Customer Reviews

Willie and the Wheel - DELUXE VERSION

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

 

 

As there are already some excellent album reviews on this release, I'll skip that part. Suffice to say, if you are a fan of Western Swing, it doesn't get much better than this lineup. The music is well executed - if even perhaps too well as the raw live feel of AATW is distinctly missing. Willie is, dare I even think it, a bit beyond his prime, but he still sounds wonderful on this album. He's recorded with AATW before and it's clear he loves it.
As to the "Deluxe" aspect of this version, although you do get an extra song on the CD, it is hardly worth the packaging - which is essentially a gratuitous over-sized 5x7" tri-fold of cardboard and does not include a standard sized CD case. Inside are stamps with pictures of the musicians, except of course they're not real stamps, and vintage looking postcards depicting the songs, except they're printed on thin paper and probably not useful as postcards. Unless you're a hard-core Willie/AATW fan and have a desire for a bunch of useless memorabilia, consider the regular non-deluxe version of this release.

If you are not familiar with the sounds of the Wheel what better place to begin than with this CD. The addition of the clarinet, trpt., and trombone make this a nice tight ensemble to feature Willie. I don't know what you are expecting to get from this CD, but I promise you that you will get more than you imagined. By purchasing the premier edition you get some very unique postcards, etc. taking you back in time. Just a little bit of nice nostalgia. So what are you waiting for, send your money in and buy this new selection today. You will love it............and that is a promise from someone that owns many many records, cassettes and CD's of Willie and the same for the Wheel. Happy listening. Kermit Tanzey

Purchased the Deluxe Edition because of the postcards and cinderella (not real) stamps of the various artists that is included with this CD. That in itself was worth the purchase. Awesome!!

5 star rating! Terrific! If you like western swing this CD is for you.
Well recorded. Packaging is also a knock out on the deluxe package.

Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel do a masterful tribute to the great Bob Wills. Vocals are excellent. Texas swing never sounded better!

Top notch Western Swing from the Masters of the genre, with the added dimension of one of the smoothest, most enduring voices in American music. The results are just what would be expected - stellar! Can't say enough good about this effort, it should become a landmark. It's fully evident that this band has played together for a long time. The blend and flow of music has that seamless quality heard only in those rare bands that establish a communal tao, enabling precision execution while on the fly, all the time. Add Willie's innate ability to fit into any type of music - seemingly sharing in the tao - and you have a masterpiece. The packaging is really cool too!

The music is crisp and flawless, which is its downfall. It is obviously a studio recording, done to precision and in the process the songs lack soul. I would so much have wanted to hear a live recording where Willie Nelson is less mechanical and The Wheel could show its true talent.

Willie donated and signed a copy of this fantastic collection for one of my students... (who is the ULTIMATE Willie Fan!!!...) and I had the extreme Monday morning pleasure of popping it in to play during lunch...
well...... we ALL had a much better afternoon - Thanks to Willie and Ray!!!

If you like Texas Swing... buy this one!!!... I just did!

I havn't had the chance to listen to this CD yet but from what I understand it's just great. Gave this as a gift, not one bad word. I have to say that's a success.

Thanks for reading.

Saw Willie and Asleep at the Wheel live performance at the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, New Mexico. Willie played almost the whole opening set with the Wheel, then another hour and a half with his own band. That was a rare treat. Bought mine at the show and ordered more from Amazon for Xmas gifts. This CD is a fine presentation of these great artists doing Texas music at it's best.