Townes Van Zandt | Live at the Old Quarter Houston Texas | Vinyl

Recorded over five nights in July 1973 at Houston’s Old Quarter club by engineer Earl Willis on portable four-track equipment, the album wasn’t released until 1977, once producer Kevin Eggers secured the tapes for his Tomato Records label. Performing solo with just an acoustic guitar to an intimate audience, Van Zandt runs through the bulk of his best-known songs, including “Pancho and Lefty,” “If I Needed You,” “To Live Is to Fly,” and “Tecumseh Valley,” along with blues and folk covers. Arriving during a quiet stretch in his recording career, the album received glowing reviews and is frequently cited by critics as one of the finest live albums in the singer-songwriter tradition. Its stripped-down, conversational performances have made it the go-to introduction to Van Zandt’s songbook for generations of Americana and alt-country artists.

Track List

Side A

1. Announcement (Dale Soffar)
2. Pancho and Lefty
3. Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold
4. Don’t You Take It Too Bad
5. Two Girls
6. Fraternity Blues
7. If I Needed You

Side B

1. Brand New Companion
2. White Freight Liner Blues
3. To Live Is to Fly
4. She Came and She Touched Me
5. Talking Thunderbird Blues
6. Rex’s Blues
7. Nine Pound Hammer

Side C

1. For the Sake of the Song
2. Chauffeur’s Blues
3. No Place to Fall
4. Loretta
5. Kathleen
6. Why She’s Acting This Way
7. Cocaine Blues

Side D

1. Who Do You Love?
2. Tower Song
3. Waiting ‘Round to Die
4. Tecumseh Valley
5. Lungs
6. Only Him or Me

Release Details

• UPC: 0767981111810
• Label: FAT POSSUM
• Format: LP Vinyl — Standard
• Genre: Country
• Release Date: 4/24/2009