Texas Rain: The Texas Hill Country Recordings

iTunes Review

This posthumous Townes Van Zandt release’s title is a bit of a misnomer in that the tunes aren’t emphasized by Texas tones. Sure, Freddy Fender and Rubin Ramos of Texas Tornados fame help add a little southwest twang in a Latin tinged “Pancho & Lefty,” as does Willie Nelson in a breezy version of “No Lonesome Tune,” but the polished production and conservative arrangements dilute those gritty flavors somewhat. Jerry Jeff Walker helps give “Blue Wind Blew” a fun western swing feel and Doug Sahm’s harmonies on “Two Girls” are tastefully contemporary. The back story of this compilation begins in the 1990s when Townes sought to record 60 songs with various guests for a box set, but the project was shelved following his death in 1997 until 2001, when it came out as a 12-song album. If you listen to Texas Rain remembering that the late great Townes Van Zandt influenced a myriad of notable musicians — some who appear here singing his songs with him — you are in for a true treat. Emmylou Harris chimes in for an uplifting version of “If I Needed You,” and their similarly textured inflections make for one of the best duets of his discography.