I have been enjoying Steve Earle’s tribute/take on Townes Van Zandt songs, Townes for a couple weeks now. Out on the always reliable New West Records, I now have a free and legal download of one of the best tracks from the record, “To Live Is To Fly.”

The album includes guest appearances by Tom Morello, Allison Moorer, and Justin Townes Earle, who appears on record with his old man for the first time. “Earle and Van Zandt first met when Van Zandt heckled an Earle show in 1972, the sort of thing that must be a total nightmare for most singer-songwriters. But the two stayed tight until Van Zandt’s death in 1997.” Earle says, “This may be one of the best records I’ve ever made. That hurts a singer-songwriter’s feelings. Then again, it’s some consolation that I cherry picked through the career of one of the best songwriters that ever lived.”

Steve Earle releases Townes on May 12th via New West Records.

Townes:

01 Pancho and Lefty
02 White Freightliner Blues
03 Colorado Girl
04 Where I Lead Me
05 Lungs
06 No Place to Fall
07 Loretta
08 Brand New Companion
09 Rake
10 Delta Momma Blues
11 Marie
12 Don’t Take It Too Bad
13 Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold
14 (Quicksilver Daydreams of) Maria
15 To Live Is to Fly

Myspace: Steve Earle
MP3: Steve Earle – “To Live Is To Fly”