Willie Nelson - Heroes
By: Cheryl Harvey Hill – Sr. Staff Journalist
“What goes around, comes around”, my mother always said and, in the case of Willie Nelson and his current music label, that is proving to be true. With a career that spans six decades and a music catalog of more than two-hundred albums, “The Red Headed Stranger” has returned to the label where he first recorded an album of that same name, in 1975. And yes, I did say two-hundred.
Scheduled for release on May 15th, just in time for his 79th birthday, this new album is what we have come to expect from Nelson. With classic country artists Nelson, Haggard, Price, Kristofferson, Johnson, Snoop Dog, wait, what? Snoop Dog? Well, okay, but the songs are traditional. There's the iconic tune, “A Horse Called Music”, which was a big hit for Nelson in 1989, the classic 1949 hit, “Cold War With You”, the beautiful 1930 ballad “My Window Faces The South”, and “Just Breathe” which was a 2009 hit by Pearl Jam... what? Well, the album finishes with, “The Scientist”, made popular by Coldplay. Wait! Who? Coldplay? Okay, so the album isn't wall to wall, traditional country. What it is, all kidding aside, is nonstop, first track to last, entertainment.
The album kicks off with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard singing together. Need I say more to get your attention? Seriously now, I think not. When these two incredibly talented country music icons come together to sing, “A Horse Called Music”, on the first track of Heroes, it's absolute, harmonious, heaven.
Interestingly enough, Snoop Dog, Kris Kristofferson, and Jamey Johnson get on board with Nelson to sing the second track, “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die”. Hmmmm, intriguing, huh? I'm just sayin'... (with a wink and a smile, of course). All kidding aside, the superb, free style, instrumentals on this song definitely add to the feel-good, free spirit, message.
“That's All There Is To This Song” is euphonious perfection in ¾ time. Elegant in it's simplicity, therefore, simply elegant. This was definitely one of my favorite tracks.
“Cold War With You” was another stand out track for me because Ray Price, who is also one of my music Heroes, joins Nelson on this song. This was one of my mother's favorite songs. She would put the 45 record on the player, pull the “arm” off, and let it play over and over and over so it's one of those songs that can delve deep into my heart and bring up so many wonderful old memories and I'm sure I won't be the only person who is affected this way. However, you don't stay lost in the past for long since the very next track is “Just Breathe”.
Lukas Nelson wrote three tracks for this album, “No Place To Fly”, “Everytime He Drinks He Thinks Of Her”, and “The Sound Of Your Memory ”(co-written with Elizabeth Rainey). I loved the pedal steel on “No. Place To Fly”. It's a beautiful song, with strong lyrics, and perfectly metered for Nelson's unique style. Actually, all three songs fit nicely on this album and were well written. Proving, once again, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
In addition to Haggard, Snoop Dog, Kristofferson, Johnson and Price, Nelson was joined by Sheryl Crow on “Come On Up To The House”, Billy Joe Shaver and Jamey Johnson, on “Hero”, and by both of his sons, Lukas and Micah Nelson, on “Come On Back, Jesus”.
The final track is Nelson's superb version of “The Scientist”, a rather odd choice for a country outlaw perhaps, but it simply reminds me that Willie Nelson's music is as unique as he is and you actually can label greatness.
Moment of Forever
Remember Me - Volume I
"My hero has always been Willie"
“What goes around, comes around”, my mother always said and, in the case of Willie Nelson and his current music label, that is proving to be true. With a career that spans six decades and a music catalog of more than two-hundred albums, “The Red Headed Stranger” has returned to the label where he first recorded an album of that same name, in 1975. And yes, I did say two-hundred.
Scheduled for release on May 15th, just in time for his 79th birthday, this new album is what we have come to expect from Nelson. With classic country artists Nelson, Haggard, Price, Kristofferson, Johnson, Snoop Dog, wait, what? Snoop Dog? Well, okay, but the songs are traditional. There's the iconic tune, “A Horse Called Music”, which was a big hit for Nelson in 1989, the classic 1949 hit, “Cold War With You”, the beautiful 1930 ballad “My Window Faces The South”, and “Just Breathe” which was a 2009 hit by Pearl Jam... what? Well, the album finishes with, “The Scientist”, made popular by Coldplay. Wait! Who? Coldplay? Okay, so the album isn't wall to wall, traditional country. What it is, all kidding aside, is nonstop, first track to last, entertainment.
The album kicks off with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard singing together. Need I say more to get your attention? Seriously now, I think not. When these two incredibly talented country music icons come together to sing, “A Horse Called Music”, on the first track of Heroes, it's absolute, harmonious, heaven.
Interestingly enough, Snoop Dog, Kris Kristofferson, and Jamey Johnson get on board with Nelson to sing the second track, “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die”. Hmmmm, intriguing, huh? I'm just sayin'... (with a wink and a smile, of course). All kidding aside, the superb, free style, instrumentals on this song definitely add to the feel-good, free spirit, message.
“That's All There Is To This Song” is euphonious perfection in ¾ time. Elegant in it's simplicity, therefore, simply elegant. This was definitely one of my favorite tracks.
“Cold War With You” was another stand out track for me because Ray Price, who is also one of my music Heroes, joins Nelson on this song. This was one of my mother's favorite songs. She would put the 45 record on the player, pull the “arm” off, and let it play over and over and over so it's one of those songs that can delve deep into my heart and bring up so many wonderful old memories and I'm sure I won't be the only person who is affected this way. However, you don't stay lost in the past for long since the very next track is “Just Breathe”.
Lukas Nelson wrote three tracks for this album, “No Place To Fly”, “Everytime He Drinks He Thinks Of Her”, and “The Sound Of Your Memory ”(co-written with Elizabeth Rainey). I loved the pedal steel on “No. Place To Fly”. It's a beautiful song, with strong lyrics, and perfectly metered for Nelson's unique style. Actually, all three songs fit nicely on this album and were well written. Proving, once again, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
In addition to Haggard, Snoop Dog, Kristofferson, Johnson and Price, Nelson was joined by Sheryl Crow on “Come On Up To The House”, Billy Joe Shaver and Jamey Johnson, on “Hero”, and by both of his sons, Lukas and Micah Nelson, on “Come On Back, Jesus”.
The final track is Nelson's superb version of “The Scientist”, a rather odd choice for a country outlaw perhaps, but it simply reminds me that Willie Nelson's music is as unique as he is and you actually can label greatness.
Moment of Forever
Remember Me - Volume I
"My hero has always been Willie"
