Today, March 7, is his 73rd birthday. He died over 20 years ago – hard to believe. And even harder for me to believe upon listening to his songs today. He wrote and sang a different kind of blues; deep, dark, stark and beautiful. Townes looked straight at all the heartbreak and desolation and wrote poetry that that is both blunt and delicate to describe the experience. Here’s a playlist of favorite songs performed mostly by him, but some done wonderfully by others. You can listen here: Spotify Townes Van Zant playlist

• Loretta                                      Townes
• Standin’                                   Townes
• Columbine                               Townes
• Lungs                                         Townes
• Waiting Around to Die         The Be Good Tanyas
• Flyin’ Shoes                            Townes
• To Live Is To Fly                     Townes
• Marie                                         Steve Earle
• Tecumseh Valley                   Townes
• Colorado Girl                          Townes
• Highway Kind                         Cowboy Junkies
• No Lonesome Tune               Townes
• Ill Be Here in the Morning  Townes
• Tower Song                               Townes
• If I Needed You                        Townes and Emmy Lou Harris
• Snake Song                               Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
• Dead Flowers                           Townes
• Two Girls                                   The Gourds
• Maria                                          Townes
• Be Here To Love Me               Norah Jones
• Where I Lead Me                     Townes
• For the Sake of the Song       Townes
• Rex’s Blues                                Jolie Holland
• Poncho & Lefty                         Townes
• White Freightliner Blues       Gillian Welch
• Nothin’                                        Townes