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Good morning!
Friday, Oct 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller * The late, beyond great singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt covered this Rolling Stones song better than the Stones ever coulda done it. Why? His authentic Texas twang and his hard-scrabble life. Townes just owned this one, man… I know you think you’re the queen of the underground
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- RNUG - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 12:51 am:
As early as this is being posted, Rich must be expecting to sleep in!
- MrJM - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 7:34 am:
Somewhere this morning, someone will hear Townes Van Zandt for the very first time.
A great day for those ears; for that brain.
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 7:44 am:
These past mornings I am reminded how woefully inadequate my music knowledge is, and how grossly limited I am to the exposure of really great sound.
I “know” the song, which means about halfway through I kinda remember, but hearing it on such a vacuum like that made it all the more a better treat.
Thanks, so glad you added these posts.
- Nieva - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:09 am:
Nice.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:12 am:
Although I kinda like Jagger’s campy country twang, you are dead on correct about this cover. Thanks for sharing.
- walker - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:15 am:
Chills.
Heard the man, never heard him with this song.
- Belle - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:18 am:
Great song—terrific rendition!
- Jak Tichenor - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:35 am:
Songs like this make you kind of hit the “pause” button and reconnect with the stuff that’s really important. Beautiful.
- steve schnorf - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:44 am:
wow! Makes me wish more and more I had made that Texas trip I and some guys talked about a long time ago, see some of those performances live. I have loved some ladies, I have loved Jim Beam, but they both tried to kill me….
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:48 am:
I know he’s Texan, but this rendition sounds so Appalachian. Almost like it could fit on the soundtrack of “O Brother, Where Art Thou.”
- The Colossus of Roads - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:11 am:
If you like this, give Jerry Jeff Walker a try, hello buckaroos.
- The End Is Near - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:13 am:
Let’s not discount the undoubtedly wide-ranging musical influences Townes absorbed during his first two years of high school in northwest suburban Barrington, Illinois.
- vole - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:13 am:
who needs to go to Texas
when you got Meredosia close to home
and every rock is the perfect skipping stone
?
Thanks for bringing us that art from the back woods.
- vise77 - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:14 am:
I hope MRJM is right.
I can still remember my first listen to TVZ. And he keeps getting better every time.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:15 am:
Along with ‘Salt of the Earth,’ somber and brilliant ode to unalterable suffering.
- Fighters of Foo - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:30 am:
One of my favorite Stones tunes, but I did not realize Townes had covered. “Makin bets on Kentucky Derby Day.” Well done on this post Mr. Miller.
- BeagieSmalls - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:44 am:
Dead on correct on this version of Dead Flowers. Sort of amazing it was written by two Brits-sounds like pure Americana. A real testament to their talent.
- Short but Slow - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:15 am:
Thanks Rich. Townes was certainly a genius.
Here’s another of my favorite Stones covers from Alejandro Escovedo.
“It’s just that demon life that’s got you in it’s sway”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvIVWerQrs4
- Kankakee Kid - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:20 am:
Thanks, it was needed this morning.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:32 am:
Thanks for that Alejandro link. Great stuff.
- James the Intolerant - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:34 am:
One of my favorites,
I love “If You Needed Me,” another Townes classic.
- James the Intolerant - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:39 am:
Only Townes Van Zandt can make hitting up in the basement seem glamorous.
- A guy... - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:46 am:
No one has more ‘ragged company’ than Miller. Proud to be among them. Even you Wilbur.
- Electric Mayhem Groupie - Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 4:08 pm:
Great song and great artist (and I love the Alejandro Escovedo).
If you need inspiration for closing out the day, it’s John Prine’s birthday. Here he is with a familiar-looking blond guy, doing the song that’s been stuck in my head all day…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jKopYJfjeQ