
This is the second perfect album Townes Van Zandt cut in 1972, a complement to High, Low and in Between. Together they contain the highest points of his brilliant but erratic career.
The Late Great may be a bit stronger, with classics like 'Pancho & Lefty,' 'No Lonesome Tune,' and 'If I Needed You,' but there's not a weak track here. Van Zandt's voice is in top shape, the song selection is superb, and Jack Clement's understated production gives the tunes a timeless quality.