A Gentle Evening with Townes Van Zandt

1	Talking KKK Blues 3:57
2	Rake 3:42
3	Like a Summer's Thursday 3:24
4	Second Lover's Song 2:40
5	She Came and She Touched Me 4:10
6	Lungs 3:40
7	Tecumseh Valley 4:55
8	A Joke (Spoken Word) 5:36
9	Talking Thunderbird Wine Blues 3:14
10	The Ballad of Ira Hayes 4:06

Barnes & Noble

The rediscovered tape of Townes Van Zandt’s November 26, 1969, performance at Carnegie Hall could not have been better titled. Accompanied by his own delicately strummed acoustic guitar, Van Zandt (who had only two albums in release at the time of this label showcase event) spun a beautiful web of folk, blues, and country-influenced original songs made doubly potent by the directness of his plainspoken delivery. The incisive bit of personal reflection that forms the stark, powerful poetry of the odd-titled "Rake" begs closer inspection for its rich subtext. Bittersweet communiqués to lovers past and present come no more vividly rendered than "Like a Summer’s Thursday" and "Second Lover’s Song." Baroque imagery in the midst of a conventional narrative about an elusive lover recalls mid-‘60s Dylan, whereas the high, keening yodel at the song’s abrupt close suddenly summons the ambiance of an old-time country ballad. Van Zandt’s wry sense of humor surfaces most effectively on the jaunty set opener, "Talking KKK Blues," a nice bit of social commentary that honors the Woody Guthrie tradition of employing biting satire to ridicule repugnant ideas loose in the land. Even more provocative is the album’s only cover song and its final cut, "The Ballad of Ira Hayes," originally a hit for Johnny Cash in 1964. Van Zandt strips it to the bare bones, his guitar so quiet it sounds muted, his voice strong but somber as he recounts the shameful tale of a Native American hero of the Korean War who was forgotten by his country after the battles ended. It’s a powerful closer by an artist who links Hank Williams and Dylan to the likes of Guy Clark and Steve Earle, but stands on his own as one of the most gifted troubadours of his generation. David McGee

All Music Guide

On November 26, 1969, Poppy Records held a showcase at New York City's Carnegie Hall. The diverse bill included comedian Dick Gregory, Philadelphia psych rockers Mandrake Memorial, and a young Texas singer/songwriter named Townes Van Zandt. For years, the tape of this show was lost as the little Poppy label was snapped up by larger companies (United Artists and Capitol). Well worth the rediscovery, this concert reveals the 25-year-old Van Zandt singing with a gentle voice -- before it got battered by his hard living. His youthful vocals serve to enhance the poetic lyricism in bittersweet love songs like "Like a Summer's Thursday" and "Second Lover's Song." Accompanying himself just on acoustic guitar, Van Zandt strips his tunes down to their essential elements, and these renditions feel more timeless than their studio versions. "Tecumseh Valley," one of his finest songs, is done in a simple yet sublime rendition. His spare approach also helps to make his sole cover (Pete LaFarge's "The Ballad of Ira Hayes") feel more personal and, consequently, more powerful than the more highly produced version that Johnny Cash had a hit with in 1964. Most of the songs here appeared either on earlier or later Van Zandt albums; only his opening number, the wickedly biting "Talking KKK Blues," hasn't appeared on a Van Zandt record before now. This disc doesn't surpass his greatest live album -- the magnificent Live at the Old Quarter -- but it does stand as a terrific document, capturing a young man whose talents are fully evident despite his relative inexperience. He had only been a professional musician for some three years when he did this show. Van Zandt's subsequent career proved to be highly influential, even though his self-destructive behavior helped to end his life at the age of 52. This lovely disc offers early evidence of what made Van Zandt such a special musician. ~ Michael Berick, All Music Guide