American Classic

Willie Nelson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• ASIN: B002GNKTQY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)

Editorial Reviews

2009 release from the Country/Pop icon. American Classic is Willie Nelson's return to the Great American Songbook, a crossover standards album by the man who invented the genre with his landmark, best-selling 1978 album Stardust, which has been certified five-times Platinum by the RIAA. Produced by Tommy LiPuma and featuring guest duet partners Norah Jones on the classic tale of seduction 'Baby It's Cold Outside' and Diana Krall on 'If I Had You.' --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Willie sounds good singing these standards, August 25, 2009

By 

Robert G Yokoyama (Mililani, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: American Classic (Audio CD)

Willie sounds great on this new disc of American song standards. This music puts me in a good mood. The musicians on the disc are so good. I love Mickey Raphael on the bluesy harmonica on the track "Since I Fell You". Joe Sample plays the piano on the "On The Street Where You Live". This song is pleasant to listen to. Joe provides the musical arrangements for these tracks. Every track sounds new and fresh, so Joe does his job well here. Willie duets with Diana Krall on "If I Had You" and Norah Jones on the track "Baby It's Cold Outside". Their vocal talents give these classic tracks a sensual sound that I love. "Angel Eyes" is a song about missing a loved one. This song sounds very romantic. Because Of You is a very pretty song. I like the sax playing on this track. I like the sentimental feeling Willie sings with on the track "Come Rain Or Come Shine". "Always On My Mind" is Willie's original song. I have never heard this song featuring piano playing before, and it sounds beautiful. This is a very enjoyable disc of music from Willie Nelson.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hit And Miss Standards CD From Willie Nelson, December 21, 2009

By 

Philip R. Heath "Gadgets, Music, & Books" (DFW) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: American Classic (Audio CD)

American Classic by Willie Nelson is an attempt to revisit his success from 30 years ago with Stardust. The results are rather mixed. Nelson starts the CD out pretty good with solid takes on "The Nearness Of You" and "Fly Me To The Moon". These seem to work well because they are very laid back and mellow which suits Nelson's style. The same could also be said of "Because Of You". Yet on "Come Rain Or Shine" and "I Miss You So" Nelson seems to strain his voice on the chorus at times. This leaves the songs feeling forced, and he is capable of better. However, American Classic really stumbles on the two duets "If I Had You" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside". Nelson has no chemistry at all with Diana Krall on the former, and the latter is kind of creepy with the 76 year old Nelson paired up with the Norah Jones who is a mere 30. Both of these songs are disappointing because Nelson has had so many wonderful duets over the years. Check out his 2004 CD It Always Will Be (see my review) for an example of good chemistry and great songs - this is notable because he teamed up with Jones with far better results. The closer is a rather uninspired take of his classic "Always On My Mind". Nelson should probably stop going to the well on that one and let the myriad of other good recordings stand in people's memory.

This may sound a little harsh, but Nelson is capable of producing a lot better than this as his body of work over 50 years proves. For other artists American Classic might be good enough, but not Willie. There are some good songs on the CD, but it just doesn't live up to what he's done in the past. I hope he continues to record as he showed on Two Men With The Blues (see my review) that he is still very capable.

Download this: Fly Me To The Moon

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Indeed, December 3, 2009

By 

M. Bazin (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Classic (Audio CD)

Every song here is given a wise and heartfelt (soulful) treatment, and they are great songs. What more could one wish for? I have listened to this album up close and personal on my car's CD player, and I know each song/performance intimately as a result. I do not have time to describe each, but I must say that I do not understand the negative reactions of some of the other reviewers. My love for this album made me want to write this to offset that wrongheaded reaction. This is one of the most consistently endearing and engaging things Willie Nelson has ever recorded. Maybe it helps to be getting old and to love his old but wise vocals. He's laid back, but laid back like a fox. The man knows how to sing and how to interpret, and knows less is more if you know what you are doing. If the samples are not enough, and they may not be, borrow it from your local library and drive around with it for a week or two. If you give it half a chance, this music making crawls into a permanent place in your heart. This is Willie Nelson, and music making, at their very best. Don't be discouraged by the negative reviews some have written. Try it for yourself.

mbazin