Customer Reviews

Honeysuckle Rose

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is certainly one of the more unusual items in Nelson's storied album catalog. Nominally a soundtrack to the 1980 film in which Nelson starred, this is actually a live set of Nelson and several friends. Recorded in front of an enthusiastic (but polite) audience, it provides Nelson a chance to revisit many of his chestnuts ("On the Road Again" "Pick Up the Tempo" "Bloody Mary Morning" "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground") and several songs closely associated with him ("Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" "Whiskey River"). Nelson and his band are loose and energized by each other and the crowd, taking well-known songs in new directions. The mood is that of a bunch of talented musicians passing around the guitar, rather than a formal, orchestrated concert.

In addition to Nelson's fine performances, the disc features excellent work from one time Texas Playboy fiddler Johnny Gimble (his "Fiddlin' Around" swings effortlessly), as well as Nelson's guitarist Jody Payne singing a harmonica-fueled version of Merle Haggard's "Working Man Blues." Also in attendance (and lured out of the audience) is famed Nashville songwriter Hank Cochran who sings his own "I Don't Do Windows" and "Make the World Go Away." Emmylou Harris performs a magnificent star-turn on Nelson and Cochran's "So You Think You're a Cowboy" and duets beautifully with Nelson on Rodney Crowell's "Angel Eyes."

Actress Dyan Cannon duets with Nelson on both "Loving You Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" and "Uncloudy Day," and flies solo for Nelson's "Two Sides of Every Story." No one would mistake her for a top-notch country singer (at times she over-emotes like Nancy Sinatra, at other times she sounds like Mary Kay Place), but she acquits herself reasonably well. Amy Irving also gets into the act, duetting with Nelson on Kris Kristofferson's "You Show Me Yours (And I'll Show You Mine)," and soloing on Nelson's "If You Want Me to Love You I Will." The latter, omitted from the original CD release, isn't a showstopper, but its rarity makes it an interesting addition to Nelson's catalog.

In contrast to traditional live albums such as "Willie and Family Live," this disc provides a sense of what it's like to ride the bus with Willie Nelson. Great songs, great singers, and a great time. Columbia/Legacy's remastering is balanced and sharp, with the audience blended so as not to be distracting. The bonus unreleased tracks (Nelson's "Yesterday's Wine" and a speedy take of "Good Hearted Woman") are nice additions, but nearly overwhelming as they extend the disc to 78:26. Jonny Whiteside's liner notes are long on admiration for Nelson, but short on details about the recording or film from which it sprang.

It's hard to believe that the movie "Honeysuckle Rose" came out in 1980--man! that's over 30 years ago.This 2-album set is music from the original soundtrack.It of course stars Willie;but it also includes some of his friends and musicians who were at the height of their careers;and some of them are still "on the road" today.
This is a great selection of Willie's music and unlike most of his recordings,it has the feel of having been recorded on the bus,or just hanging around the movie set or motel,or a smll bar.There are a lot of rough edges,all kinds of cheering,shouting,etc.,which makes it seem like you are right there with them all;engoying them making their music.Most of the songs are popular Willie tunes;but there are some others that are quite different.
Willie sings 10 of the songs alone;but there are also several where he is accompained with other great artists such as Dyan Cannon,Amy Irving,Emmylou Harris.Others such as Johnny Gimble,Jody Payne,Hank Cochran,Kenneth Treadgill,Amy Irving Emmylou Harris and Dyan Cannon sing songs alone.Then ,there's even a duet with other legend country singers,Hank Cochran and Jeannie Seely.
Even if you have several Willie Nelson collections,but you don't have this one;you will find it a great addition to your collection.
Another thing that makes this vinyl ,2-album set a real treasure is the album cover.It has 46 wonderful colored photographs of the actors and stars from the movie .Then, to complete the "package", there is a great painting on the cover of Dyan Carrol,Willie and Amy Irving,that should be called "On The Road Again".

I was a huge fan of the movie on the past. I enjoyed the lively aptmosphere of the songs and Willie's tour very much. And now, when I'm a "liitle bit older", I wanted to remember something nice from my very youth. So I bought that lovely music.

This was purely nostalgic for me! I was a huge Willie Nelson fan. I remember seeing this movie a few times, and loving the music! I have so enjoyed listening to it again! I remember that the two gals who sang on it had never sung for anything before..and how good they were!
Do I recommend it...YES!!

We really loved the cassette tape that we had of this album. Tried to convert it to CD and the tape was really "funky" after all this time. So glad to find it re-released on CD!! It really made our day.

The late 80's brought a change to country music. In my opinion, country music was turned into wimpy rock, with cutesy funny clever lyrics, like the one about where the guy's wife took the keys to his truck but she forgot about his John Deere. Or "Welcome to Earth, Third Rock from the Sun." And who can ever forget, "What Part of No Don't You Understand."

When I was a kid, my dad played Willie Nelson a lot. One album I vaguely remembered was the soundtrack to "Honeysuckle Rose." While it isn't the greatest movie, I remember thinking that it was a great vehicle to show Willie playing live.

I just recently bought this CD and after several listens believe that this is what great country music sounds like live. Very much like a rock show, the energy level is greater than what one would expect from country like "The Grand Ole Opery" or "Hee Haw."

It's not only Willie Nelson, either. There's a great version of "I Don't Do Windows" on here, and the fiddle playing on "Fiddlin' Around" is great. The lyrics are simple, like any simple rock song, but they serve as a nice compliment to the fiddle solos.

Totally recommended for the fans of "Outlaw" country.

The CD arrived within the prescribed timeframe in the condition described on the site....like new with minor scratch not visable to me. The item is exactly what I hoped it would be.

CRUMBY MOVIE? CRUMBY? I am not sure what that means...I loved this movie, the music and the plot. Thanks Willie...

Save your money. Don't rent the Movie, just buy the Music. For the life of me I can't remember anything important about the movie except there were two women fighting over Willie, pretty much a redneck dream come true! The music is solid though, especially the guest appearances from Emmy Lou Harris and Hank Cockran. Pretty much here's the upshot: Willie has too many albums and not enough good songs on them. This one though collects some of his best songs, so it's definitely worth having. For me, I rank this one in the top 10 for Willie.

THE SERVICE AND DELIVERY WERE GREAT. THE CD IS GREAT. BUT I THOUGHT I WAS ORDERING THE VHS TAPE OF THE MOVIE. DO YOU KNOW HOW I CAN GET A COPY OF THE MOVIE? THANKS