A Great Townes Van Zandt Story

[@PongbyAtari]

I could listen to these stories all day long. Me and my wife Julie saw Townes at The Ark in Ann Arbor in 1990 I have never been on a more emotional roller coaster in my life I will never forget Guy Clark who came on after Townes saying "So did Townes Cheer You All Up" The entire crowd was an emotional train wreck that night an experience that is forever burned in my mind. I get goosebumps everytime I think about it.

[@mitchmatthews6713]

What's great about you, Otis, is when you have a great story to tell, you post it right away. You don't think, "Oh, I'll talk about it on next week's vlog," when you'll probably forget about it. We all look forward to these stories. Thanks, boss!

[@Caperhere]

Lol, true. Guy Clark’s singular advice about song writing. If a line, a phrase, a glimpse of an idea presents itself to you, get it down, immediately, or it will disappear on you.

[@justin.8777]

@@Caperhere That's great. I'm pretty sure that John Lennon said something similar. Like it's always best to finish the song when you start writing it.

[@playmusicnet7347]

Thanks Otis for respecting and keeping. The roots of Song Writers History alive. 🙏

[@edwinbrashear7729]

Thanks Otis...Great story, I'll try to check "Observed" out...What I love about this story is the character's in it remind me so much of many of the character's I grew up with and some of my friends. I possess an old tattered and ragged Levi jacket now some fifty odd years old. I'd take nothing for it and it's practically in pieces.. It was passed around between me & two of my friends from ages sixteen to probably twenty-two or three. It had several hippy embellishments on it. We all three loved it and through many episodes of our youth it made its rounds to one of us and then another. If you happen to be wearing it and took it off for one reason or another, hung it up somewhere or lay it across a chair to say shoot a game of pool if one of the others came along and saw it they would grab it and put it on, get your attention and smile from ear to ear becoming the new temporary owner of the Levi jacket. If only that jacket could talk...All said and done as we got older and traveled our separate ways I ended up being the "final owner" One of the friends, a "best" friend sadly moved on from this world to the next and I carried him to his grave...I'd take nothing for it five decades later...Thanks again for jogging that memory lose with the story you shared...PLH-ELB

[@tomk4475]

Enjoy every one of these with my morning coffee, thank you Otis

[@SJ-ni6iy]

This made my Sunday afternoon so much brighter, I love listening to your stories. Townes being the subject is an added bonus.

[@DoctorSess]

Just showed this story to my old man, he really got a kick out of it. Thanks for sharing!

[@artemisXsidecross]

A great story to share Otis. Your ability to tell a story and share them is another attribute to your long list. Thank you.

[@paulreed2642]

How about a sunday morning with coffee show ottis?

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Great story. Thanks. Have a great day. ☕️

[@RavenMadd9]

Thank you boss ....have a blessed week

[@twoshirtman7096]

Big thanks Otis for a really great story. I have heard a lot of really great Townes Van Zandt stories on your KZbin Channel, as well as on Kevin Tripletts KZbin Channel. I have to tell you Otis, that this story was really, really great. One of the best. Moreover, I'm a great fan of Larry Monroe, and I just want to give a tip to everyone to check up Kevin Tripletts KZbin Channel. He has posting an interview with Larry Monroe, where Larry tells a story of how Blaze Foley and Townes Van Zandt met Bob Dylan in Austin Texas 1986.

[@otisgibbs]

Subscribe to Michael Corcoran and tell him Otis sent ya! : ) michaelcorcoran.substack.com/

[@sayeager5559]

I can't agree more. Subbed to his blog last week. Ordered one of his books this week. The best tip Ive gotten in a long time. Thanks OG.

[@michaelanderson4024]

Thanks for the great story, Otis, and the heads-up on Michael Corcoran. But it looks like his substack is called "Overserved," yes?

[@michaelstevens4144]

Otis, your stories and insight always lift me up. I grew up loving music and craved every detail of all those magical artist. Finding your podcast Has enriched my connection to those fine artist. Thank you Sir!

[@jcmacmusic]

Fantastic thank you brother Otis...

[@otisgibbs]

What's your favorite Townes Van Zandt song?

[@wgj4everlong426]

Depending on mood,most days Tecumseh Valley

[@seldomseensavage3459]

Is this a trick question?!? Lol It’s a tough one but “To Live’s To Fly” is up there & profound in so many ways…what an incredible talent. Enjoyed this story, & love Lucinda too,Thanks

[@sayeager5559]

Rex's Blues

[@johnhiscutt1853]

Pancho & Lefty👍🎸

[@eastlakj]

Lungs

[@TheTexasTodd]

This is by far my favorite channel

[@batman48195]

Great story!

[@garytrew2766]

To the true OG. There's a knack to story telling and Otis you have it. I've been a sub on your channel for a while now. Thanks man for the entertainment quality that few others possess. I listened to the Souvenirs album, enjoyed it immensely. Check you later friend.

[@g2guns562]

Awesome lil story what great lil diddly Awesome as always my friend

[@Gratefulman1965]

Otis, Here is why I love Townes writing. When it’s 3 a.m. and all you have is your thoughts and a guitar, it’s in that moment that a songwriters dreams take flight. So how about one of my favorites. All of Townes stuff is worthy. I choose “To live is to fly”

[@ayronsmama05]

Great story! Blessings to you and Ms. Amy!

[@sartainja]

Superb story.

[@scottkidwellmusic9175]

Thanks for this one, Otis 🙏 Townes was quite the character, by all accounts. I got into his music a bit late, and thanks to Lyle Lovett's "Step Inside This House". No way I can pick a favorite Townes song... Be good to you 💛

[@MrGavinspoppop]

I never heard of Townes V until I heard your KZbin video.... now I appreciate his talent ...so TYVM , Peace.Brian

[@galenbrewer4229]

I was fortunate to know these people. Thanks for the story!

[@TadMars]

Awesome story. It’s hard to pick a favorite song of his. Love the movie Blaze, had a lot of awesome Townes stories

[@ulfsvensson9710]

To name a favorite is nearly impossible, but if you twist my arm i have to say Be here to love me today. And his live version of Dead Flowers takes it to a whole new level.

[@Caperhere]

I was looking for a doc on Townes by the same name. I can only find it uploaded in German.

[@dannattrass8269]

Another closet stellar gem! Favorite Townes song (today) Waiting Around to Die. Covered sooo well by many.

[@Plasterd4livng194]

Too many favorites to pick from but really been feelin Mr. Mudd and Mr. gold. Been tryin to pick it on guitar too. Love all of Townes stories in his songs. Definitely love your stories too Otis, thank you.

[@Caperhere]

In reading a comment section about Townes, a player was saying although he’d been playing for years, he couldn’t figure out how Townes played a song. Someone replied he used the Travis method. Don’t know if this is any help to you, or if that method of playing is popular. Something about laying down the bass by alternatively thumbing the top two strings, and using the other fingers to move the melody? along. Sorry, I’m not a player. I tried to learn by taking lessons ages ago. A neighbour had shown me a finger picking pattern, and I loved it, so soothing. Buy the teacher insisted I learn with a pick. Didn’t work out. I still get out the lessons and the guitar every now and then, but I don’t have what it takes.😊

[@manhattanfl]

​@@Caperhere I play Townes songs quite often and I've found that I can get pretty damn close doing the Travis method

[@Ivearted]

Dang! Thanks for sharing!!!! What a great story!!!!!!! 👋😎

[@ronaldschuurman81]

Thank you for your wonderful stories. I always look forward to new ones. You are a super storyteller. Cheers!

[@jussivihlman1875]

Great story again. I love Rake, but I also love Flying shoes. There`s a great version where Townes tells how the song came from the river. Man, I love them all.

[@JKlasen]

Good one

[@drumsleuth]

My favorite song by Townes is Flying Shoes Roz and I both agree on this one really digin your lp and cds Otis 9 ft problem was stuck in my head for a few days and nights so it must be a pretty darn good song. Thanks again for all your good works.Rick & Roz Day.

[@anotherjoshua]

Even if Pancho & Lefty had only the single line, "And your breath as hard as kerosene," it would be be my favorite of all his songs.

[@DavidSmith-ss1cg]

I've always been fond of "The dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth." So many gifted wordsmiths from Texas, there MUST be something in the water. Fortune passes everywhere.

[@timothygraff9464]

Oh, so many great lines....a treasure for the poor to find!

[@freddymclain]

I once saw Townes climb on a BSA 440 Victor parked outside of Sand Mountain, a coffee house in Houston, crank it up and roar off into the night. He was drunk as the proverbial skunk, and I clearly remember thinking, 'Jeez, that's the last time I'll ever see Townes.' I was very surprised to see him the next day. I still wonder how he made it home.

[@donny_doyle]

So great, thanks bro...

[@T-roy33]

I guess favorite would be if I needed you. I play it with capo at the 4th fret. Favorite story teller is Otis Gibbs.

[@JukkaRaySkaReinivuo]

great funny story

[@JohnnyPerth]

Great story. Where did the Hag post go ?

[@taljechin]

If I had to choose just one it would be "Billy, Boney and Ma" - cheers me up every time!

[@phil.d-roll6393]

I love a good TVZ story.

[@julesotis13]

Good one uncle Otis my fav tvz song is... A bleep ton of. Here's three cuz.. Ritmo de los tres.. Brother Flower.. Dead flowers.. To live is to fly... I coukd wax on Townes greatness... Endlessly.. Id jump on the table with Ole Steve Earle making case for Tvz writing and Saint John prine over Dylan as far as lyrics musicality and range (incl humour) and I wouldn't apologize lol lovr ya Otis.. Stephen Jules Otis Career Rubin

[@michaelhorstman4911]

To live is to fly.

[@thegloobster]

Wow, it's a small world. Can't believe you heard this from the fricking Nickelodeon music guy. Michael Corcoran really seems like a character.

[@brianb.5473]

I have so many Townes favorites. Of course Pancho and Lefty I believe it is my all time favorite song. And my favorite version in on Rear view mirror. I also really like the little known Many a fine lady. The version from live and obscure. If anyone hasn't heard it. I encourage you to give it a listen. The best version of You are not needed now is also on live and obscure in my opinion anyway.

[@phil.d-roll6393]

My favorite Townes song might be his rendition of Dead Flowers by the Rolling Stones. As for orginal tune, ide say maybe My Proud Mountains. But its tough to pick one. Waiting Around to die and Ill be Here in the Morning are a toss up. Depends on my mood. And how many drinks ive had. ✌🍻

[@Caperhere]

I haven’t hardly scratched the surface of Townes. I want to know all the other people he knew, and learn as much as I can about what inspired every one of them. I found a document from Texas State U this morning which gives a brief introduction of people who knew Townes, followed by their opinion and experiences re him and his music. It’s interesting by itself, but also because the way people think as time goes on changes. It’s interesting, and a little sad, to see the changes in how generation gaps think about things.

[@johnhiscutt1853]

Pancho & Lefty👍🎸

[@turdferguson2982]

I couldn't pick a favorite Townes song with a gun to my head.

[@toddmuenster8742]

Flyin Shoes

[@MartinPicker]

My favorite Townes line in Pancho and Lefty is “the dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty’s mouth. Who can put words together like that?

[@lindellsiler5994]

I saw Mike Cooley solo at the Hole In The Wall. Makes this story seem true somehow.

[@markthompson1529]

Hi otis love listening to your stories. The question i would like to ask you is do you know if elvis ever got to hear frankie lymon's version of jailhouse rock? Do you know if there ever meet.

[@Caperhere]

Great story! I watched Without Getting Killed or Caught last week. Really learned a lot about Guy Clark, Townes, and Guy’s wife. Then went down a Guy rabbit hole, where I learned some more about Shawn Camp. What a writer and singer! I saw some commenters arguing about Townes actually writing Dead Flowers. After watching that movie, I’d have to agree with one commenter who said the Stones may have written it, but Townes lived it. I’ve listened to and loved Kris since his first album came out when I was ten. And kept listening to his songs. It’s beyond me how I was completely unaware of this whole other bunch of Texan artists. Question: Do you like playing mahogany guitars? ( real, old growth mahogany)

[@brianb.5473]

How did you watch Without getting killed or caught? Been trying to find a way to see it. I have only saw the preview on KZbin.

[@Caperhere]

@@brianb.5473 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpy2qZ2CepeKjLOAook in the description.

[@brianb.5473]

@@Caperhere Thanks so much.

[@Caperhere]

@@brianb.5473 You’re welcome.😊

[@julesotis13]

Also the coin toss tale reminds me of no country for old men and I csn see tvz being a good Anton chigur Javier Bardem.. Also I don't recall Cormacs book fully I suspect the coin toss is in the bookyans character or I'd wonder if t bone Burnett didn't know this tvz tale and use it to influence the Coen bros or Javier Bardem lol. Anywya love the tale uncle Otis..

[@sayeager5559]

Have you seen the new Neil Young doc? Its on YT.

[@rogerwilliams2629]

I wish I had net him, only saw him once, Fitzgerald's.

[@rogerwilliams2629]

Marie

[@scotthd2841]

Flying Shoes

[@rockhillmusicscene]

Hopefully gibbs or someone can help me out gibbs mentioned in another townes video about a bar in texas doing an annual townes van zandt tribute show i would love to make the trip to texas and see that one year anyone know where exactly this is at? Thanks in advance

[@nathandanaaldrich4724]

Oh, unfair question, Otis. But I'll have to throw down with TO LIVE IS TO FLY. *I introduced Townes onstage one night in Santa Fe long ago (when he WASN'T a muse-iCal hero to me) then Sat alone with Townes backstage, both of us completely in silence, both in awe and in love with Margo Timmins, watching the audience behind her in the night as the Junkies swayed. Townes across from me in the cramped concrete wings of the amphitheater, his lanky legs folded over knees, chain-smoking cigarettes, tapping his feet as if he had all the time in the world. And me naively caught up in the same dream, playing poker with a world that holds all the cards while we foolishly push more chips in the middle.

[@msalty2823]

Great story. I guess Townes was a man to be taken seriously if stared a man out of his clothes.

[@charlieroth4207]

I heard this one from Mark Stuart who heard it from Steve Earle..so I guess it is third hand and I might get some of it wrong but it must be true, however it does seem unbelievable. Someone had given Townes a white suede fringed jacket and he lost it in a card game. He then bet his gold tooth filling and lost that. When it came time to pay up they got a pliers out and pulled out his tooth. THEY PULLED OUT THE WRONG ONE!!

[@Caperhere]

I think I heard a story about someone gifting that jacket to Townes, and when he went to that person’s party shortly after, Townes had lost that jacket because of gambling. I wonder if Steve Earle ever wrote an autobiography. It would have to be full of wonderful tales.

[@danielmims8467]

Black widow blues , gold and mud , idk pretty much all of them.

[@Zavijava1]

these days its "Waiting Around To Die"...but really too many to say...

[@NateCostaOfficial]

Mr Mudd and Mr Gold

[@joniloverin7343]

Delta Mama

[@oyajiblues]

Pancho and Lefty.

[@lastone3926]

I'm the 666 like lol