Tag Archives: Heartworn Highways

Heartworn Highways To Be Shown Nationwide via Kino Marquee Starting Feb. 5th

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

HEARTWORN HIGHWAYS

In the mid-‘70s, filmmaker James Szalapski traveled to Texas’ Hill Country and Tennessee to capture musical white lightening in a bottle. From high school gymnasiums, trailer homes, recording studios to a liquor-fueled Christmas guitar pull in Guy and Susanna Clarks dining room, now legendary performers – Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Young, David Allan Coe, a 19-year-old Steve Earle and many others are shown crafting a genre by looking towards country music’s folk roots and away from Music Row’s glitz.

Musical highlights include Clark’s brilliant “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” Steve Earle’s stirring “Mercenary Song” and Townes Van Zandt’s gut-wrenching “Waiting Around To Die.” (see videos below)

Though filmed in the late 70’s the full documentary was not released theatrically until 1981 and has been notoriously difficult to watch in its entirety. If you’ve never seen it in its entirety now you’ll have a chance. Starting Feb 5 Heartworn Highways will be in Virtual Cinemas nationwide via Kino Marquee.

Visit Kino Marquee here

Guy Clark – “Desperados Waiting For A Train”:

Steve Earle – “Mercenary Song”:

Townes Van Zandt – “Waiting Around To Die”

Legendary Roots Music Documentary ‘Heartworn Highways’ 40th Anniversary Box Set To Be Released

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

Heartworn Highways 40th Anniversary Box Set

As posted on Pitchgork.com the classic and celebrated roots music documentary Heartworn Highways is getting the Record Store Day (April 16th) deluxe treatment. The 1976 documentary by James Szalapski chronicles the rise of late 70’s roots and country music.

Filming for the doc takes place in in Texas and Tennessee in the last weeks of 1975 and the first weeks of 1976. It features intimate and ofter astounding performances by Townes Van Zandt, Rodney Crowel, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Steve Young, David Allan Coe, Larry Jon Wilson, and others.

Over the years, the film and soundtrack have been lauded by fans and musicians and has achieved cult status.

On Record Store Day (April 16), Light in the Attic will release a limited (1,000 copies!) 40th anniversary 1,000 copies set featuring the film, its soundtrack, and more seen below.

    – Limited to 1,000 copies worldwide
    – Proudly Made in the USA, Hand crafted custom wood box by Boles Studio, Bronx, NY
    – LP-sized 80 page book with exhaustive 20,000 word essay by Sam Sweet interviewing artists, documentary creators and crew, including ephemera and over 100 unseen photos taken during the making of the film
    – Cast of Characters by legendary Austin illustrator Kerry Awn (Armadillo World Headquarters, The Ritz)
    – Reproduction of original film poster (24”x36”)
    – DVD of original 1976 film with restored image and sound. This is the first time the film has been restored to its correct speed in a DVD format.
    – DVD includes 45 minutes of bonus features, including performances by Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and others.
    – Region Free DVD
    – Double LP of soundtrack on “whiskey” colored wax housed in a Stoughton tip-on gatefold jacket
    – Download card for full soundtrack

Record Store Day was founded in founded in 2007 as a way to help struggling independent music retailers. The annual event has done much to fuel the current vinyl boom by offering unique and limited run editions like this one.

Find trailers for the film and the box set below.