CORPORATE LINE: In a truly remarkable accomplishment in 2004, each of four new Willie Nelson albums–one studio, two live and one compilation–reached the Top 30 of the Country chart. Willie proved he was still the renegade spirit of American music. Now a new retrospective, Songs (Lost Highway/Hip-O/UTV Records/UMe), released February 15th, 2005, spans 40-plus years of Willie’s recordings for the first time, from his original 1961 demo for “Crazy” and his first Top 10 (1962’s “Touch Me”) to songs from 2002’s hit albums The Great Divide and Stars & Guitars. Willie’s signature songs are all featured on this release.
Delving into each decade and chapter of his songbook, culled from six record labels and with duets with Lee Ann Womack, B.B. King, Brian McKnight, Merle Haggard, and Waylon Jennings, Songs defines Willie much as he has defined Country. For new fans as well as those from back in the day, even with the plethora of Willie compilations, the one-CD Songs is unique by updating his formidable legend–nearly half of its 20 digitally remastered selections are culled from the ‘90s and ‘00s. The package’s booklet also features an essay by Grammy-winning Country music historian Colin Escott.
THE GREAT:
“Always On My Mind” – The song speaks for itself as one of the greatest country songs ever written.
“Pancho and Lefty” – Even today the song is works and it’s impossible to figure out exactly why but you know when you hear it that it’s irresistible.
“Crazy” –40 years ago Nelson first wrote this hit that has been covered by many artists, most notably Patsy Cline.
“Whiskey River” – It’s a sadly good song—a celebration of depression.
“Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer)” – A track that I’d listen to as a kid with my father as we’d take long trips to see family. It has a familiarity but also that feeling there is always something to look forward to.
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” – Absolutely gorgeous song—as good as it gets.
“Good Hearted Woman” – Okay it can bet better—this was a hit single for Nelson in 1972 and it’s easy to understand why.
THE AVERAGE:
“Good Times” – This doesn’t fit with so many hits.
“Don’t Fade Away” – Nelson’s broken tire of a voice still has a lot of soul—too bad he’s on this overly produced pop song.
THE BAD:
“On The Road Again” – This live recording from 2002 is a poor selection and an awful recording.
FRANKLY: Willie Nelson’s retrospective Songs is all over the place. It seems more of a way to make money off the Willie Nelson name rather than release a true set of greatest hits—too many good songs left off and too many songs that don’t belong. There are also two tracks from the Milk Cow Blues album and none from Red Headed Stranger, arguably his greatest album ever. Make sense of that. A quarter of the songs have that are on the record were recorded in the last five years. There is no rhyme to the reason. What we really need is a box set for fans to ever be satisfied.
+ Rae Gun
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