Steve Earle pays tribute to Townes Van Zandt

As if naming his son after the songwriting legend was not tribute enough, Steve Earle will release Townes, a tribute CD to his long-time friend and mentor, Townes Van Zandt, on May 12. The album will be available in 180-gram vinyl and as a two-CD set.

Earle and Van Zandt first met during an Earle show in 1972, when Van Zandt heckled Earle the whole night to play "Wabash Cannonball." Even though he admitted to not knowing the song very well, he blew Van Zandt's mind away when he performed a flawless cover of "Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold." They stayed friends until Van Zandt's death in 1997.

Steve Earle and his son, Justin Townes Earle, share this tune in the album, a song difficult for its quick-paced lyrics, but easy for them since they have been playing it together since Justin was a teenager. The 15-track album also features appearances by Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and Earle's wife Allison Moorer.

"This may be one of the best records I've ever made," he said in a statement. "That hurts a singer-songwriter's feelings. Then again, it's some consolation that I cherry picked through the career of one of the best songwriters that ever lived."

Tracklist:
1. Pancho and Lefty
2. White Freightliner Blues
3. Colorado Girl
4. Where I Lead Me
5. Lungs
6. No Place To Fall
7. Loretta
8. Brand New Companion
9. Rake
10. Delta Momma Blues
11. Marie
12. Don’t Take It Too Bad
13. Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold
14. (Quicksilver Daydreams Of) Maria
15. To Live Is To Fly

Related links:
Feature: Paste’s 100 Best Living Songwriters (Steve Earle)
Playlist: Ain't No Fortunate Son - Songs for Veterans, Pt. 1
Steve Earle on MySpace

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.

News

Devo to perform Are We Not Men? in London

News

Sufjan Stevens' Illinoize features Outkast, Aesop Rock, more

6 Comments

Click to leave a comment.

By Darcy McGee on March 10, 2009

'cause namin' his kid after him wasn't honour enough.

I'd a been happy if he'd just named him Darcy. No need for the album too. That's just plain narcissistic.

By G. Solti on March 10, 2009

To Darcy McGee and comment. I think you are using the term 'narcissitic' incorrectly. Look it up. figure it out. No grammar/vocabulary lesson for you.

Earle plays homage to a poetic genius. Townes was one of a kind. To call the album Townes is a proper attribute to the tribute album.

That a friend could name his son after Townes. Well, that's a personal thing between them. Darcy, you had to be there.

By Rolland B. Heiss on March 10, 2009

I am looking forward to hearing this album with great anticipation. Those of us who were lucky enough or curious enough to slip past the the ballroom celebration held by large record companies and make our way to the back porch (where top 40 isn't king) managed to discover a legend sittn' there.

Townes, like Van Gogh was perhaps too great for most people of his time to recognize. But like Dylan said, "The times, they are a changin'" and every day that passes seems to bring the genius of Townes into that magical spotlight reserved only for legends.

Thanks Steve, for taking the time to man that spotlight for a little while.

By Darcy McGee on March 10, 2009

Solti, I was suggesting that Townes was narcissistic in wanting all of this. Of course he's:
a) dead, and
b) not actually expressing the desire to have children, albums, or world monuments named after himself (in part because of 'a')

If he were, he'd be demonstrating some level of narcissism.

Of course I might also have been joking. Who knows. My sense of humour is a bit blunted, having been dead some 140 years now.

I've seen Steve Earle live more than any other artist, though it's been a few years. (He was live, I was, as noted above, dead at the time.)

By chris edwards on March 10, 2009

"...through the career of one of the best songwriters that ever lived."...No, no, Steve...THE best songwriter who ever lived.
The idea of one of the best songwriters of the last 20 years (Mr. Earle) covering the tunes of the master himself is mighty appealing, especially considering that Steve and Townes had a very close friendship, and as such it will be incredible to hear Steve's interpretation of some of Townes' work. Of course, some might ask why don't/why haven't Guy Clark or Jerry Jeff done the same thing with Townes' material, but it's going to be very interesting to hear a man, who in essence, was Townes' protege tackle some of the most incredibly written songs that ever was/ever will be.
The fact is that Steve Earle is an incredible songwriter and singer, who has written some of the best songs in recent memory, but good as he is, he'll never be up to par with the gift that Townes had, and this is coming from someone who is a pretty hardcore Steve Earle fan. I can hear Townes in the afterlife saying "Why are ya'll makin' such a big deal about me?", but everything he did was, to paraphrase a Kris Kristofferson lyric about Hank Williams "well worth doing."
Can't wait to hear this record!

By Gracey on March 11, 2009

Well, yeah, to quote Kris, "I think what he done was well worth doing." and that's an understatement. I can't wait to hear this album. While we're waiting, check out the CD 'Poet'. It's a great tribute to Townes, by people who loved his work.