Absolutely Nothing
New 2002 release, issued for the first time worldwide on Normal. "During his lifetime only a few critics, colleagues and loyal fans knew that Townes Van Zandt was one of the finest American songwriters of all time. Five years after his death on New Years Day 1997 the 'Van Gogh of lyrics' (Billboard magazine) finally arrived in the awareness of a wide public. His complete musical work is available. All the ups und downs of his career from the 1968 debut For A Sake Of the Song to the last concerts in the mid-90's are documented. However, there are still last words of the Texas troubadour to discover like Absolutely Nothing, a compilation of unreleased studio- and live-recordings. For a long time Townes van Zandt performed the Pogues' gem 'Dirty Old Town' only on stage. In September 1996 Townes and his fellows Royann and Jim Calvin recorded, the folk classic at Flashpoint Studio in Austin, Texas. 'Recorded only on one track, the minimalist poem with mandolin und violin is nearly as touching as the unforgettable 'Kathleen'. The poet of the hopeless at the end of his life: disoriented and helpless he sings these covers as if they were his own songs.' All other five studio recordings on Absolutely Nothing are as beautiful and sad as 'Dirty Old Town', which is now for the first time available on CD. These songs reveal an introvert artist, suffering, exhausted and tired but not broken. He just could not stop writing and playing. The other 12 songs on Absolutely Nothing were recorded live in 1994 at club: 'McGrory's', location: 'Culdaff Inishowen, county Donegal, Ireland'. The concert shows Townes van Zandt at his personal best. He played his classics 'Flying Shoes', 'Marie', 'Kathleen' und the less known songs 'No Place To Fall' and 'Snowing On Raton' in an unbelievably relaxed way. At the end of the album we are witness of a good-humoured Townes van Zandt telling the 'Penguin Joke' and 'The Three Shots Of Gin Joke."