Van Zandt, Townes: For the Sake of the Song LP

Townes Van Zandt wrote songs with an uncommon grace and poetic clarity, and he sang them with a voice that was at once straightforward, eloquent and mindful of the arid beauty of his images. A decade after Van Zandt released his debut album, there would be dozens of singer/songwriters following in his footsteps, but he was a rather unusual commodity when the Jack Clement and Jim Malloy produced and arranged For the Sake of the Song was originally released in 1968.

The 11-songs on Van Zandt's debut are all of fine quality and the emotional force with which Townes delivers "Quicksilver Daydreams of) Maria," "Tecumseh Valley" and the title tune belies the fact this was actually only his first album. On several tracks Clement and Malloy match the elusive mystery of Van Zandt's music with brilliant accompaniment especially on "The Velvet Voice," the Western backdrop of "I'll Be Here in the Morning," the tinkling keyboards on "Sad Cinderella" and the rattling percussion of "Waitin' Around to Die."

For The Sake Of The Song remains a classic debut. These songs make clear that Van Zandt's genius was already fully formed and as both a composer and a performer he was a man of rare gifts. Throughout, these gifts shine bright, and For the Sake of the Song was truly an auspicious early offering from an unparalleled musical talent.