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Stars & Guitars - Willie Nelson & Friends | |
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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
It's hard to believe that Willie Nelson is releasing his second CD in 2002. Much like his wonderful The Great Divide CD, this new record features numerous special guests. Unlike The Great Divide, Stars & Guitars is a live album and features many classic songs that Willie has recorded many times before.
Recorded as a special for TV, the CD features guest performances by the likes of Toby Keith, Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack, Norah Jones, Rob Thomas and his band Matchbox Twenty, Ryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Emmylou Harris, Ray Price, Aaron Neville and Patty Griffin.
While there's not many "country" guests, compared to guests from other genres, Willie Nelson has always transcended genre boundaries. The opening track "Whiskey River" with Sheryl Crow sounds as good as it did on the "Honeysuckle Rose" soundtrack and another "Willie Nelson and Friends" album.
"Good Hearted Woman" is Willie's tribute to his departed buddy Waylon. Toby Keith actually does a great job sounding a bit like Waylon. I never noticed it before, but Toby's vocal style is actually quite similar to Waylon's.
As his latest hit, "Mendocino County Line" was an essential addition to this concert recording. I have never seen neither Willie nor Lee Ann Womack live but they do a masterful job here.
While you'd expect Jon Bon Jovi singing a country song to sound "forced," he does a fantastic job on the classic "Always On My Mind." The vocals in the background lead me to believe that Lee Ann Womack stayed on stage to sing harmonies with Jon and Willie.
When you hear Jazz sensation Norah Jones sing "Lonestar" with Willie, you'll be wondering why she's not a country vocalist. She has the natural twang to her voice and I think Willie has found a new vocalist to record a few duets with in the future.
"For What It's Worth" is absolutely one of the best songs from the late 1960's. Recorded with Sheryl Crow, Willie gives the song a countrified elegance. When songwriter Steven Stills hears this version, he'll be proud. While it was written about the Vietnam war, it has an amazing resonance to the events of the current world.
Matchbox Twenty and Willie sing the Waylon and Willie classic "Mama's Don't let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys." While they are one of the most popular rock bands, Matchbox Twenty does a great job of keeping this "country as cornbread" song country.
Vince Gill takes a solo flight with "Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain." Willie doesn't contribute any vocals to this track and to hear Vince sing a honest-to-god country song is pure heaven. This track reminds me of Vince's wonderful performances from his The Key CD from a few years back.
With the eclectic mix of artists as only Willie Nelson can gather for just another in a series of "Willie Nelson & Friends" albums, Stars & Guitars is one record that is sure to keep any music fan happy. It'll also introduce many country fans to some artists they'd not normally even listen to and vice-versa.
Song List:
Album cover, used with permission of Lost Highway.
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