Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas
Encyclopedia
Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas is a double
live album
by Texas
singer-songwriter
Townes Van Zandt
. The recording captures Van Zandt in a series of July 1973 performances in an intimate venue early in his career. The Old Quarter was a small venue (18 by 38 feet) operated by Rex "Wrecks" Bell and Dale Soffar that could comfortably accommodate 60 patrons. More than 100 jammed into the room on the night of these recordings.
The recording was first released in 1977 by Tomato Records
and has frequently gone in and out of print under various labels (see below). There is a strong critical consensus that this recording is among the most exemplary of Van Zandt's career. Since the singer's death in 1997, live recordings have become an important part of his catalog, and Live at the Old Quarter has become the meter against which similar recordings are compared.
The liner notes describe the recording as the "Rosetta Stone
" of Texas music. One can hear Van Zandt's influences in covers by artist like Bo Diddley
, Texas bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins
, and country
picker Merle Travis
. One can also hear Van Zandt's most famous works, songs like "If I Needed You
" and "Pancho and Lefty
" played to an audience not already familiar with these songs.
The album is also noted for the intimacy of the performance. Van Zandt takes the stage alone and accompanies himself on guitar as he did thousands of times during his career.
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
by Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
. The recording captures Van Zandt in a series of July 1973 performances in an intimate venue early in his career. The Old Quarter was a small venue (18 by 38 feet) operated by Rex "Wrecks" Bell and Dale Soffar that could comfortably accommodate 60 patrons. More than 100 jammed into the room on the night of these recordings.
The recording was first released in 1977 by Tomato Records
Tomato Records
Tomato Records is an independent record label based in New York City. The label has released albums by influential artists such as Townes Van Zandt, Lightnin' Hopkins, Leadbelly, Chris Smither, Dave Brubeck, Nina Simone, Harry Partch and John Cage....
and has frequently gone in and out of print under various labels (see below). There is a strong critical consensus that this recording is among the most exemplary of Van Zandt's career. Since the singer's death in 1997, live recordings have become an important part of his catalog, and Live at the Old Quarter has become the meter against which similar recordings are compared.
The liner notes describe the recording as the "Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian granodiorite stele inscribed with a decree issued at Memphis in 196 BC on behalf of King Ptolemy V. The decree appears in three scripts: the upper text is Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the middle portion Demotic script, and the lowest Ancient Greek...
" of Texas music. One can hear Van Zandt's influences in covers by artist like Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
, Texas bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Sam John Hopkins better known as Lightnin’ Hopkins, was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Houston, Texas...
, and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
picker Merle Travis
Merle Travis
Merle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
. One can also hear Van Zandt's most famous works, songs like "If I Needed You
If I Needed You
"If I Needed You" is a single written by Townes Van Zandt, most famously performed by American country music artists Emmylou Harris and Don Williams. Released in September 1981, it was the first single from Harris' album Cimarron. The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and...
" and "Pancho and Lefty
Pancho and Lefty
"Pancho and Lefty" is a song written by country singer and songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Van Zandt first recorded it for his 1972 album, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt...
" played to an audience not already familiar with these songs.
The album is also noted for the intimacy of the performance. Van Zandt takes the stage alone and accompanies himself on guitar as he did thousands of times during his career.
Track listing
All lyrics and music by Townes Van Zandt except where noted.Disc 1:
- "Announcement" (by Dale Soffar) – :44
- "Pancho and LeftyPancho and Lefty"Pancho and Lefty" is a song written by country singer and songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Van Zandt first recorded it for his 1972 album, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt...
" – 4:08 - "Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold" – 3:40
- "Don't You Take It Too Bad" – 2:57
- "Two Girls" – 3:51
- "Fraternity Blues" – 3:07
- "If I Needed YouIf I Needed You"If I Needed You" is a single written by Townes Van Zandt, most famously performed by American country music artists Emmylou Harris and Don Williams. Released in September 1981, it was the first single from Harris' album Cimarron. The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and...
" – 3:18 - "Brand New Companion" – 4:20
- "White Freight Liner Blues" – 3:26
- "To Live Is to Fly" – 3:20
- "She Came and She Touched Me" – 4:09
- "Talking Thunderbird Blues" – 2:33
- "Rex's Blues" – 3:05
- "Nine Pound HammerNine Pound HammerNine Pound Hammer is an American cowpunk band formed in 1985 by vocalist Scott Luallen and guitarist Blaine Cartwright in their hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky...
" (Merle TravisMerle TravisMerle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
) – 3:06
Disc 2:
- "For the Sake of the Song" – 4:48
- "Chauffer's Blues" (Lightnin' HopkinsLightnin' HopkinsSam John Hopkins better known as Lightnin’ Hopkins, was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Houston, Texas...
) – 4:33 - "No Place to Fall" – 3:08
- "Loretta" – 2:26
- "Kathleen" – 2:54
- "Why She's Acting This Way" – 5:42
- "Cocaine BluesCocaine Blues"Cocaine Blues" is a Western Swing song written by T. J. "Red" Arnall, a reworking of the traditional song "Little Sadie". This song was originally recorded by W. A. Nichol's Western Aces on the S & G label, probably in 1947, and by Roy Hogsed and the Rainbow Riders May 25, 1947, at Universal...
" (Traditional) – 3:21 - "Who Do You Love?Who Do You Love?"Who Do You Love?" is a song written and recorded in 1956 by Bo Diddley. The record features Jody Williams, then a member of Bo Diddley's band, on lead guitar.-Legacy:...
" (Ellas McDanielBo DiddleyEllas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
) – 3:44 - "Tower Song" – 3:47
- "Waiting 'Round to DieWaiting 'Round to DieWaiting Round to Die is a folk/country song written and performed by the country singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt. The song appears first on Townes' 1968 debut album, For The Sake of the Song....
" – 2:35 - "Tecumseh Valley" – 4:30
- "Lungs" – 2:34
- "Only Him or Me" – 2:42
Release history
| year | format | label | catalog # |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | LP | Tomato Tomato Records Tomato Records is an independent record label based in New York City. The label has released albums by influential artists such as Townes Van Zandt, Lightnin' Hopkins, Leadbelly, Chris Smither, Dave Brubeck, Nina Simone, Harry Partch and John Cage.... |
27001 |
| 1977 | Tomato | 20001 | |
| CD | Tomato | 269640 | |
| 1994 | CD | Rhino | 71245 |
| 2002 | CD | Tomato Music | 3011 |
| 2003 | CD | Charly | 508 |
| 2003 | CD | CoraZong | 255041 |
| 2008 | CD | Fat Possum Fat Possum Records Fat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster... |
1118-2 |
| 2009 | LP | Fat Possum Fat Possum Records Fat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster... |
1118-1 |
Music
- Townes Van ZandtTownes Van ZandtJohn Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
– acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitarA steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
, vocals
Production
- ProducedRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by: Earl Willis - RecordedRecordingRecording is the process of capturing data or translating information to a recording format stored on some storage medium, which is often referred to as a record or, if an auditory medium, a recording....
at: The Old Quarter, Houston, TexasHouston, TexasHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
- Engineer: Earl Willis
- Mixed & Edited at: Northwestern Sound Studios, Lima, OhioLima, OhioLima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
- Engineer: Benny Young
- Mastered at: Media Sound Studios, New York, N.Y.
- Engineer: Ray Janos
- Reissue production coordination by Kevin Calabro and Katja Maas
- Remasted by Paul Zinman
Artwork/liner notes
- Liner notesLiner notesLiner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
by Earl Willis, Chet Flippo, and Arthur Wood - Edited by John Tobler
- Cover design by Milton Glaser
- Photography by Steve Salmieri