To Live's to Fly The Ballad of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt

by Kruth, John

• ISBN13: 9780306816048
• ISBN10: 0306816040
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-03-04
• Publisher: Da Capo Press

Summary

Born to a wealthy oil family in Ft. Worth, Texas, hounded by alcoholism and unshakable depression, singer-songwriter-guitarist Townes Van Zandt (1944-1997) pursued an often nomadic existence on the fringes of society. Along the way, he composed a striking body of work simultaneously heartbreaking in its beauty and terrifying in its willingness to go to the darkest of places. His songs were covered by such artists as Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard (who scored a No. 1 hit duetting on Van Zandt's signature tune "Pancho and Lefty"), Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Doc Watson, Nanci Griffith, the Cowboy Junkies, Tindersticks, and Mudhoney.

Author Biography

John Kruth is a writer, musician, and author of Bright Moments: The Life and Legacy of Rashaan Roland Kirk. He lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

Still Lookin' for You: An Introduction	p. 1
Prologue: The Sun Is Burning Out	p. 5
Where I Lead Me	p. 7
Struck by Lightnin', Touched by Frost	p. 15
The Glint of the Randall Knife	p. 38
Houston Townes	p. 45
Mudd, Gold, and Songs from the Sky	p. 61
Welcome to Gnashville	p. 75
From Goat Hill to Carnegie Hall	p. 87
Weird Scenes Inside a Doll's House	p. 106
New York Townes	p. 111
High, Low, and Low as Low Can Be	p. 124
No Envelope	p. 137
One Swaggerin' Dude	p. 142
Pancho, Lefty, and the Man Who Died Twice	p. 149
The University of Old Quarter	p. 162
7 Come 11	p. 170
Of Bibles, Fiddles, and Mangy Moose	p. 177
Boondock Rhapsody	p. 188
Trailer Park Love	p. 206
The Phantom Harpsichordist and a Boy Named Taco	p. 216
Through a Shot Glass Darkly	p. 224
A Far Cry from Drunk	p. 241
Smacked Out in the Saddle	p. 247
Ultramarine	p. 250
Last Call Y'all	p. 259
The Glorious Train Wreck (Including the Blaze Foley Detour)	p. 262
Bayou Self	p. 278
Mourn Me None	p. 290
Postscript: The Road to Dido	p. 297
Bibliography	p. 299
TVZ Selected Discography	p. 304
Acknowledgments	p. 311
Index	p. 313
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