Townes Van Zandt's 1968 debut album, For the Sake of the Song, is an essential (if flawed) look at one of country music's greatest songwriters and performers. Van Zandt's songs were painful, lonesome tales that sounded as if they'd always existed in some form. Producer Jack Clement was unsure how to flesh out these songs, and the arrangements here are often overdone. Van Zandt was unhappy enough with the final product that many of the songs were re-recorded on subsequent albums. That said, there's still plenty to recommend. His voice is in fine form, and the songs are built like a tank: able to bulldoze over the gratuitous backing choruses and extraneous instruments in their way. Both the title track and "Tecumseh Valley" immediately show his extraordinary talents. The lesser-known "Many a Fine Lady" and "Quicksilver Daydreams of Maria" work well within the restrained arrangements they're given and remain special songs. "The Velvet Voices" has some garish production moments, but the meat of the song is presented well.