Townes Van Zandt - Be Here to Love Me

Amazon.com You might have never heard of Townes Van Zandt. You might not even know his songs. But this Texan's music was profoundly influential on his peers--so much so that some of the folks interviewed for Be Here to Love Me, a documentary about Van Zandt's work and difficult life, call him one of the best songwriters, maybe even the best, in American history. That's a stretch, but there's no doubting the man's talent; his two best-known tunes, "Pancho and Lefty" (popularized by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard) and "If I Needed You" (a beautiful Emmylou Harris-Don Williams duet), by themselves guarantee him a spot in a few Halls of Fame. But the Van Zandt chronicled in director Margaret Brown's 100-minute film was his own worst enemy. Born in 1944, he was a troubled young man who played Russian roulette for kicks, deliberately fell off a fourth-floor balcony, and was placed in a mental home, where shock treatments robbed him of significant parts of his memory and personality. Married three times, he was also wedded to the bottle, which ultimately destroyed him (he died of a heart attack in 1997). Be Here to Love Me details these events through various interviews with Van Zandt himself, as well as Nelson, Harris, Steve Earle, Nanci Griffith, and other notables. But whereas a fellow tippler like singer Guy Clark fondly remembers the good times, Van Zandt's family tells a different story: "Bummer," replies one ex-wife when asked to describe living with him, while his eldest son, JT, betrays a good deal of bitterness about a dad who couldn't control his own life, wasn't much of a family man, and died young and unfulfilled. DVD extras include several Van Zandt performances (in addition to clips throughout the main program), which is a good thing; were it not for his soulful, affecting songs, there wouldn't be a lot to admire about this guy. --Sam Graham Product Description As a musician, Townes Van Zandt was legendary – perhaps one of the greatest who ever lived, inspiring artists from Bob Dylan to Norah Jones to Steve Earle. As a man, a husband, and a father his life was as tragic and as beautiful as the songs he wrote. Townes was an enigma to his family, pinned between a deep longing for home and the nomadic lifestyle that was necessary for his livelihood. Director Margaret Brown’s Be Here To Love Me is an artful, expertly directed portrait of both of these sides of Van Zandt and ultimately serves as an insightful look at the sacrifices, challenges, and consequences faced in pursuit of a dream. Haunting and lyrical, Be Here To Love Me combines emotional interviews with friends and family with never seen footage of Townes Van Zandt. Review "A wise documentary. Delivers a rough-edged truth." -- New Yorker, Anthony Lane "An extraordinary documentary about an extraordinary man." -- Kevin Thomas , LA Times "Beautiful and haunting." -- William Robinson Sheff, Austin Chronicle "Bewitching! ...a wise and brave choice." -- Bilge Ebiri, nerve.com "DON'T MISS!" -- Time Out New York, David Fear "Impressive! A tender, impressionistic film biography." - -- Stephen Holden, NY Times "Impressive! A tender, impressionistic film biography." -- Stephen Holden, NY Times "No one can watch Be Here to Love Me without realizing that Van Zandt¹s music is spectacular.² -- Steven Rosen, HARP Magazine "POIGNANT! A dignified and wistful look at the unusual life, difficult career and lasting influence of singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt." -- Variety, Eddie Cockrell From the Contributor As a musician, Townes Van Zandt was legendary -- perhaps one of the greatest who ever lived, inspiring artists from Bob Dylan to Norah Jones to Steve Earle. As a man, a husband, and a father his life was as tragic and as beautiful as the songs he wrote. Townes was an enigma to his family, pinned between a deep longing for home and the nomadic lifestyle that was necessary for his livelihood. Director Margaret Brown's Be Here To Love Me is an artful, expertly directed portrait of these conficting sides of Van Zandt, and and presents an insightful look at the sacrifices, challenges, and consequences faced in pursuit of a dream. Townes, whose lyrics resonate with such sad beauty, has become widely respected as one of the greatest American musicians of his, or any, generation. Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard had a #1 country hit with his song "Pancho & Lefty," and Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett continue to cover his songs live. Haunting and lyrical, Be Here To Love Me combines emotional interviews with friends and family with never seen footage of Townes Van Zandt; from rare performance and interview footage to intimate portraits shot in Van Zandt’s own home. Featuring respected artists Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Guy Clark, Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Cowboy Junkies and more. About the Actor "Townes Van Zandt is the BEST SONGWRITER in the whole world and I’ll stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table
ASIN: B000CNF80W
VSKU: DBV.B000CNF80W.A
Condition: Acceptable
Author/Artist:Guy Clark|Joe Ely|Willie Nelson|Kris Kristofferson|Donna Spence|Luke Sharpe|Ann Rice|John Ruehl|Bob 'Maverick' Myrick|Margaret Brown|Jerry Jeff Walker|Fran Lohr|Frank 'Chito' Greer
Binding: Dvd
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case will show wear, and may be in library packaging. Ships fast!