Townes Tribute Album Coming from the Right Place

Another little album release update, here.

Pitchfork has reported in detail that Steve Earle, longtime friend and early protege to Townes Van Zandt, will release a tribute album to the music legend. The album, titled simply Townes, features a slew of impressive cameos including Rage's Tom Morello, Steve's wife Allison Moorer, some un-named 'bluegrass legends,' and most excitingly, his son Justin in a duet of 'Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold.'

Head over to the Pitchfork story to stream 'Lungs' from the album. The song was the only track produced by John King, who turned the dials for Steve's most recent Washington Square Serenade. The track definitely has the same gritty, electric ambiance that WSS evoked and surprisingly adds a new layer to Townes' song. But with a songwriter like Townes, it's tough to screw one up. If there's anyone in this world to do the late, great Townes Van Zandt justice, it's Steve Earle.

The tribute artist once famous for saying "Townes Van Zandt is the greatest songwriter in the whole world, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that," now has this to say:

"This may be one of the best records I've ever made."

Check out the New West album page to stream track 1 as well.

01 Pancho and Lefty
02 White Freightliner Blues
03 Colorado Girl
04 Where I Lead Me
05 Lungs
06 No Place to Fall
07 Loretta
08 Brand New Companion
09 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

Pick up the album on May 12th (New West) on both CD and Vinyl.

---------

For now, I'll give you one of my favorite Townes tracks as well as an extra song from Steve. He wrote the song in '97 as his way of dealing with the loss of the legend and friend.

Townes Van Zandt - Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel
Steve Earle - Ft. Worth Blues