Customer Reviews

Live at Billy Bob's Texas (Willie Nelson)

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

 

 

I have loved Willie Nelson's music for 20 years and am somewhat depressed I have to write this.How is it that the adhesive sticker on the package advertises a free enclosed DVD to suggest it displays at least PART of a Willie Nelson concert, and then serves up a glorified ad for Billybob's funded by the consumer?And how is it that album copy that celebrates Willie's famed 3-hour concerts at Billybob's yields a very rushed or clipped live session of roughly 54 minutes? I don't know and I don't care. I'm just surprised such a fine country artist would associate with this project.You've seen the same playlist before with a few variations on at least 4 albums, and both the artist and his band sound rushed here. Audience noise is annoying, although we're happy they're having a good time. There is no stand-out performance on this disk, no version which --in any way-- exceeds a predecessor on any other label.The balance is much too heavy on the bass and on the bass-end of most instruments. There is some roll-off distortion, but nothing to worry about. The balance of voice and instruments is a little primitive, and certainly not like Willie on HONEYSUCKLE ROSE or WILLIE AND FAMILY LIVE. Those albums showed a little love. The artist sounds rushed here, tired and mechanical (which is hard for such a superb singer and guitar-player).If you buy this, do it to get the sense of an experienced artist in a VERY commercial club and don't be swayed by the free DVD. It's a ruse.To Billybob's and to Smith (who produced and manufactured this), my advice would be to release a concert by an artist of this stature in its entirety at a fair price. Don't stick misleading buttons on the overwrap. And don't overpraise Texas. It's just a state. I visited there once or twice and enjoyed it, but cut with the state chauvanism. We all live in states and most of us have attended a nightclub or two.And to Willie, I say that you should play Carnegie Hall or the Met next time, because you're part of our culture, and we love you. The club atmosphere works on a recording when the recording is well-produced and generous enough to justify a purchase. Not so here.This is a C-grade issue, and a C-grade issue is not Willie Nelson.

For the fan hoping for a c/d with the most recent "Willie Concert Sound," captured, you're in luck with this album. Everyone in the band is a little older now, and it shows in their voices (most notably Jody Paine on Working Man's Blues). Willie talks through most of the songs and rarely sticks to the rhythm or chord structure we're familiar with. I'm sure in person the concert was a blast--his shows always are. But transferring that show experience to a live album is extremely tricky. They don't quite pull this one off.

Further, this is the second "Willie Live" album I've been tricked into buying because I thought the accompanying DVD featured concert footage. Not so! Don't be fooled! This DVD does not feature the 3-hour concert footage--it's a 30-minute commercial for the "Live at Billy Bob's" line of DVDs that are available for sale. Willie speaks briefly at the beginning and plays a little at the end (under three minutes), and the rest is a pure commercial pitch for DVD videos from the many concerts by many artists at Billy Bob's.

I'll buy nearly anything Willie puts out, but the poor performance by Willie and the band, the poor editing job between tracks (cutting Willie's spoken words off at the end of tracks), and the "non concert, infomercial" DVD trick have left a very bitter flavor with this music fan and radio show host. Be warned.

This is one of the WORST albums I have ever heard. It has all his greatest songs on it and all he does is talk, he doesn't sing. Don't buy it unless you want to hear Willie Nelson sounding like some cheap wedding singer. Some of the songs I don't even recognize the way he does them. What a waste of $15!

i bought this cd thinking the bonus dvd would be of the same concert as the cd or at least have something to do with willie. instead it is a video promotion of billy bob's. the cd is still sweet though.

An embarrasingly bad recording.
Bad mix
Bad EQ
Willie's guitar playing is just awful
Willie's voice is even worse.
Just painful to listen to.

Cannot believe the label would release such garbage.

I bought this for my husband at his request-he loves it! He says the live music on CD's is so much better.

I liked this because I very much like Willie Nelson. However, at times some of the songs seemed to 'drag'.

Willie Nelson has had a similar impact on country music as Dylan has had on pop music. Both have composed tunes that have become standards in modern music. This live album shows Willie interpreting his songs in an inventive manner much as Dylan has done over the years. The guitar work is amazing. It sounds like a bunch of friends sitting in the back yard swapping tunes. Willie's phrasing allows the songs to sound fresh and the band is in a real groove.

The album is worth every penny and will age gracefully.