Townes Van Zandt - Our Mother The Mountain

Our Mother the Mountain, Townes Van Zandt’s second studio album, stands as one of the most beloved and enduring works in his discography. Reissued by Fat Possum as part of their essential Van Zandt series—created in partnership with the Van Zandt estate—this 1969 album showcases a songwriter at the height of his poetic powers, blending stark vulnerability with mythic storytelling.

The record opens with the haunting title track, a dark, dreamlike ballad that sets the tone for a deeply atmospheric journey. Tracks like “Be Here to Love Me” and “Second Lover’s Song” ache with fragile beauty, while “St. John the Gambler” and “Kathleen” explore love, loss, and longing with lyrical precision and a sense of spiritual desolation.

The arrangements on Our Mother the Mountain are richer and more fully realized than on Van Zandt’s debut, pairing his acoustic guitar and voice with subtle strings, piano, and sparse percussion that enhance the emotional weight without overpowering it. The result is a quiet masterpiece—folk at its most literary, country at its most emotionally raw.

With iconic cover art by Milton Glaser and a collection of songs that would go on to inspire generations of songwriters, Our Mother the Mountain remains a cornerstone of Townes Van Zandt’s legacy and an essential listen for anyone drawn to the lonely corners of American music.

Townes Van Zandt – Our Mother the Mountain
Label: Fat Possum
Format: Vinyl