Heartworn Highways
Encyclopedia
Heartworn Highways is documentary film by James Szalapski
whose vision captured some of the founders of the Outlaw Country
movement in Texas and Tennessee in the last weeks of 1975 and the first weeks of 1976. The film was not released theatrically until 1981.
, Townes Van Zandt
, Steve Earle
, David Allan Coe
, Rodney Crowell
, Gamble Rogers, Steve Young
, and The Charlie Daniels Band. The movie features the first known recordings of Grammy award winners Steve Earle and Rodney Crowell who were quite young at the time and appear to be students of mentor Guy Clark. Steve Earle was also a big fan of Van Zandt at the time.
The beginning of the movie shows Larry Jon Wilson
in a recording studio shortly after he had been woken up for the movie after having been partying all night after a gig into the morning. The film maker goes to Austin and visits Townes Van Zandt at his trailer (At what is now 14th and Charlotte in the Clarksville neighborhood of downtown Austin) and his girlfriend Cindy, his dog Geraldine, Rex "Wrecks" Bell, and Uncle Seymour Washington (born 1896; died 1977) at his place, who is also called "The Walking Blacksmith", and who gives his great worldly advice to the viewers and represents a very important aspect of the atmosphere that these songwriters living in the South are surrounded by and involved in.
The movie shows Charlie Daniels completely fill a big high school gymnasium. Then the camera man sound recorder and director join David Allan Coe and film him playing a gig at the Tennessee State Prison
where he admits to being a former inmate and tells a story of being there and seems to bring out friends of his onto the stage who still are inmates there and they perform a gospel number "Thank You Jesus" that they used to sing in the yard. The end of the movie shows a drinking party that starts Christmas Eve and ends sometime Christmas Day at Guy Clark's house in Nashville with Guy, Susanna Clark
, Steve Young, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Jim McGuire
(playing the dobro
), along with several other guests. Steve Young leads the group in a rendition of Hank Williams' song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
" and Rodney Crowell leads everyone in "Silent Night
".
A Complete List of Songs Performed in Movie:
"Extras" Bonus Songs on DVD
Party at Guy Clark's House
James Szalapski
James Szalapski was a professional screenwriter, cinematographer, producer, and director, born in St. Paul, Minnesota, but who worked in New York City. His works include many documentaries, most notably Heartworn Highways, a 1975 documentary on several country music artists...
whose vision captured some of the founders of the Outlaw Country
Outlaw country
Outlaw country is a subgenre of country music, most popular during the late 1960s and the 1970s , sometimes referred to as the outlaw movement or simply outlaw music...
movement in Texas and Tennessee in the last weeks of 1975 and the first weeks of 1976. The film was not released theatrically until 1981.
Plot
The documentary covers singer-songwriters whose songs are more traditional to early folk and country music instead of following in the tradition of the previous generation. Some of film's featured performers are Guy ClarkGuy Clark
Guy Clark is an American Texas Country artist. In his career, he has released more than twenty albums, primarily on major labels. He has also written singles for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Rodney Crowell....
, Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
, Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
, David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
, Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
, Gamble Rogers, Steve Young
Steve Young (musician)
Steve Young is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist, known for his song "Seven Bridges Road"...
, and The Charlie Daniels Band. The movie features the first known recordings of Grammy award winners Steve Earle and Rodney Crowell who were quite young at the time and appear to be students of mentor Guy Clark. Steve Earle was also a big fan of Van Zandt at the time.
The beginning of the movie shows Larry Jon Wilson
Larry Jon Wilson
Larry Jon Wilson was an American country singer, guitarist and musician. He recorded "Through the Eyes of Little Children" and "I Betcha Heaven's on a Dirt Road".-Biography:...
in a recording studio shortly after he had been woken up for the movie after having been partying all night after a gig into the morning. The film maker goes to Austin and visits Townes Van Zandt at his trailer (At what is now 14th and Charlotte in the Clarksville neighborhood of downtown Austin) and his girlfriend Cindy, his dog Geraldine, Rex "Wrecks" Bell, and Uncle Seymour Washington (born 1896; died 1977) at his place, who is also called "The Walking Blacksmith", and who gives his great worldly advice to the viewers and represents a very important aspect of the atmosphere that these songwriters living in the South are surrounded by and involved in.
The movie shows Charlie Daniels completely fill a big high school gymnasium. Then the camera man sound recorder and director join David Allan Coe and film him playing a gig at the Tennessee State Prison
Tennessee State Prison
Tennessee State Prison is a former correctional facility located near downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Opened in 1898, the prison has been closed since 1992. It has been the location for the films Nashville, Marie, Ernest Goes to Jail, Against the Wall, The Green Mile, The Last Castle and Pillar's...
where he admits to being a former inmate and tells a story of being there and seems to bring out friends of his onto the stage who still are inmates there and they perform a gospel number "Thank You Jesus" that they used to sing in the yard. The end of the movie shows a drinking party that starts Christmas Eve and ends sometime Christmas Day at Guy Clark's house in Nashville with Guy, Susanna Clark
Susanna Clark
Susanna Clark may refer to:* Susanna Clark, American songwriter and wife of Guy Clark* Susanna Clarke, British novelist...
, Steve Young, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Jim McGuire
Jim McGuire
James A. McGuire was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played for one season. He played for the Cleveland Blues for 18 games during the 1901 Cleveland Blues season.-External links:...
(playing the dobro
Dobro
Dobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar...
), along with several other guests. Steve Young leads the group in a rendition of Hank Williams' song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1949. The song about loneliness was largely inspired by his troubled relationship with wife Audrey Sheppard...
" and Rodney Crowell leads everyone in "Silent Night
Silent Night
"Silent Night" is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber...
".
A Complete List of Songs Performed in Movie:
- Guy ClarkGuy ClarkGuy Clark is an American Texas Country artist. In his career, he has released more than twenty albums, primarily on major labels. He has also written singles for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Rodney Crowell....
- "L.A. Freeway" - Larry Jon WilsonLarry Jon WilsonLarry Jon Wilson was an American country singer, guitarist and musician. He recorded "Through the Eyes of Little Children" and "I Betcha Heaven's on a Dirt Road".-Biography:...
- "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 ZandtTownes Van ZandtJohn Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
- "Waitin' Around to Die" - David Allan Coe - "I Still Sing the Old Songs"
- Barefoot Jerry - "Two Mile Pike"
- Rodney CrowellRodney CrowellRodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
- "Bluebird Wine" - Steve YoungSteve YoungSteve Young is an American football quarterback.Steve Young may also refer to:*Steve Young , country music singer, songwriter and guitarist*Steve Young , industrial rock music songwriter and guitarist...
- "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 CoeDavid Allan CoeDavid Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
- "Penitentiary Blues" - David Allan Coe - "River"
- Steve EarleSteve EarleStephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
- "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 DobsonRichard DobsonRichard Dobson is an American singer/songwriter.He was born in Tyler, Texas. He spent time in the 1970s with Townes Van Zandt, Mickey White, Rex "Wrecks" Bell, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell and "Skinny" Dennis Sanchez....
- "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"
Party at Guy Clark's House
- Steve Earle - "Mercenary Song"
- Rodney Crowell - "Young Girls Hungry Smile"
- Richard Dobson - "Forever, For Always, For Certain"
- Billy Callery - "Question"
- Steve Young - "I'm So Lonesome I Could CryI'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1949. The song about loneliness was largely inspired by his troubled relationship with wife Audrey Sheppard...
" - Steve Earle & Rodney Crowell - "Stay a Little Longer"
- Guy Clark - "Country Morning Music"