Various

Although it made few ripples when it was first released in 1976, the documentary Heartworn Highways his since become legendary for capturing the likes of Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and David Allan Coe in the most intimate of circumstances. Also present were then unknowns Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell and John Hiatt, making the movie in some ways the definite document for the cult that developed around Texas songwriters. It’s hard to argue that point with this newly remastered soundtrack that features Van Zandt at his inscrutable best on "Waitin’ Around To Die” and "Pancho And Lefty,” although Clark has a slight edge with aching performances of "L.A. Freeway” and "That Old Time Feeling.” Interspersed snatches of dialogue add to the intimacy, especially as the album winds down with songs from the film’s famous "Christmas Eve Jam” featuring Earle, Crowell, Clark and others. Obviously there are better recordings of all of these artists but as a snapshot of a crucial moment, Heartworn Highways only gets more poignant with the passage of time.