Willie+nelson

Like so many Willie Nelson albums of the 2010s, Ride Me Back Home bears a title that appears to be a vague nod to Nelson's mortality. Unlike, say, God's Problem Child or Last Man Standing, the cloud doesn't appear to hang so heavy on Ride Me Back Home, but maybe that's because the album is amiably unkempt in a way its immediate predecessors were not. Some of that is due to how Nelson and his longtime producer Buddy Cannon don't rely heavily on original material this time around. The pair write four originals, while Nelson collaborates with Sonny Throckmorton on the elegiac title track.

Ever since 1978's Stardust, standards albums have been part of Willie Nelson's arsenal, but 2018's My Way presents a twist on this shopworn tradition: it's designed as a tribute to Frank Sinatra. Album-long tributes to Sinatra aren't uncommon – Bob Dylan devoted much of the 2010s to recording a series of tributes to him – but My Way stands apart from the pack by capturing both the rakish charm of the Chairman of the Board and Nelson's sly elegance. Nelson balances standards from the Great American Songbook ("A Foggy Day," "Blue Moon," "Night and Day," "Young at Heart") with songs written with Sinatra in mind ("Fly Me to the Moon," "Summer Wind," "It Was a Very Good Year," "My Way"), which brings My Way closer to the essence of Frank Sinatra than Dylan's stylized saloon records.

It sat on the top of the country charts for 11 weeks and went double platinum, making it one of the biggest hits in either Waylon Jennings' or Willie Nelson's catalog. Years after its initial 1978 release, Waylon & Willie remains one of their biggest-selling albums, but its perennial popularity has more to do with their iconic status – something this album deliberately played up – than the quality of the music, which is, overall, merely good. Released in early 1978, a few months after Jennings' Ol' Waylon spent 13 weeks on the top of the charts in the summer of 1977, thanks in part to the hit single "Luckenbach, Texas" featuring a chorus sung by Nelson, the album was intended as a celebration of the peak of outlaw, but in retrospect, it looks like where the movement was beginning to slide into predictability, even if both singers are more or less in command of their talents here.

Willie Nelson never has been known for his consistency, either in style or quality, yet his stint at Lost Highway Records may be his most schizophrenic collection of recordings ever. Signed to the alt country label at the turn of the decade, Nelson proceeded to cut a muddled mainstream crossover, pitched himself at Lost Highway's typical Americana audience with an album produced by Ryan Adams, pander to his forgotten mainstream country audience with an album produced by Kenny Chesney, salute the stoners with a reggae album, and tip his hat to the main lady of Western swing with a tremendous tribute album to songwriter Cindy Walker.

Willie Nelson started calling his backing band the Family way back in 1973, right around the time he split from RCA, grew out his hair, and headed back to Texas. The Family also are featured on Willie Nelson Family, but this 2021 album is designed to feature his kin, including his sister Bobbie, his sons Lukas and Micah –the linchpins of Promise of the Real, sometimes backing band of Neil Young – and daughters Paula and Amy. Everybody has played on one of Willie's records at one point or another – Bobbie has been by his side for years – but the mingling of voices is notable, especially when one of his children takes the lead. At this stage, Willie is sounding a bit craggy, so having softer, supple voices offering support sounds warm and sweet.

Snapper's Hello Mary Lou spotlights Ricky Nelson's hits recorded in the '50s and '60s including "Travelin' Man," "Stood Up," "Poor Little Fool," and " Hello Mary Lou." While this set isn't bad for casual listeners, the better choice is Greatest Hits on Capitol, as it includes "Garden Party" and other favorites not included on this compilation.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Frank Sinatra's groundbreaking and highly successful album, Duets, Capitol/UMe will release a newly-remastered Sinatra Duets - Twentieth Anniversary 2CD Deluxe Edition bringing together the original Duets, and the follow-up Duets II, together in one deluxe package. Included on the 2CD deluxe edition are two never-before-released recordings: 'One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)' featuring Tom Scott and 'Embraceable You' with Tanya Tucker plus the rare bonus tracks 'Fly Me to the Moon' with George Strait and two versions of 'My Way' one recorded with Luciano Pavarotti and the other with Willie Nelson.

There are many incredible music genres that originated in the great land of America. Rock ’n’ Roll, Blues, Country, Gospel, the list goes on. Stars Of American Anthems gathers many of these leading genres & delivers 60 American timeless classics by iconic artists that remain influential in today’s popular music. The great names include Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, Bill Haley, Little Richard, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Ray Charles, The Everly Brothers, Ike & Tina Turner plus many more celebrated legends. Featured are the greatest favourites that have stood the test of time & will continue to be enjoyed by audiences for decades to come.