Exiled Records

Reviews:

Before he drank himself into an early grave at the age of 52 on January 1, 1997,Van Zandt wrote some of the deepest, most emotionally challenging tunes in theAmerican songbook. His melodies are stark, melancholic and instantly memorable,while his lyrics are full of dark romantic images, steeped in the bitter wisdomof self-destruction and failed relationships. While not a household name, VanZandt’s tunes have been performed by more than a hundred artists includingHoyt Axton, Bob Dylan, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard(who took “Poncho and Lefty” to #1 in 1983) to name but a few. VanZandt was not a prolific writer or recording artist, but almost everything hedid packs an emotional knock-out punch.

Texas Rain is the great “lost” Van Zandt album, recorded in theearly ‘90s when Van Zandt was on the wagon and in fine voice. ProducerKevin Eggers invited an impressive cast of admirers and some first-class pickersto the session, including Emmylou Harris and Jerry Jeff Walker, and the resultis an impressive “greatest hits” package. “Poncho and Lefty”and “Quicksilver Dreams of Maria” get a stellar Tex-Mex treatmentwith the help of Freddy Fender, Doug Sahm, Augie Meyers and Rubin Ramos, WillieNelson adds his gentle soulfulness to “No Lonesome Tune.” James McMurtry’sbaritone growl is a perfect foil for Van Zandt’s own hopeless drawl on“Snowin’ on Raton,” while Kathy Mattea turns in an unusuallyunderstated cameo on the achingly beautiful “At My Window.”