Release Date: March 23, 1993
Sony BMG Music Entertainment Inc.
Willie Nelson will always conjure memories of listening to Red Headed Stranger on the silver stereo in the living room with the green carpet back in Idaho. One of a handful of tapes/records that the whole family seemed to like--Best of Simon and Garfunkel was another one. Who was this red headed stranger? So mysterious...
This lovely glimpse into Americana and the highs and lows of simply being is a gem. Duets, covers, originals... it's all here. The first song, a cover of Paul Simon's "American Tune", is a strong start as it begins with vocals. I found myself surprised, every time I played it. Oh. No instrumental lead in. And Nelson's easy, breezy singing leaves me feeling a bit sad about the state of affairs in America. (duh... that's been going on for nigh onta eight years now...) His duets with Bonnie Raitt--"Getting Over You"--and Sinead O'Connor--cover of Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up"--are beautiful. Aching and sad. Unlike the original of the latter, Nelson's phrasing and low key singing make one think that he has, indeed, given up. And what a great contrast in vocal styling with Bonnie Raitt. She has more tension--not the bad singing technique type--in her sound while his is loose.
Speaking of phrasing... I've always loved the way that Willie offers up the pause. He has this way of singing a line, pause, singing another line, pause, sing, pause, sing, pause. It informs the song in a way that is unlike most singers. I read somewhere that he's like Frank Sinatra in that way. I can see that... So much happens in those pauses. Where Sinead will sing "we don't need muuuuuuuch of anything", Willie would say "we don't need much/(pause)/of anything". Very different. Though, she does sort of mimic his phrasing on their duet. I really like to hear a cover that has something new to give, rather than a copy of the original. This cover is fantastic.
This love fest can recognize faults of Nelson's, too. Particularly on track 11, "I Love the Live I Live" (written by Willie Dixon), where the vocals are strained and reminds me that as lovely as he sings, he doesn't have much of a range. Call me crazy--heh, heh, one of the greatest songs ever written, thank you Willie--but I still really like the song. Maybe all the more because it's not the best for his voice. I'm just blinded by my nostalgic love of him, I guess.
Goodness, he just makes it seem effortless. His guitar playing completely matches his singing, both have an easeful quality that is so quintessentially Willie Nelson. Shawn and I saw him at the Emerald Queen Casino in 2001 or 2002... he was totally cool. And I mean that in the calm and collected sense. Sold out show. I thought it was funny that he was at a place that generally showcases has been talents (sorry has beens, no offense). He had this gimmick where he'd tie a bandana round his head, take it off and toss it into the crowd, one after another. I was much too far back to even think about getting one, but it was fun to see. Sing, wrap, tie, toss. Repeat. Wouldn't that be keen? To have a red bandana tied and briefly worn by Willie Nelson? I'd totally wear it all the time and tell anyone who'd listen where I got it.
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