Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard - Pancho & Lefty

Willie Nelson has such a distinctive voice that he has to be coupled with voices with like distinction. So when he teams up with, say, the likes of Waylon Jennings or the rest of the Highwaymen, he does not overpower his singing partner. Willie definitely does not overshadow his duet partner on the 1982 release, "Pancho and Lefty," as he is teamed with fellow legend Merle Haggard, whose crisp honky-tonk tones mesh wonderfully with Willie's unique sound, producing some truly timeless classics.

Beginning with the title track, the remarkable Townes Van Zandt classic, this duo create a classic Western world and invite the listener in. When you listen to music like this, it's clear that world is not lost at all. Durable country melodies woven together with solid vocals can't be beat, and it's real hard to get better than these two giants. Merle contributes the poignant "Reasons to Quit," while Willie wrote "Half A Man" and "Opportunity to Cry" on the original disc, and the two bonus tracks, "Half a Man" (different take) and "My Own Peculiar Way."

The bonus tracks are, to my mind, a bit of an oddity on this disc, for while they are excellent, classic Willie, they aren't duets and don't appear to be from the same sessions as the rest of the album. I like bonus tracks on CDs, bringing in extra music from the sessions that may not have fit on a standard vinyl album; however, it's nice when they're specific to the album they're appearing on. The reissue is chuck full of other bonuses, though, including a booklet with plenty of previously unpublished photos and an essay by Rick Kienzle.

"Pancho and Lefty" is an amazingly enjoyable album, solid country music with no apologies, no trends, and no holds barred. Merle and Willie don't shy away from the sad songs or other tough emotions. It's more than worth rushing out for. You just can't go wrong with Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.