Townes Van Zandt → Guy Clark

Townes Van Zandt, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Everly Brothers all took a turn at "Blue Yodel." Who wrote it and made the first recording?Jimmie Rodgersknew

Jimmie Rodgers

Blue Yodel · 1927 · via Townes Van Zandt

Long before Townes or Skynyrd got hold of it, Jimmie Rodgers wrote "Blue Yodel" and cut it first, back in 1927. Play his, then Townes's, and listen to how little the song needed changing.

Townes Van Zandt recorded "Man Gave Names to All the Animals," a playful one for a man known for dark songs. Who wrote it?Bob Dylanknew

Bob Dylan

Man Gave Names to All the Animals · 1979 · via Townes Van Zandt

Bob Dylan wrote it and put out the first recording in 1979, and Townes took it on in 1992. Play the two back to back and listen to the same animals get their names from two very different singers.

Townes Van Zandt recorded "(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle." Jimmie Davis is one writer on it. Who shares the credit with him?Hank Williamsknew

Hank Williams

(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle · 1993 · via Townes Van Zandt

Hank had it on record with the Drifting Cowboys long before Townes got to it, and Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan both took a turn too. Follow this one and you are walking the line Townes learned from.

Townes Van Zandt wrote "Pancho and Lefty," but who carried it to the top of the country chart in a duet with Merle Haggard?Willie Nelsonknew

Townes wrote it in obscurity, and Willie, who understood that outlaw streak, sang it with Merle Haggard all the way to number one. Follow Willie and you hear what happens when a Townes song finds a crowd.

Townes Van Zandt shared a Houston compound, songs and bottles with a friend who called him the best songwriter he knew. Who was that friend?Guy Clarkknew

Guy Clark lived down the hall from Townes in Houston, trading songs and bottles, and he still called Townes the best songwriter he knew. Here is the other corner of that Texas trinity, the one Jerry Jeff Walker rounded out.