[jaytex]

Been trying to learn some of townes music recently. Great tunes for just a voice and a guitar. Most recently ive been working on his version of cocaine blues and his infamous pancho and lefty. I have cocaine blues mostly down but the intro to pancho and lefty is causin some trouble. Just was wondering if any of u folks were into townes stuff or had this intro figured out.

[okiejohn]

I listen to Townes, do a couple of his tunes, but can't finger pick like he did, I just do chords and sing to the pooch, so I can't help you.

Good to see there's other Townes fans out there.

[dadfad]

I used to do "Pancho and Lefty" years ago if someone requested it, but I didn't try to do it note-for-note to his recordings. Off hand I don't remember the intro to the tune as recorded but I'll try to remember to listen to it when I get home tonight. He did some nice stuff. Actually my favorite recording by him is probably his cover of "Dead Flowers" (which I also did, more "VanZant-ish" than "Stones-ish" ). (B/t/w, when that tune first came out there was a slight controversy as to whether the Stones had actually "borrowed" a lot of it from Van Zandt, like they had "borrrowed" so many other tunes from the original artists over the years and put themselves down for the credits.) Whether that was true or not, Townes was obviously too busy being a drunk and a "tortured-soul" to pursue it anyway.

He did some nice stuff, but the last few years before he "opted-out" he was basically "no longer functioning" as an artist although he still gigged. He'd often stagger up to the stage, play a few buzzy chords (not always the right ones), croak out a few words and rely on the fact that he had a dedicated following sitting in front of him where he could virtually do no wrong. His "followers" pretty much worshipped him. If he bumped his guitar while trying to sit down on the stool and it made a noise they'd applaud. It's too bad. He was good.

[okiejohn]

Well, Dad, I guess it was better than just waitin' round to die.

Sad deal really, he wrote alot of great tunes, and was a good picker as well, when he was able.

[jaytex]

Glad to see there are folks out there who know who he is. Ive just recently gotten into his stuff. didnt know things went to hell in a hand basket for him like was said. pretty sad...ive gotten his self titled album and "In concert". anything else of his a must have? other people who put out the same type stuff? Dafdad i would appreciate ur thoughts on how to go about Pancho and Lefty.

[okiejohn]

Live at the Old Quarter is pretty good, ya just gotta overlook his corny jokes.