Willie Nelson - Willie and Family Live

"Willie and Family Live" is a 2-CD set recorded at Harrah's at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, in April, 1978. As live recordings go, it's pretty laid-back, but then, a good part of Willie's attraction is that it's all about the music, plain and simple. Willie is joined by friends such as Emmylou Harris and Johnny Paycheck. It all adds up to a rousing good time that almost -- ALMOST -- makes you feel like you're right there, 25 years ago.

Twenty-five years does not make one jot of difference here. The music sounds as good as it did then. From the opening bars of "Whiskey River" to the closing reprise, Willie sounds great. He so obviously loves to perform it shines through on every track. His expressive voice and guitar are shown here in all their grandeur, unconfined by a studio. Willie can take hold of Bob Wills or Bill Monroe with equal ease, delivering old-time songs in his own style without cramping anyone else's.

Taking on songs that range from Wills' "Stay A Little Longer" to the old standard "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms," as well as his own catalog, including "Crazy," "Hello Walls," and "Bloody Mary Morning," Willie plays what must have been one bang-up show. There's also an expressive medley of the songs from "Red-Headed Stranger," probably the penultimate Willie Nelson album. An awesome version of the classic "Under the Double Eagle" closes disc one.

Disc two is full of rowdy good fun, including two bonus tracks, also recorded at the Harrah's show so they retain the same joyous feel, including another version of the Rodney Crowell "Till I Gain Control Again" and classic "Georgia On My Mind." Willie's still out there touring, giving it everything he's got. This album pre-dates the quintessential Nelson touring song, "On The Road Again," but it's easy to tell how he came to write that particular song.