Willie Nelson - One Hell Of A Ride (Box Set)

If you're a fan of Willie Nelson's you have to get his newest collection One Hell Of A Ride. This is one of the greatest boxed sets to be released in a long time. It has some of the most hard to find songs that Willie Nelson recorded when he first moved to Nashville, all the way up to some of his more recent ones. Consisting of one hundred songs, there is definably something for everyone.

If you want to hear some of his original demos like "Crazy," "Hello Walls," or "Funny How Time Slips Away," they're on here too. Going back to the beginning when Willie was a starving songwriter and hanging around at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, where some of the biggest hits in country music were written.

"Mr. Record Man" is a great tune about a lonely man trying to find a certain song. He goes into a local record store and tries to get help. Well, by the time he's done describing the song he's looking for, he's told his life's story.

Another familiar tune is "Family Bible." This has become a fan favorite at Willie's concerts and has even been recorded numerous times by other artists. It's a great story song that you just don't hear that often anymore. It truly shows just how much the time his family spent learning the scriptures meant to him.

"Me And Paul" is a personal favorite out of anything he has ever recorded. Paul English has been his drummer for many years, so Willie decided to write a song about all of the good and bad times they've shared together, even some of the things he doesn't remember, but has heard about are mentioned on this great tune.

"Good Hearted Woman" was one of the great duets he created with the late, great Waylon Jennings. This has become one of the most well known cover songs to ever come out of Music City. It wouldn't be a great compilation set without this legendary song.

This disc contains some of his lesser known songs like "You Ought To Hear Me Cry" and "Johnny One Time." It also contains songs that were big hits for other artists like Lefty Frizzell as well as Willie. These songs were "If You've Got The Money Honey, I've Got The Time," and "She's Gone Gone Gone."

If you're a fan of the "Stardust," well don't worry, it's on here too. Many folks fell in love with Ray Charles when he sang "Georgia." Well, Willie had great success with that song too, and it's on here as well.

Disc three brings some other great classics like "Whiskey River" and the Kris Kristofferson song "Help Me Make It Through The Night."

"On The Road Again" brings on new life as Willie sings about traveling the world and making music with his friends and fans. Willie teamed up with Merle Haggard for the legendary song "Pancho And Lefty," which is about the wild west and the chasing of outlaws. As great as the first three discs are, they are only leading up to the fourth one.

He has always been open to doing duets, and when him and Ray Charles teamed up for this classic, there was no denying it was magic. Singing about war and a woman's love for her fallen husband, this song shows the diverse side Willie Nelson has always had.

During the 80's, Willie teamed up with some of Nashville's most famous outcasts and formed the Highwaymen. They released a song called "Highwayman" as well as a couple albums, but this was the biggest hit the group had. The group consisted of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings. As soon as the song started, it was obvious this was a different sound. The all four had a verse, and sang about different men and how they died. This was definitely one of the most important albums in country music.

One of the more recent tunes added was "Mendocino County Line," which was recorded with Lee Ann Womack. Towards the end, you'll hear "Bubbles In My Beer." This was included on the album that was dedicated to the late Cindy Walker.

After listening to this set, there is no way someone wouldn't like it. Some of country's most precious gems can be heard, and if you're a fan of Willie Nelson, then you'll be in for One Hell Of A Ride.

Release Date: April 1, 2008 - Columbia/Legacy

Track List:

1. When I've Sung My Last Hillbilly Song
2. No Place For Me
3. Man With The Blues
4. Night Life
5. Hello Walls
6. Funny How Time Slips Away
7. Crazy
8. Half A Man
9. Mr. Record Man
10. One In A Row
11. The Party's Over
12. Texas In My Soul
13. Good Times
14. Sweet Memories
15. Little Things
16. Any Old Arms Won't Do
17. Everybody's Talkin'
18. Pins And Needles (In My Heart)
19. Once More With Feeling
20. I Gotta Get Drunk
21. Laying My Burdens Down
22. What Can You Do To Me Now
23. Kneel At The Feet Of Jesus
24. I'm A Memory
25. Family Bible
26. Summer Of Roses
27. Yesterday's Wine
28. Me And Paul
29. Words Don't Fit In The Picture

Disc 2:

1. Good Hearted Woman (With Waylon Jennings)
2. You Left Along Time Ago
3. She's Not For You
4. You Ought To Hear Me Cry
5. It Should Be Easier Now
6. Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys (With Waylon Jennings)
7. If You Can Touch Her All (With Waylon Jennings)
8. I Can Get Off On You (With Waylon Jennings)
9. Blackjack County Chain
10. Johnny One Time
11. Bring Me Sunshine
12. I Just Can't Let You Say Goodbye
13. Shotgun Willie
14. Sad Songs And Waltzes
15. Troublemaker
16. Uncloudy Day
17. Bloody Mary Morning
18. I Still Can't Believe You're Gone
19. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
20. I'd Have To Be Crazy
21. If You've Got The Money I've Got The Time
22. Always Late (With Your Kisses)
23. She's Gone Gone Gone
24. I Never Go Around Mirrors
25. Stardust
26. Georgia On My Mind
27. A Song For You