Rear View Mirror 2

I am going to have to disagree with the first review. Yes the sound is spotty on a "few" tracks, and so intros are cut off, but the opener "Who Do You Love", and "Jole Blone" & "Brand New Companion-Cocaine" are the best I have heard, and I have heard plenty. It is worth the ticket price for the improving Townes does lyrically on "Cocaine" I have never heard the like.What no one has mentioned is that these recordings offer a chance to hear Townes with a band, a rare thing. The band is not on every track, but they are on many. Usually it is a solo outing, as he prefered to be more mobile. Also these tracks are from the 80's early 90's before Townes "Bones" could be heard in his voice. Very little live stuff survives from the 80's.In the end, Townes studio records never did him any kind of justice (with the exception of "At My Window"). I firmly believe in blowing them off and seeking out the live material. This is a keeper. Also recommended:Highway Kind: Very dark and recorded at end of Townes life. Rare Songs, great "Still Looking For You" & Guy Clark's "Dublin's Blues"Roadsongs: Excellent Covers like "Dead Flowers" "Racing In The Streets" "Ira Hayes" "Indian Cowboy"Live and Obscure: Come back show in early 80's after 8 years MIA. Chilling version of "Nothing" with a ghostly flute. Best "Pancho & Lefty" yet released.Live at Union Chapel: Wonderful show from 1994 in London, rare songs, great sound. A real winner. Recorded before his big decline in health.Rearview Mirror 1: The classic Townes Songbook, A+ Recording. Essential.

I am so glad this cd was compiled. It seems to be tracks from different live performances, where Townes Van Zandt is at his best, and although it almost seems as random works were just put together on one cd, somehow it works and I find myself listening to this one more than some of the other cd's I have by Townes Van Zandt. This cd happens to contain some of my favorite songs of his, and it is wonderful to hear a fresh version of each one.

From the prior review I expected something along the lines of some of the Stooges or MC5 stuff released on Bomp and Revenge, some dodgy semi-legit Johnny Thunders release, or the plethora of Hawkwind product. Instead, with the exception of a little distortion on the guitar once or twice, the sound is, under the circumstances, pristine. The liner notes indicate that this record was compiled and supervised by Townes' long-time friend and manager and approved by Townes prior to his death. You know whether you need it or not (c'mon you know you do).

This is a wonderful live collection by the Late Great Townes Van Zandt. A definite 'must-buy' for fans of the great man, as his live recordings capture the magic much better than some of his wildly over-produced studio albums (especially guilty was his debut, 'For The Sake Of The Song'). The sound isn't exactly perfect on 4 of the songs here, but considering the record has 19 songs in total, its only a minor quibble. It was recorded at many different venues between 1976 and 1979, and is an excellent follow-up to 'Rear View Mirror'. Highly recommended.

This is a wonderful live collection by the Late Great Townes Van Zandt. A definite 'must-buy' for fans of the great man, as his live recordings capture the magic much better than some of his wildly over-produced studio albums (especially guilty was his debut, 'For The Sake Of The Song'). The sound isn't exactly perfect on 4 of the songs here, but considering the record has 19 songs in total, its only a minor quibble. It was recorded at many different venues between 1976 and 1979, and is an excellent follow-up to 'Rear View Mirror'. Highly recommended.