Heartworn Highways

Product Description

HEARTWORN HIGHWAYS (HEARTWORN HIGHWAYS)

Customer Reviews:

great music.......2007-08-13

I enjoyed the dvd a lot. though i have seen there was supposed to be a 22 page booklet i believe when sold elsewheres. This did not come with my dvd. I sure would have enjoyed the booklet.

Why have we never heard of Larry Jon Wilson?.......2007-05-25

I really enjoyed this movie. Several Guy Clark songs, John Hiatt and Steve Earle in much younger days, Charlie Daniels back before he censored references to the noxious weed from his songs, Townes Van Zandt, Rex Bell, and a hysterically funny song introduction by Gamble Rodgers. Also a clip of David Allan Coe driving his bus to and then playing at a prison in Tennessee. The high points for me were the song "Alabama Highway" by Steve Young, and a song called "Ohoopee River Bottomland" by a man named Larry Jon Wilson.

According to the sparse information available on the internet, Larry Jon Wilson was one of the "outlaw" genre progressive country musicians in the mid-1970's. His style reminds one of Tony Joe White ("Polk Salad Annie"), and it is apparent from the clip here that he is an excellent singer, songwriter, and guitar player. Being a fan of that music, I am shocked that watching this DVD was the first time I had heard of him. He later hosted a show on PBS called "Georgia Backroads" and I found a couple of references to recent shows. I guess fate and luck play a huge role in determining a musician's success. It seems a shame that a man of such talent did not recieve greater acclaim.

Great "candid" footage of Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, and others sitting around a dining table, with an unreal number of assorted bottles in various stages of emptiness, trading songs. We mortals are truly lightweights. At any rate, if you are interested in songwriting, these artists, or early to mid-70's progressive country music, you will enjoy this DVD immensely. And if you hear of any Larry Jon Wilson cd's for sale, let me know.

Dick LeMasters

A musical vision fulfilled - Townes Van Zandt and friends.......2006-08-02

I was stunned by this movie. I learned of it and purchased it in 2003. For various reasons it remains for me the best, most emotional movie I have seen about musicians and their music. The producer chose well: He found the songwriters that shaped country and rock for the next 30 years: Townes Van Zandt, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Steve Young, John Hiatt, Charlie Daniels and a tribute to the late Skinny Dennis, immortalized in Guy Clark's "LA Freeway." I wish David Allen Coe had been left out, but no film is perfect.
The songwriters are shown at their best and worst: a drunken, funny TVZ falls into a rabbit hole and Silent Night is rendered by fine musicians too drunk to remember the lyrics.

This movie was made when I was a poor student and musician with a small circle of talented friends in Tampa at the University of South Florida. The difference is that most of my friends and I got straight jobs [we still tried to make a difference] but these musicians changed the world, just a little.
I married the singer/Business major I met at USF and divorced 30 years later. I still play guitar, write and record at home and dream of making it in music - but mostly I learn songs written by artists like those in this movie and try to understand the magic they have that still captures me.
When TVZ sang 'Waiting around to die' he brought tears to the eyes of his 70+ blacksmith neighbor, while Cindy comforts him. It was magical. TVZ does a "medley of my hit" and sings "Pancho and Lefty," and Rodney Crowell sang "Bluebird Wine," both covered by Emmylou. Steve Young's "Alabama Highways" was wonderful too. It was a look into my past - and the past and future of the intelligent, emotional music I love best.

Diverse crew of pickers/rare footage/some better than others.......2006-07-13

This DVD starts strong with Guy Clarke down in (I'm presuming) his basement in the mid-70's pickin' and singin' "LA Freeway", as the opening credits roll; I'm very partial to Guy and Townes Van Zandt (2 of the major stars that are followed around) so insofar as their parts of the DVD, it's a no brainer 5 stars from my perspective. Some very intimate moments with Townes Van Zandt, as he's picking ("Waitin' 'Round to Die" in particular) and other times just horsing around with friends and, of course, a bottle of whiskey.... I'm not too fond of David Alan Coe being on this DVD alongside those, as I think his divisive lyrics speak for themselves (and i'm not referring only to the line in 'If that Ain't Country' but, rather, some pretty pathetic stuff from his 1982 "Underground Album"). In addition to my disliking David Alan Coe's racial leanings, the parts where he is involved just don't seem to "fit". Maybe if you're a David Alan Coe fan (and I DO understand not all D.A. Coe fans share his views regarding what all has come out of his mind, onto a piece of paper and out of his mouth) then you will really enjoy those parts of 'Heartworn Highways'. Charlie Daniels as well doesn't seem to fit but, to be fair, I (Spike) can't just 'mold' this DVD into my own perfect cast -- it is what it is! I'm sure the Coe fans and C.D Band fans and all probably wonder what the hell those hippies are doin' in there, from the other side've the coin. A young Steve Earle, Larry Jon Wilson, Gamble Rogers, Rodney Crowell and more all pop in and out to add some spice.... some interesting interviews and footage of just regular folk also contribute to 'Heartworn Highways' and, if you can just appreciate the DVD for what it is, scattered and all, then it's worth a buy. I don't regret owning it, and pop it in every couple years to watch again --- maybe pickin' my six string or "lookin at my watch" (Cash, 1994) during the times I'm not as interested....

the best music film ever made!.......2006-02-23

Extraordinary performances by singer songwriters who revolutionized country music beautifully captured at the time it was happening. It's like visiting, living with these folks in Nashville and Austin in the 1970's.
An hour of bonus material that is just as good as the movie!
20 year old Steve Earle does a couple of great songs he never recorded elsewhere!
It's an amazing DVD altogether!

Average customer rating:

whether you buy it or rent it
Real country!
What a Treasure!
Some Family History
A brilliant little slice of music history

Heartworn Highways
Starring: Steve Young (VI) , Glenn Stagner , Peggy Brooks , Steve Earle , and Rodney Crowell
Director: James Szalapski
Manufacturer: Madfish Records UK
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00009KP12
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Customer Reviews:

whether you buy it or rent it.......2007-07-26

this is a must see for anyone who loves texas/americana music or whatever you call it.

Real country!.......2006-08-25

This is an excellent insite to what the underground country scene in the mid 70's was all about Spitting on the Nashville scene (something country artists need to keep doing nowadays) fantastic songwriters and bands including Guy Clark, the late great Townes Van Zandt, Rodney Crowell, Barefoot Jerry and Larry Jon Wilson are just a few of the talents that are intimately revealed, on and off the stage. The scene where Van Zant's classic "Hang Around and Die" brings tears to the eyes of an old blacksmith friend will almost do the same to you. You also get to see a glitzier but still raw side of country with performances by up and comers at the time Charlie Daniels Band and David Allen Coe. The film ends with a drunken Christmas part at the Clark's, featuring perhaps the first recording of future hard core troubadour Steve Earle, helping his friends belt out an intoxicated version of "Silent Night." (Did Steve look like Keith Richards then or what?) Anyone who likes real country, not the polished, big hat, Nashville's version of Bon Jovi country that has been trolled out of the so-called Music City for years, this DVD is a must for your collection

What a Treasure!.......2006-01-02

I bought this film in New Orleans (prior to the flood), and really had no idea this footage existed. Being a huge Steve Earle fan, I was floored when a young, probably teenage, Steve performed "Mercenary Song". Guy Clark excels in every way, and Townes just shows why he is the legend that he is. Seeing these guys sitting around a table playing songs is such an inspiration. I am so glad that this documentary was saved, and now released.

Some Family History.......2005-12-23

This is something original. Something that has never been done and something that cannot be recreated. Starting off with my old babysitter (I was one lucky kid) Larry Jon Wilson, in the studio layin it down all the way through to seeing my dad so young preforming with The Charlie Daniels Band, this is a piece of musical history. Not just for me, but for anyone that has felt touched by any of the amazing writers and musicians in this film. A DVD version was just recently released and I would highly recommend trying to find that version over the VHS. Do yourself a favor and buy this. You won't be dissappointed.

A brilliant little slice of music history.......2004-12-03

I thank James Szalapski from the bottom of my heart for having the foresight to make this film when many of the principals were young, handsome, and not particularly well known. I admit that I am not much of a country music fan, and I bought it principally to see Townes Van Zandt sing "Poncho and Lefty" (which appears in the special features) and it didn't disappoint. The footage of him clowning around and later performing "Waitin' 'Round to Die" is also fantastic, though brief. The film is compelling as a whole, with many fine performances, and sensitive camera work which enhances the narrative; but it was worth buying just for the glimpse of Townes Van Zandt's incredibly charismatic persona as a young artist.

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