Townes van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that -Steve Earle, 1995. Townes van Zandt was at the peak of his career in 1973. Fresh off releasing two of his finest albums a year earlier (High, Low and In Between and The Late, Great Townes Van Zandt), his celebrated appearances also grew in stature. Likewise, as a number of his other live performances demonstrate, the Whole Coffeehouse set features nothing but the man and his guitar, something that could stand at odds with a number of his cherished studio recordings. For a man whose own battles with the bottle were notorious (and made for an unpredictable on-stage career), his focus here is acute and laser-sharp, every syllable perfectly placed with each ephemeral note carefully conveying their purpose. This performance at the Whole Coffeehouse in 1973 is an essential addition to the late, great van Zandt discography. Whether singing a quiet, introspective country-folk song or a driving, hungry blues riff, van Zandt's lyrics and melodies were filled with the kind of haunting truth and succulent beauty that were instinctive. This was soul music; it came straight from his soul by way of a kind heart and an honest mind. Melancholic, reflective, and always pure and devout, his story is our story. This is the complete original FM broadcast of Townes van Zandt's landmark appearance at the Whole Coffeehouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1973. Digitally remastered sound; includes background liners and rare photos.
