In this Book
- I'll Be Here in the Morning: The Songwriting Legacy of Townes Van Zandt
- Book
- 2011
- Published by: Texas A&M University Press
summary
The writer of such influential songs as “Pancho and Lefty,” “To Live’s to Fly,” “If I Needed You,” and “For the Sake of the Song,” Townes Van Zandt exerted an influence on at least two generations of Texas musicians that belies his relatively brief, deeply troubled life. Indeed, Van Zandt has influenced millions worldwide in the years since his death, and his impact is growing rapidly. Respected singer/songwriter John Gorka speaks for many when he says, “‘Pancho and Lefty’ changed—it unchained—my idea of what a song could be.”
In this tightly woven, intelligently written book, Brian T. Atkinson interviews both well-known musicians and up-and-coming artists to reveal, in the performers’ own words, how their creative careers have been shaped by the life and work of Townes Van Zandt. Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, Rodney Crowell, Lucinda Williams, and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the established musicians who share their impressions of the breathtakingly beautiful tunes and lyrics he created, along with their humorous, poignant, painful, and indelible memories of witnessing Van Zandt’s rise and fall.
Atkinson balances the reminiscences of seasoned veterans with the observations of relative newcomers to the international music scene, such as Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Josh Ritter, and Scott Avett (the Avett Brothers), presenting a nuanced view of Van Zandt’s singular body of work, his reckless lifestyle, and his long-lasting influence. Forewords by “Cowboy” Jack Clement and longtime Van Zandt manager and friend Harold F. Eggers Jr. open the book, and each chapter begins with an introduction in which Atkinson provides context and background, linking each interviewee to Van Zandt’s legacy.
Historians, students, and fans of all music from country and folk to rock and grunge will find new insights and recall familiar pleasures as they read I’ll Be Here in the Morning: The Songwriting Legacy of Townes Van Zandt.
Table of Contents
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- Introduction
- pp. 1-4
- Prelude: Vince Bell
- pp. 5-6
- Ray Wylie Hubbard
- pp. 19-24
- Peter Rowan
- pp. 25-30
- Rodney Crowell
- pp. 31-36
- Kris Kristofferson
- pp. 37-40
- >em>Verse: Cory Chisel
- pp. 41-42
- Billy Joe Shaver
- pp. 43-49
- Chip Taylor
- pp. 50-56
- Tom Russell
- pp. 57-61
- Graham Leader & Heartworn Highways
- pp. 62-68
- Steve Young
- pp. 69-73
- Verse: Jay Farrar
- pp. 74-75
- Ramblin' Jack Elliot
- pp. 76-81
- David Olney
- pp. 82-88
- Todd Snider
- pp. 89-92
- Shawn Camp
- pp. 93-97
- Chorus: Ben Nichols
- pp. 98-101
- Jame McMurtry
- pp. 102-105
- Lucinda Williams
- pp. 106-111
- Lyle Lovett
- pp. 112-116
- John Gorka
- pp. 117-121
- Bridge: Bianca DeLeon
- pp. 122-123
- Michael Timmins
- pp. 124-130
- Kelly Joe Phelps
- pp. 131-134
- Steve Turner
- pp. 135-138
- David Broza
- pp. 139-145
- Michael Weston King
- pp. 146-151
- Verse: Jewel
- pp. 152-153
- Dave Alvin
- pp. 154-157
- Josh Ritter
- pp. 158-161
- Scott Avett
- pp. 162-166
- Adam Duritz
- pp. 171-174
- Kasey Chambers
- pp. 175-179
- Chorus: Darden Smith
- pp. 180-181
- Kevin Russell
- pp. 182-186
- Terri Hendrix
- pp. 187-192
- Butch Hancock
- pp. 193-197
- Jack Ingram
- pp. 198-204
- Coda: Grace Potter
- pp. 205-206
- Selected DIscography
- pp. 237-240
Additional Information
ISBN
9781603445276
Related ISBN(s)
9781603445269
MARC Record
OCLC
773826995
Pages
272
Launched on MUSE
2012-02-08
Language
English
Open Access
No