Willie Nelson - Countryman

Pros

• "I’ll Still Be Thinking Of You"
• "I’m A Worried Man" (Featuring Toots Hibbert)
• "One In A Row"

Cons

• Essentially a country tinged reggae album, “Countryman” isn’t something that’ll appeal to everyone.

Description

• Produced by Don Was.
• Features 11 instrumental tracks as well.
• Released by Lost Highway Records.

Guide Review - Willie Nelson - Countryman

Originally conceived of 10 years ago by his former label boss at the Jamaica based Island Records, Willie Nelson’s first reggae album sat, as many unreleased albums due, “shelved” until a former Island staffer went to work with Willie’s current record label, Lost Highway Records. With Willie’s noted history with a certain plant and Jamaica’s ties to the same plant, it only seems natural and obvious that Willie Nelson would, at some point in his career release an album packed with reggae songs.

While the marriage of reggae and country music seems like an odd match, Willie generally pulls it off. He doesn’t get every song right but this 10 year old recording is interesting nonetheless. Songs like the lead-off track “Something To Think About,” the delightful cover of Johnny Cash’s “I’m A Worried Man” with Reggae artist Toots Hibbert, the two Jimmy Cliff covers “The Harder They Come” and “Sitting In Limbo” and the best track on the whole set, “I’ll Still Be Thinking Of You.” One song that doesn’t work on any level is “Darkness On The Face Of The Earth.” The lyrics don’t match the “joyous” sound of the Reggae arrangement.

Still, with only one truly “bad” track, Willie Nelson’s long-time-comin’ reggae-country album is an interesting recording to say the least. As such, “Countryman” is a record for the Willie Nelson die hard fans and/or “completists” and Reggae fans.