‘In The Beginning’ is truly a great album; a definite must-have for any fan of Townes. The album is aptly named, introducing for the first time demos of his early career, 2 years prior to his first album. It’s still filled with the same compassionate, complex lyricism, and his sound transcends categorization of any music from that period. ‘Black Widow Blues,’ ‘Gypsy Friday,’ and ‘Maryetta’s Song’ are among my favorite songs. The recording is surprisingly good, and the packaging itself is attractive, with paintings and photographs of Townes in the booklet. This is good stuff. And I highly recommend it.