CD Review: Honky Tonk Heroes - Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver & Waylon Jennings
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way with words as it clearly shows in his classics - "Sunday Morning Coming Down," "Me and Bobby McGee," "Duvaliers Dream," and "To Beat The Devil."
Waylon Jennings is a former disc jockey from the great state of Texas who was a friend of the late Buddy Holly. Waylon has had some demons to fight over the years, including the death of his friend. Waylon was slated to be on that ill-fated flight and at the last minute gave up his seat to J.P. Richardson. Thru the years Waylon has sang some of my favorite songs, including "Waltz Across Texas," "Nashville Bum," "Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line" and "Storms Never Last."
There is only one word that I can think of to describe Willie Nelson, and that is Gypsy. After all these years he is still making music his way and is on the road with his "family band." Even the IRS can't keep this man down for long. "Honky Tonk Heroes," the title cut, is a tune that makes you laugh and shake your head at the wildness of youth. (and at the men who refuse to admit that they are getting older.) "Willie the Wandering Gypsy and Me" is a good ol' slow country waltz tune that Kris Kristofferson does in that way only he can. "I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal" is a tune that was one of John Anderson's first hits in the early 1980s. Willie Nelson sings lead on this version, and I have to laugh as he sings the line "I'm gonna grow and glow 'til I'm so plum perfect. Gonna put a smile on everybody's face." "You Asked Me To" has always been one of my favorite Waylon Jennings tunes. "Ain't No God In Mexico" is an upbeat tune that is Willie and Waylon together at their best. "Oklahoma Wind" and "Easy Come, Easy Go" are the story-type songs that country music really needs more of these days. I miss the good ol' tunes like this. "We Are The Cowboys" contains some lines that I think we Americans really need to hear in the wake of the recent tragedies in our country. "We are the true sons of freedom. We are the men who will get the job done. The world will breathe easy when we stop the bleeding. The fighting will end when all the hunger is gone. There are those who are blind so we all have to lead 'em. It's everyone's job 'til we get the work done." Song List:
Audio clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble
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