Customer Reviews

For the Good Times

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A warm, coffeehouse-ready collection of covers of country and Americana, "For the Good Times" sounds as unpretentious, fine-tuned, labored-over and relaxed as the Little Willies' 2006 self-titled debut.

These covers blend together with grace and ease. There is a sense of joy that permeates the record because this is not stiff, people-pleasing fare. Rather, Norah Jones and company cut loose and sink their teeth into these wonderful tunes written by Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash, among others.

Jones and Richard Julian sing with only the necessary passion in service of the material; no affect is necessary. Whether it's the dark, chugging "Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves" or Ralph Stanley's lovesick, sugary "I Worship You," the emphasis remains on tight, well-oiled musicianship - playing music in pursuit of that ever-elusive perfect take.

Parton's brooding, paranoid "Jolene" is particularly rapturous in Jones' hands, and Lee Alexander's bass is sharp and chiseled as ever on several selections. Loretta Lynn's "Fist City" is particularly humorous with Jones' sober, straightahead reading.

Lovely harmonizing and gorgeous guitar plucking make "Lovesick Blues" a major highlight as well. Willie Nelson's "Permanently Lonely" is given its due with Richard Julian's contemplative, thoughtful interpretation.

"For the Good Times" is a colorful, engaging and well-wrought piece of musicianship by musicians ultimately playing for themselves and their love of the music.

"For The Good Times" is mostly an album of covers of classic country tunes. Norah Jones and her band mates sound superb. They make these tunes sound new. "I Worship You" is the happiest song about a relationship gone bad. This song has a hoe down feel that puts me in a good mood. The title track is a reminder that life goes on even though two people are not in love any more. This song has a pretty tone to it. "Fist City" is an upbeat tune about a woman defending the man she loves. Norah Jones sounds feisty and spirited on this song. This song is simply groovy. "Jolene" is another classic gem about a woman trying to hold on to her man, while she is at the mercy of another woman. This song is very moving. I love the differences in the tone of these two songs.. "Tommy Rockwood" is the only original composition here. Band member Jim Campilolongo showcases his talents on the guitar here. The musical arrangements on this song are superb on this instrumental track. Band member Richard Jullian sings lead vocals on the track "Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves". This is a song about happens when a man mixes business with pleasure. Julian also covers the Johnny Cash classic Wide Open Road" This song is about a man who gives his wife permission to leave. He duets with Norah on the song "Lovesick Blues . This is the prettiest blues song I have ever heard.. "Remember Me" is a pretty song about a woman who has passed away. The bass playing by Lee Alexander gives this song a sentimental tone. "If You've Got The Money I've Got The Time"is an up tempo song. It is a humorous song that reminds me of my dating and social life. "Foul Owl On The Prowl" is the first song I have heard that describes the personality of an owl. This song has a sensual tone I love. The music on this album is excellent.

This is a fine album. The first album was great, but somehow this one shows the maturity of all the artists, particularly Norah. Her singing and piano playing are both delightful and a little deeper. There's some truth behind these renderings, making this more than just a romp through classic country songs. Anyway, very enjoyable, wish it were a few songs longer, and I hope we don't have to wait four more years for another one!

Norah & Co. clearly love Country music, and they want you to love it too.

It's been six years since their last release, and I for one don't mind the wait, provided what we get is worth it, as this album certainly is. They are not playing this music simply to appeal to a demographic, but rather for the sheer love of it, and it shows - the result is humorous, human, and engaging.

There are plenty of critics who feel Norah Jones should return to and stick with what got her noticed in the first place, her soft, pop/jazz, "Come Away With Me" style. I disagree, and I'm glad that she seems to as well. She could easily pump out songbook standards, but she's not, she's showing breadth as an artist, she's taking chances - with sometimes mixed, sometimes brilliant results.

Richard Julian's vocals suit the material masterfully - straight-forward, oddly familiar, almost spoken rather than sung, and serving as a perfect counterpoint on his duets with Norah. Campilongo, Rieser, and Alexander, as ever, are spot on.

Perhaps not an album for everyone - but for people who love music, and who love listening to people who love music make the music they love (I'd like to lump myself in here), it's a no-brainer.

Fist of all I will give this CD credit for being very unique. So often this day and time everything sounds as though it was all produced by the same producer no matter who the singer is. This CD stands very well with a unique sound. Its kinda a blend of jazz & country that almost gives it a slight flavor of mellow showtunes. The slower songs as you might expect from Norah Jones are very good but the uptempo ones do struggle to show emotion that the original country singers expressed. "Fist City" & "If You've Got The Money", just don't have the sass that the originals did. But even with a few misteps this CD is still good. "Permanently Lonely" and "Foul Owl On The Prowl" are amazing and almost worth buying the CD just for these two tracks. "For The Good Times" and "Jolene" are right up Norah's ally and she does wonderful takes on both of these songs. I will say that the remake of "Jolene" is very similar to the Mindy Smith version done a few years ago. Still you will enjoy this. Overall, if you are in a mellow mood but don't know exactly what kinda music you are in the mood to play this one may do the trick. Putting aside a few missteps it is nice to hear a CD that is unique and not copying what everyone else is doing. I do hope to hear more from The Little Willies.

I say this is surprisingly better for 3 reasons: 1) I don't like a lot of country music, 2) their first album -- though ignored in the marketplace -- was a really great, fun album, and 3) when I heard that these covers were more "old time" country, I questioned whether I'd like it. My taste in country music runs to contemporary country, alt country and Americana. But I was more than pleasantly surprised. This is better than their first album. It's worth the five-star rating, and I hope this one is marketed better by EMI and gets the sales that it deserves! Some of the other reviews were right on point--these are top-notch musicians who love making music, and they're making music they really love. And having fun doing it. It shows.

I have to start by disclaiming that I am more of a fan of Norah Jones than I am of the Little Willies and that this album gives me enough of Norah's voice and keyboard playing to make it a worthwhile purchase.

I do enjoy the Little Willies sense of fun that they have when they play. I saw them play a concert at the World Cafe in Philadelphia and they were jamming. They clearly enjoy playing together and this side project lacks any commercial maneuvering so present in many other artists releases.

Having said that, my favorite tracks feature Norah Jones prominently and they are

1) Jolene (excellent, haunting vocals and a tribute to Dolly)

2) If You've Got the Money

3) Wide Open Road (Norah is singing backup here but it is a great tune)

4) Lovesick Blues

5) Remember Me

I wouldn't normally listen to old-timey country, but I enjoy listening to most of this album and recommend it to other Norah Jones fans who might have doubts about purchasing it.

Fun and different collection of tunes from Norah Jones, accompanied by The Little Willies. Some are a little too country for my taste, but other of the arrangements are beautiful.

This is the second album by this "super group" of New York musicians who got together play for fun and then realized they could take the "act" on the road and make some CDs together. The big NAME here is Norah Jones, but her co-vocalist - Richard Julian - goes back to the 1980s (I remember reviewing his first CD on Shanachie). And then there is guitar whiz Jim Campilongo. I saw the Willies perform tracks from this album live in Philly back in December and anxiously awaited the physical CD release. I must say I'm happy with it.

No, this is not a "ground breaking" album but still a lot of fun. There are some songs you've heard before (Dolly Parton's "Jolene"; "Lovesick Blues", in a version closer to Hank Williams Sr than the original 1920 hit by Emmett Miller) but there's plenty of songs that may be new to you. Johnny Cash's "Wide Open Road" and Willie Nelson's "Permanently Lonely" are two, with Julian's lead on the Nelson song being far different than the group's "namesake's" (?) version. The one from left field is "Foul Out On The Prowl", a Quincy Jones composition featured in the Rod Steiger/Sidney Potier 1967 film "In The Heat of the Night". I'm glad they dug it up. For me the only moderately weak track is their version of Kris Kristofferson's "For The Good Time" - the title track. But, without its inclusion, the album would have no title! And the only instrumental track here - which I love - is the song "Tommy Rockwood" - often associated with Chet Atkins - played here by Campilongo, the song's composer.

The tri-fold digipak has lots of photos of the band but no other info except the production credits.

I hope you found this review helpful.

Steve Ramm

"Anything Phonographic"

This is not a haphazard Saturday night band. What we have are musicians lovingly paying tribute to THEIR favorite music by kicking everything else aside and pouring their hearts and souls into it. There's a reverence shown by this group of musicians for doing these songs the right way. Nashville, you can learn a great deal here! This is not cookie cutter, and it ain't glitzy! It's REAL!!!! Anyone who doesn't appreciate this music has likely come here from another planet. Can you see them in a 1960's roadhouse, behind chickenwire?! CLASSIC AMERICAN MUSIC.