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This classy four-CD book-bound collection of Townes Van Zandt’s influential Poppy/Tomato label recordings — covering 68’s For The Sake Of A Song through 78’s Flyin’ Shoes — is one-stop shopping for the Texas singer/songwriter fan at the top of your holiday gift-giving list. And while Texas Troubador falls short of a definitive statement on Van Zandt’s recorded legacy — it includes only the eight otherwise unavailable songs from his fabulous Live At The Old Quarter (just reissued as a double disc) and none of his great later Sugar Hill label material or unreleased tunes — it’s still a neatly packaged set, likely the most comprehensive career overview we’ll ever see in our lifetime and an excellent introduction to the master songster.
