Read about the film ‘Heartworn Highways and its successor
Heartworn Highways was shot by James Szalapski and it portrayed some of the most important alternative country singer/songwriters of the time. The footage of these artists (largely from Texas and Tennessee) is unique, real and breathtaking. I have previously featured on this site one of the now most famous and moving performances in the film, from Townes Van Zandt. Although the doco was filmed in the mid-70s, it was not released theatrically until 1981. I have seen it at least three times and I would highly recommend it to readers as a remarkable insight into these artists and the alternative/outlaw country scene at the time.
Aside from Van Zandt, Heartworn Highways features Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Charlie Daniels and a very young Steve Earle.
According to Wikipedia, here is a complete list of songs in the movie
- Guy Clark – “L.A. Freeway”
- Larry Jon Wilson – “Ohoopee River Bottomland”
- David Allan Coe – “Keep on Trucking”
- Big Mack McGowan & Glenn Stagner “The Doctor’s Blues”
- Guy Clark – “That Old Time Feeling”
- Townes Van Zandt – “Waitin’ Around to Die”
- David Allan Coe – “I Still Sing the Old Songs”
- Barefoot Jerry – “Two Mile Pike”
- Rodney Crowell – “Bluebird Wine”
- Steve Young – “Alabama Highway”
- Guy Clark – “Texas Cooking”
- Gamble Rogers – “Black Label Blues”
- Peggy Brooks – “Lets Go All the Way”
- The Charlie Daniels Band – “Texas”
- David Allan Coe – “Penitentiary Blues”
- David Allan Coe – “River”
- Steve Earle – “Elijah’s Church” (partial)
- Ensemble – “Silent Night”
“Extras” Bonus Songs on DVD
- Guy Clark – “Desperadoes Waiting For a Train”
- Townes Van Zandt – “Pancho & Lefty”
- Richard Dobson – “Hard by the Highway”
- The Charlie Daniels Band – “Long Haired Country Boy”
- Guy Clark w/ Rodney Crowell – “Ballad of Laverne and Captain Flint”
- John Hiatt – “One For The One For Me”
- Steve Earle – “Darlin’ Commit Me”
- David Allan Coe – “Thank You, Jesus”
Now there is news of a new documentary Heartworn Highways Revisited, directed by Wayne Price. Now, a young generation of filmmakers are planning to pay tribute by making a new film “that will celebrate the authenticity and express the feelings of the legendary original”. (Granite Films)
“A small handful of carefully selected today’s outlaws will be filmed and recorded – occasionally alongside musicians from the original film- in various settings, mostly intimate, but some in-studio and full-blown concert. Performances will be as true and nuanced as those that set the standard for this genre of music. Heartworn Highways Revisited will be a journey into the heartland of contemporary America in a quest for the soul of today’s music.”
Here is a link to a Q and A with the original film makers which touches on the new film.
Read about the film ‘Heartworn Highways and its successor
***
