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* 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

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 12:25 am

Comments

As early as this is being posted, Rich must be expecting to sleep in!

Comment by RNUG Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 12:51 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

Comment by MrJM Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 7:34 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.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 7:44 am
Nice.

Comment by Nieva Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:09 am
Although I kinda like Jagger’s campy country twang, you are dead on correct about this cover. Thanks for sharing.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:12 am
Chills.

Heard the man, never heard him with this song.

Comment by walker Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:15 am
Great song—terrific rendition!

Comment by Belle Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:18 am
Songs like this make you kind of hit the “pause” button and reconnect with the stuff that’s really important. Beautiful.

Comment by Jak Tichenor Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:35 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….

Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:44 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.”

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 8:48 am
If you like this, give Jerry Jeff Walker a try, hello buckaroos.

Comment by The Colossus of Roads Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:11 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.

Comment by The End Is Near 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.

Comment by vole Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:13 am
I hope MRJM is right.

I can still remember my first listen to TVZ. And he keeps getting better every time.

Comment by vise77 Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:14 am
Along with ‘Salt of the Earth,’ somber and brilliant ode to unalterable suffering.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:15 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.

Comment by Fighters of Foo Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:30 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.

Comment by BeagieSmalls Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 9:44 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

Comment by Short but Slow Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:15 am
Thanks, it was needed this morning.

Comment by Kankakee Kid Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:20 am
Thanks for that Alejandro link. Great stuff.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:32 am
One of my favorites,
I love “If You Needed Me,” another Townes classic.

Comment by James the Intolerant Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:34 am
Only Townes Van Zandt can make hitting up in the basement seem glamorous.

Comment by James the Intolerant Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:39 am
No one has more ‘ragged company’ than Miller. Proud to be among them. Even you Wilbur.

Comment by A guy... Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:46 am
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

Comment by Electric Mayhem Groupie Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 4:08 pm