Rear View Mirror

by Townes Van Zandt

Overview

In 1990, Townes Van Zandt was working on a three-CD retrospective for which he was re-recording much of his repertoire. That album never appeared, but in 1993, the tiny Austin-based Sundown label released Rear View Mirror, a 17-track album running nearly 58 minutes and containing newly recorded versions of Van Zandt songs dating back to 1968. Though a cover note claims "unique instrumentation," that seems to consist of only of an occasional second guitar and a fiddle. (Sparse applause indicates the recording had been made in a club.) Many of Van Zandt's best-known songs are included -- "Pancho & Lefty," "If I Needed You," "To Live Is to Fly," "Tecumseh Valley," and others -- and while this is not the best set of recordings of those songs, the tendency of Van Zandt's albums to go out of print might mean this is the only one you would find in your nearest record bin, in which case the album is highly recommended. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	01/22/2008
Label:	Fat Possum Records / Turnstile / Tvz
UPC:	0767981110721
Rank:	121831

Tracks

1. Pancho & Lefty
2. If I Needed You
3. For the Sake of the Song
4. Our Mother the Mountain
5. To Live Is to Fly
6. Lungs
7. Flying Shoes
8. No Place to Fall
9. Dollar Bill Blues
10. White Freightliner Blues
11. Tecumseh Valley
12. Don't You Take It Too Bad
13. Tower Song
14. Rex's Blues
15. Brother Flower
16. Waitin' 'Round to Die
17. Colorado Girl

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Townes Van Zandt   Primary Artist,Guitar
Danny Rowland   Guitar

Technical Credits

Townes Van Zandt   Composer,Producer
Bob Murray   Design
Laurie Asprey   Cover Photo,Photography
Harold F. Eggers, Jr.   Executive Producer
Jerry Tubb   Mastering,Digital Editing,Digital Mastering