark had some success with his cover of Dobson’s great tune, “Forever, For Always, For Certain”…
Four seasons go around on a pinwheel
And tomorrow ain’t nothin’ at all
* Steve Young wrote the outlaw classic “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean” immortalized by Waylon Jennings. But Young also penned the sublime “Seven Bridges Road,” which was beautifully covered by the Eagles. Here he is singing “Alabama Highway”…
Turn supernatural, take me to the stars, and let me play
* I saved my favorite for last. Townes Van Zandt was a songwriter’s songwriter. One day I’ll get around to doing a post just about him. Suffice it to say he’s a giant in the music business. Steve Earle once said that Townes was the greatest songwriter ever, “and I’ll stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that”…
As Steve Earle tells it, he was just 17 when he met an artist and performer who would mould the shape of his career. The teenage Earle was singing at a club in Houston, Texas, when he was teasingly heckled by an older man in the audience who asked him to play the song Wabash Cannonball, and told him he wasn’t much of a country singer if he couldn’t.
The heckler turned out to be Townes Van Zandt, a legendary Texan singer-songwriter who Earle already admired. Earle was unable to comply with his request, but instead performed a word-perfect version of a tricky, complex Van Zandt song, Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold. This playful exchange made them firm friends.
“I met this guy, and I was 17,” Earle recalls now. “It was obvious I was going to write songs and make records, but here I was, meeting someone who was making art for the sake of art, at a really high level. He was committed to continuing to do that, whether he made money or not. That’s the most positive thing I took from him.”
From that day to this, Earle has been a diehard Townes Van Zandt fan. It has not always been an easy thing to be: as Earle delicately puts it, “Townes was a real bad role model.”
Townes’ biggest hit was probably “Pancho and Lefty,” which was covered by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. “If I Needed You” also scored on the charts and has been covered by just about everyone. The song was featured in the Oscar winning movie Crazy Heart.
* Anyway, Steve Earle says that the musicians in Heartworn Highways wanted to take some revenge on the filmmakers over some broken promises. So, they sent them to Austin to interview Townes Van Zandt. Townes was a little, um, difficult to deal with, and they thought this would be proper punishment. But he ended up stealing the whole show.
Here he is singing the first song he ever wrote…
I came of age and found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
I tried to kill the pain
I bought some booze and hopped a train
Seemed easier than just a-waitin’ around to die
…Adding… I told you a few years ago about the late underground songwriter Blaze Foley. The documentary about his life is now finished and is in limited release. Click here for more info. There’s even a Facebook page.
* More Heartworn Highways videos…
* Heartworn Highways - Jam session
* Heartworn Highways - Christmas Eve 1975
* Heartworn Highways - Jamming at Jim’s
* Richard Dobson - Hard By The Highway
* John Hiatt - One For The One For Me
* David Allan Coe - I Still Sing the Old Songs
* David Allan Coe - River
* Gamble Rogers - Black Label Blues
* Barefoot Jerry - Two Mile Pike
* Larry Jon Wilson: Ohoopee River Bottomland
* Steve Earle talks about Heartworn Highways
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 11:20 am
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Great stuff! being around the world of music is filled with highs and lows, very little money, jokes, and some true brilliance in performance and writing, most of which will not be noticed by the bigger world. I spent lots of time in another area of music and my reactions are much the same as yours . currently reading “Girls Like Us” about Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon.
it’s not just the oldster in me that is sad that so many artists these days are just not as capable musicians as ones I loved. and bizzare. on The Colbert Report a political rapper, I think Qualed Taiibi (sp for sure) mad a strange comment about his work being more authentic than folk music because his words reached to every day folks. which would probably surprise the mountain people who turned their Scottish and English long ago heritage into talky songs about where they live. good is good and real is real no matter if it’s Pat Metheney or Prince or Dolly Parton. any support for musicians is very important, so thanks Rich for being a constant support for musicians.
Comment by amalia Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 11:32 am
Rich, if you haven’t seen it there is a great documentary on Van Zandt, “Be Here to Love Me”.
Comment by Way Way Down Here Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 11:34 am
Yeah, I’ve seen it. We’ll double back to Townes sometime later.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 11:39 am
May I make the gratuitous comment that TVZ’s Live at the Old Quarter is required listening? (And if so, that his Rear View Mirror is the secret gem in his catalog?)
Comment by Boone Logan Square Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 11:54 am
FYI- Steve Earle will be at the Vic on July 19th.
Also, have enjoyed his acting performances on ‘The Wire’ and as Harley on ‘Treme.’ David Simon apparently is a huge fan as well.
RIP Harley.
Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 11:57 am
Excellent info, thanks …… Steve Earle and his ex-wife thought so much of TVZ that they named their son Justin Townes Earle in his honor.
Comment by JavaJ Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:07 pm
I always wanted to see DAC. I went to Nashville, Indiana several years ago and saw him. I had waited too long. The songs are still great, though.
Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:11 pm
Townes and David Allan Coe; you’ve managed to make this a great Friday, Rich. Thanks.
Comment by Draznnl (Rhymes with orange) Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:12 pm
BTW, I saw Tanya Tucker live do “Would You Lay With Me” about ‘73. I’m guessing she was about 18. I like DAC’s version better, but OMG was she sexy singing that song.
Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:18 pm
Rodney Crowell recently published a memoir of growing up in Texas that got some good reviews.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/books/13book.html
Haven’t seen Jerry Jeff in a while, I think he spends most of his time in Costa Rica, where he has a spread, when he’s not in Texas.
One of Waylon’s last gigs was at Taste of Chicago. You could tell he was really sick.
Thankfully, Willie is still on the never-ending tour. Must be that herbal medicine that keeps him going strong.
Wouldn’t mind seeing John Prine or David Bromberg wander back into town more often, too.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:25 pm
I went to see DAC open for Hank Williams, Jr. in ‘83. We waited an hour or more before HWJr came on stage and announced “David Allen Coe will not be performing tonight. His band just quit.”
Comment by Way Way Down Here Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:26 pm
Thanks, Rich, for the fantastic Friday line-up. You mention Waylon Jennings a couple times; for my money, no one will ever define “outlaw music” the way he did. I was at that last Chicago gig of his that wordslinger mentions. I’ll never forget Waylon sadly sharing news of the death of his old buddy, Chet Atkins.
Here’s one of my faves by ol’ Hoss:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pms4j9dA8CA
Comment by Linus Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:30 pm
Every year about this time I start thinking about one of my favorite Guy Clark songs/lyrics:
“There’s only two things that money can’t buy, and that’s true love and home grown tomatoes.”
Comment by Knee Jerk Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:34 pm
I learned how to play “Waitin Around to Die” by watching this video on Youtube, and it’s still one of my favorite songs to play.
Also on your recommendation, Rich, I used to go watch Tom Irwin play on Sunday nights at Brewhaus. The first time I saw him he played TVZ’s great “Tecumseh Valley”. I always appreciate your music blogging.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:37 pm
I was at that show, too. They wheeled the poor guy out on stage and all his songs were way too slow, but it was still a pleasure to see him.
A couple of years ago, I forced one of my interns to listen to Waylon Live in my car while I went into Walgreen’s for something or another. He complained at first about being forced to listen to country music, so I took my sweet time at the store. When I got back, the kid was totally into it.
Happens every time.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:37 pm
Good for your intern, Rich. Raise ‘em right!
Comment by Linus Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:39 pm
townes van zandt-dollar bill blues. one of the greatet songs ever! For those looking for the next generation of singer/songerwriter in the Townes and Earle tradition check out Ryan Bingham. The guy is a force.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHnSj9Ls6pU
Comment by hawksfan Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:45 pm
Waylon Live is almost hiphop.
Comment by Boone Logan Square Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:45 pm
–They wheeled the poor guy out on stage and all his songs were way too slow, but it was still a pleasure to see him.–
Quite a life for someone who gave up his plane seat to the Big Bopper.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:53 pm
Thanks Rich.
Comment by Bitterman Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 2:02 pm
Rich - I love these posts! It’s so nice to see real, quality music promoted, and listening to this certainly helps wind down a work week.
Comment by Mountainman Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 3:30 pm
Thanks for pointing this film out to us Rich! I have to make it a point to locate it. I’m traditionally a rock music fan that has been slowly becoming more primarily a fan of country-rock hybrid - whatever name you want to call it - No Depression, Alt Country, Cowpunk, etc. I’ve been into Steve Earle for awhile and John Hiatt has been my very favorite for a number of years now. Just love his songwriting to death. Recently, I’ve been starting to explore Guy Clark and Rodney Crowell, and now I firmly believe that Emmylou Harris has possibly the finest female singing voice that there is.
Comment by BigDoggie Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 3:35 pm
I am a dyslexic dog owner. That’s why I thought the title of that song was “Heartworm Highway…”
Comment by soccermom Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 3:45 pm
You’re also somewhat illiterate. It’s the name of the movie, not the song.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 3:47 pm
What in the world were their other options? Did the blind wino who usually drove the bus fail to show up? What kind of lunatic allows DAC to drive the bus?!?
– MrJM
Note: Rebel Meets Rebel, Coe’s crossover project with 3/4 of Pantera, wasn’t entirely successful but anyone with an interest in outlaw music should give it the once-over. It sounds a little like a mobile meth-lab crashing into a brothel — but in a good way.
Comment by MrJM Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 3:49 pm
MrJM, I had much the same thought. I’m not sure I’d want to ride in a bus piloted by DAC. Still, he did look fairly confident and focused.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 3:51 pm
@BigDoggie
That’s how I’m currently more with familiar with the music for Earle’s son, Justin Townes Earle, than Steve Earle himself. Justine Townes Earles is on a great Chicago insurgent/alt country/cowpunk/etc. record label, Bloodshot, that I’ve loved for years now (and first got into that label as I became a fan of Neko Case after seeing her on an episode of Wild Chicago).
I had heard Steve Earle’s name before, but never really knew who he was before I recently got into The Wire and Treme. I feel that I have to get into his music now, but don’t know where to start. There was an article in the New York Times a year or two ago about the relationship between Earle & Townes.
@Amalia
Talib Kweli, and he has the ‘everyman’ aura that I find with blues artists, with country rock/insurgent country/whatever artists as Rich writes about in this post. But growing up when I thought of folk music, I was rather turned off by it and assumed it was all like the Kingston Trio and from Greenwich Village, I just never got a feel that that music was coming from the heart. I also think that’s why Dylan eventually left that community, or at the least he became bigger than it and wasn’t tied down by it. I don’t know if that was Talib’s criticism, but that’s mine.
Thanks for the post, Rich. I really look forward to your post on Townes.
Comment by aaronsinger Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 4:07 pm
Just realized how terribly written my post was, my apologies.
Comment by aaronsinger Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 4:09 pm
Harsh.
Comment by soccermom Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 4:12 pm
@aaronsinger, well Joni Mitchell has lots of bad things to say about Bob Dylan so even in the higher brow community there are squabbles. I’d like to know more about what Talib thinks, even though I don’t like his music…..some of us find that political rap simply arrogant…because simple hill folks with their Scots roots have lots to say. and much of their music forms the basis for country, the newbies like Mumford and Sons, it’s certainly easier for my ear to understand. thanks for the spell check.
Comment by amalia Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 5:32 pm