Customer Reviews

Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels

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

 

 

This live outing from Willie Nelson & friends is a good set. To a great extent, I found the announcer's introductions over the music to be irritating with repeated listenings. I'd rather just hear the music and look @ the insert to see who's playing. However, the music is great! Toby Keith & Willie smoke on the openers, "Georgia On A Fast Train" & "Ramblin' Fever" with Joe Walsh on guitar. Willie gets soulfully blusey with Al Green's somewhat over-enthusiastic exclamations on "Rainin' In My Heart." Shelby Lynn is a talented artist who does a great croon on Willie's western swing version of "Stormy Weather." Pop icon Carole King joins Willie for the classic melody "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow." This track was the reason I picked up the CD & did not disappoint as these two musical veterans blend lovingly onstage. Lee Ann Womack (whose new CD "There's More Where That Came From" is great!) does a lively job with Willie that makes it seem that they're having great fun together. Townes Van Zandt's often-covered tune "Pancho & Lefty" is given a great reading with Willie, Merle Haggard & Toby Keith. Willie joins Lucinda Williams on "Overtime," a song she recorded for her stunning "World Without Tears" CD. Their voices blend seamlessly, expressing great longing. "Comes Love" is a great standard that's been recorded from everyone from Toni Price to Peter Cincotti. Here, Rickie Lee Jones' jazzy swagger joins Willie Nelson for a spirited version of this classic standard. This live set is interesting to see how Willie blends with a diverse group of artists. Enjoy!

If you don't like the song, just wait and the wind will change. This CD is not only a tribute to Nelson's versatility, but his friends in the music business as well. Those of you who thought he just did country---think again! He swings into reggae with Toots from Toots and the Maytalls, the blues with the Holmes Brothers, and hard-bitten folk rock in a rare cut with Lucinda Williams. Whatever type of music you like, you're going to find something here that appeals to you.

Willie just keeps kicking out those Fantastic concerts...big names and great tunes. Keith Richards, Kid Rock, Jerry Lee Lewis...absolutely worth every penny. I play this cd every single day!!!

This is an excellent CD that is filled with a wide range of music and performers.As you listen to this collection,you will almost feel like you are attending one of Willie's big Picnic Shows.It is loaded with all kinds of musicians and singers ,and much of the songs are not those one associates with Willie.But isn't that what makes Willie as great as he is.Although there are some pure Country songs included,it includes a wide range of performers.Just look at the different artists that are included;Merle Haggard,Al Green,Toots Hibbert,The Holmes Brothers,Rickie Lee Jones,Toby Keith,Carole King,Kid Rock,Los Lonely Boys,Keith Richards,Joe Walsh and Lee Ann Womack.
All in all a good long CD with 19 songs and some real different combinations af singers and songs.

This is a great CD. If you love Willie, you have to have this!

Willie is a national treasure and this one sparkles with a live performance with everyone from Al Green to Toots Hibbert. There's reggae, rock, country, you name it. Willie can do it all. I even forgive him for playing with Toby Keith. The songs are best with the quality musicians- Ben Harper, Rickie Lee Jones, Shelby Lynn, Carole King, the great Mr. Hibbert, rather tired and predictable with Keith, Los Lonely Boys. A couple tunes with Merle Haggard make the cd worth owning.
Also, I was really shocked to see Lucinda Williams on here. She rarely plays with anyone (snicker, snicker).
A good cd all in all, and the tunes come in a little above cruise control, like many of these "playing with friends" collections.

Great, great album. A great variety of music. Willie can sing with the best. By far, the best of his Friends compiliations.

Yes the announcer's voice should have been edited out but on the other hand it puts the concert into context and keeps you reminded that you're hearing an unpolished gem of a recording.

If you're a fan of Willie - and I am becoming one - you'll love the entire album. If you're a little more discriminating there are some tracks that you should forgive and forget but decide on those for yourself.

The highlights are the Carole King duet on Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, the beautiful Lucinda Williams duet on Overtime,Pancho and Lefty and Mama Tried with Merle Haggard, Stormy Weather with Shelby Lynne, We Had It All with Keith Richards, I'll Never Be Free with Lee Anne Womack and the last two all-band tracks that are just plain good fun.

Another reviewer commented on the house-band and it truly smokes, moving into and out of every style with no effort. If you want a good fun album this is hard to beat even if forgivably flawed.