Album
A Far Cry From Dead
1999 · Rock, Blues
Rare pressing on Gatefold
A Far Cry From Dead is a Country album by Townes Van Zandt, originally released in 1999. On Gatefold: 9 pressings tracked.
About
Townes Van Zandt's passing on New Year's Day 1997—echoing the death of his hero Hank Williams on New Year's Day 1953—led to a glut of albums of live recordings and any other tracks that can be found. This collection is said to feature vocals Van Zandt recorded at a neighbor's home studio sometime in the early '90s and music that was added posthumously by some of Nashville's most seasoned session musicians. The results are much grander than the usual Van Zandt fare, and purists will likely take issue with what appear to be arrangements at odds with the downcast lyrics that were Townes' specialty. Two new songs appear. "Sanitarium Blues" is a spoken tale, with Van Zandt's vocals paced for effect alongside a fairly raucous electric band; it tells the story of a struggling mental patient battling a faceless institution. "Squash" is one of Townes' shaggy-dog tales that show he also had a deadpan sense of humor. The remaining songs are mostly among his most familiar.
via Apple Music
The Clerk says
The Clerk knows this whole record — the pressing quirks, the credits, the take.
Tracklist
- 1Dollar Bill Blues3:01
- 2To Live's to Fly3:39
- 3Rex's Blues2:41
- 4Sanitarium Blues3:57
- 5Ain't Leavin' Your Love2:54
- 6Greensboro Woman2:37
- 7Snake Mountain Blues3:31
- 8Pancho & Lefty3:51
- 9For the Sake of the Song4:26
- 10Waitin' Round to Die3:04
- 11Many a Fine Lady3:59
- 12Tower Song3:02
- 13Squash2:29
Sound DNA
- Country
- Americana & Roots
- gritty
- wistful
- southern
Notes from the original pressing. Later editions may differ.
Townes Van Zandt's original vocals and guitar tracks recorded at Texhoma Music Group Studio and Jack Clement's Cowboy Arms Hotel and Recording Spa, Nashville, TN 1989-1996.
All other music recorded at Imagine Studio, Nashville, TN 1998.
Mixed at the Music Mill and Battery Studio (formally known as Glaser Sound Studio).
Mastered at Georgetown Masters using the HDCD process.
DEDICATED TO THE SPIRIT
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- Bob WrayBASS GUITAR
- Charlie McCoyHARMONICA, VIBRAPHONE
- Craig KrampfDRUMS, TRIANGLE, BELLS , CYMBAL, TAMBOURINE
- Jim CalvinBANJO
- Kenny MaloneDRUMS, CONGAS, SHAKER, PERCUSSION
- Larry KnechtelPIANO, ORGAN , ORGAN , ELECTRIC PIANO
- Michael SpriggsACOUSTIC GUITAR, 12-STRING ACOUSTIC GUITAR, DOBRO, TIPPLE, GUITAR
- Richard BennettGUITAR , GUITAR , GUITAR , GUITAR , GUITAR
- Russ HicksSTEEL GUITAR
- Susie MomickACCORDION
- Townes Van ZandtGUITAR, VOCALS VOCALS, ACOUSTIC GUITAR
Rare pressing on Gatefold · 9 pressings tracked on Gatefold
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