Customer Reviews

Songbird

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

4.5 stars

"When Willie Nelson began his ascent to country music stardom in the 1970s, he managed to corral two types of fans. The first group was the rednecks, drawn to Willie's country sound and perhaps even his pedigree as the guy who wrote "Crazy" for Patsy Cline; and the second group was the hippies, who saw Willie as one of their own: a long-haired, scruffy-bearded pot-smoker with a propensity for traditional music. Thirty years later, Nelson's audience has expanded beyond those two polar demographics, and the man himself has become an icon" Pitchfork

Willie Nelson is back to his old roots with this CD, admirably produced by Ryan Adams. Adams has his band the 'Cardinals' playing, and as someone else said this CD should be named 'Wille Nelson and The Cardinals'. The Cardinals add such a wonderfully rich touch, and Ryan Adams sings vocals in some of the songs. They provide Willie Nelson's "knotty old pipes a scene for boisterous settings" 11 songs, written by old friends and new and sung with distinction.

'Rainy Day Blues'-shuffling blues number written by Willie, which will make you want to hear more right away with its soulful guitar.

'Songbird"-The Fleetwood Mac, Stevie McVie, title track gets a `70s country rock treatment, which is appropriate as it's a `70s-era pop song.

'Blue Hotel'- Ryan Adams's song that talks of a mythical American West full of lies and fools.

"Back to Earth" Willie Nelson's own song. He begins with just an occasional strum of the acoustic guitar and his bare voice.

'Stella Blue"- Greatful Dead and Jerry Garcia's tune accented with great guitar work.

'Hallelujah'- Leonard Cohen's song and my favorite on this CD, finds "Willie drawing comparisons of the fall of some mighty men such as David and Samson with his own failings as a man in love. He sings:

I did my best, it wasn't much

I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch

I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you

And even though

It all went wrong

I'll stand before the Lord of Song

With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah"

'$1000 Dollar Wedding"- Wille sings about his young almost-bride-to-be on Gram Parsons's "$1000 Wedding" with a harshness that implies Nelson still hasn't forget the pain of heartbreak from all those years ago".

'We Don't Run'- Willie's own song and it rocks out. "Kick it off if you're ready", Nelson instructs the band before launching into "We Don't Run", and they turn the ballad into a rockabilly-style rave-up.

'Yours Love'-One of the sweetest 'love songs' I have heard Wille sing.

"May the Comfort I praise be yours love, and the arms that I seek be yours love".

'Sad Songs and Waltzes'- the third of Willies songs-a true waltz and Willie said he was writing a song for his love who had cheated and was leaving.

'Amazing Grace'-the final sing on the album and this is a cover unlike any you've heard before. "Willie paints the hymn in a minor key darkness, as he sings the songs almost sounding condemned as opposed to saved. The haunting melody is reminiscent of the classic "House of the Rising Sun" and finishes off the album with a great bit of creativity."

"Songbird, a collaboration with Ryan Adams is Willie Nelson's finest in a decade. The sound is burly, surrounding his inimitable lilt with shuddering electric guitars. But the slow and stately stuff really sparkles, which proves the old troubadour can still write the best weepers around. "Entertainment Weekly

This CD has some amazing songs. With the addition of Ryan Adams producing, and the renditions of "Hallelujah" "Yours Love" and "Amazing Grace" this CD sould be heard time and again.

Highly Recommended. prisrob 12/01/06

"Amazing Grace" is probably my all-time favorite song. I have versions of it from everywhere including Africa and Ireland. Though I knew the song scanned to "House of the Rising Sun," I'd never heard anyone record it with that arrangment. Probably only Willie could get by with it--and yes he does. It's something of an ominous message: Repent--or else!

The title cut, "Songbird" is the old Eva Cassidy icon. Willie's version is good--but won't re-define the song.

"Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen) is always amazing. Glad to hear Willie doing it.

The whole collection all has a different take on the classics. I like the idea of Nelson teaming up with Ryan Adams--adds a bit of spice to classic performer.

Willie Nelson may be over 70 years old but he is undaunted by trying new kinds of music. This album features a rocking background of electric guitars, a bluesy beat, and a gospel chorus. Not exactly traditional Nelson music, although on a couple of songs you hear the unmistakable twang of Willie playing his beaten and battered acoustic guitar.

I like most of these songs. "Rainy Day Blues" sounds just like a song of this title should; "We don't run" is an uptempo makeover of a song he wrote and previously recorded; "$1000 Wedding" is a fine version of an old Gram Parsons song. "Songbird" belongs to Eva Cassidy, but Willie's version is tolerable. "Amazing Grace" is New Orleans-y and sounds more like "St. James Infirmary" than "Amazing Grace."

None of these songs blow me away -- but it's a pleasant listenable CD with some interesting backing instrumentation. One of Willie's old comrades who appears on this CD is Mickey Raphael on harmonica and his playing is -- as always -- a highlight.

Smallchief

One other reviewer commented on the lack of writing credits on this title - and I agree. It's astonishing that there isn't any - nor even a booklet supplied. The CD is housed in a card gatefold digipak and the inner flap lists production credits (Ryan Adams) and recording venues, a list of the band who played on it (The Cardinals) and some other minor details on additional participants - and that's it. No lyrics - no idea of who wrote what or why...

In order to straighten this out, the following should help:

1. Rainy Day Blues (Willie Nelson)

2. Songbird (Fleetwood Mac cover, originally on Rumours (1977) but also closely associated with Eva Cassidy)

3. Blue Hotel (written by Ryan Adams, a STUNNER, played live with the Cardinals on the recent BBC Sessions)

4. Back To Earth (Willie Nelson)

5. Stella Blue (a Grateful Dead cover)

6. Hallelujah (a Leonard Cohen cover, also closely associated with Jeff Buckley who covered it too)

7. $1000 Wedding (a Gram Parsons cover)

8. We Don't Run (Willie Nelson)

9. Yours Love (Willie Nelson)

10. Sad Songs & Waltzes (Willie Nelson)

11. Amazing Grace (the Traditional Gospel song covered a la "House Of The Rising Sun" style)

I must admit that I initially bought this solely for the "Blue Hotel" track by Ryan Adams, which was played live by Adams with The Cardinals on the recent TV aired BBC Sessions. The song brought a rousing cheer from the audience - most knowing they hadn't heard it before - and absolutely loving it. It's similar to "Everything I Do" by WHISKEYTOWN and has a melody and lyrics that hook you instantly. It's sloppy like FACES love songs are - a classic in the making.

Special praise should also go out to Adams for his 'live in the studio' production, which adds life and vitality to all the songs and makes them feel so 'of the moment'. And praise too to The Cardinals as the house band who play an absolute storm on all tracks and like Rick Ruben with Johnny Cash & Tom Petty's Heartbreakers - seem to be kindred spirits that produce magic when they get it right. But not all of it is right.

Nelson's cover of 'Songbird" is excellent, tender yet gruff in that way of his. But his cover of "Stella Blue" just feels too loose - shambolic almost. And his new Englishified Animals version of "Amazing Grace" has been called genius and travesty in equal measure. I'd say it's a little of both - and for me - a collector of the song - it's an acquired taste. I once did a CD-R of 18 different versions of "Amazing Grace". It takes a lot to butcher this impossibly beautiful song and I'm afraid our Willie gets too damn close...

In truth, I did find some of his own songs disappointing, where Nelson just seems to be coasting. The whole project seems hurried too - or incomplete somehow. To sum up, it's a good album - very good indeed in certain places, but it's just that you can't help but feel, that with a little more thought and better song choices - it could have been a truly great one. But then I play "Blue Hotel" again...and I'm reaching for the adjectives and looking forward to the next installment! Definitely worth your investigation.

I'm off to explore more of Nelson's recent work.

Give this 7 listens. Most of Ryan Adams work requires up to 7 listens before he gets you...and then forget about it. You'll be hooked. But don't worry, he has plenty of research for you thanks to his prolificality.

Songbird is a great new sound for Willie Nelson as well. For the old fans let go of your tartar sauce and let Willie expand your mind as he is probably expanding his as we speak...or at least as we read. So some of the sounds are a little new for you, tell you what: giddy-up the RV, lock this disc in position for non-stop play and listen to it til you get to Canada*. If you still don't like it, throw the disc out the window...and then just try to get the songs out of yer head!

*this assumes you are above the mason-dixon line.

This Willie Nelson album was released on Halloween, 2006. It was produced by Ryan Adams and features Adams and his band, The Cardinals. The music has an alt-county feel to it, not surprisingly. I like the album quite a bit, and was surprised to see several negative reviews of it. I suppose that means it's not for everyone's taste, but the same thing can be said for any album, can't it? Perhaps the negativity comes from Willie Nelson fans who don't appreciate the Ryan Adams influence on the album, or Ryan Adams fans who don't appreciate Willie's singing. Well, regardless of what the naysayers think, I like it. I especially like "Songbird", "Hallelujah" and "We Don't Run"; not that my opinion counts for more than anybody else's opinion. You shouldn't listen to me anyway, you should make up your own mind.

A lot of Willie fan's (and music critics) act as if he was not a willing participant in the recording of this record. Maybe he wanted to stay on the path of making the records he wants to make. So what if its not another Red Headed Stranger or Phases and Stages, it's an interesting record that a musical icon wanted to make. Songbird's not a great album, but it is a good album that fits into his catalog of making music how and with who he wants.

If you're a Ryan Adams fan you probably know that each album takes at least 7 listens through before one decides that it isn't crap-ola. And then slowly, magically even, the music starts to speak to you like nothing before. And then, you're hooked! This album is no different.

For Willie fans, just be patient and it will happen for you. Obviously this type of patience is not something you're accustomed to with Willie. But Remember 7 times through. Let Willie be free. Let Ryan Rock. And Let it Ride.

Rock n Roll

Please don't be jaded by some of these reviews below. This is a FANTASTIC album from start to finish. I believe it has a clear, coherent message with great, supportive production. Ryan Adams did a great job letting Willie be Willie on certain songs and brushing up a few things to elevate the album to a new level on others. I think the cover art says everything you need to know about this record. It's Willie reinvented yet again with colorful twists and a new outlook. One of the year's best albums, hands down. Hopefully this will lead to future collaborations between Willie and Ryan and more production for Adams in the country spotlight. Because, as we know, country needs a turn for the better these days...and I think this album is a definite start.

I find it down right funny that some choose to write negative reviews and even go as far as to offer career advise to an "icon" like Willie and have only listened to the short clips of the songs listed on this site....hum, uh, well,..YOU HAVE GOT TO BE YANKIN' MY CHAIN! Come on? Ok, I hate to say it again, but we have to start regulating this stuff. DO NOT REVIEW ALBUMS UNLESS YOU HAVE ACTUALLY REVIEWED AN ALBUM!

Call me crazy, but I like this album. I especially like the title track. I have seen at least two editorial reviews that dis the track, but I really think its good. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals jive really well with Willie in my opinion. "Blue Hotel" and "Halleujah" are also stand out tracks but most are really good. I recommend this sucker myself, and I have listened to all the songs, all the way through several times.