Willie Nelson

Even though he's backed here by veteran traditional country outfit Asleep at the Wheel, this seems as much of a partnership with recently deceased Atlantic Records boss and iconic producer Jerry Wexler, who had the concept for the record shelved for years and produced it just before his death. Similar to Willie's 2006 release You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker, he sings the genre of his youth with obvious revelry, and here the band's virtuosity feels every bit as affectionate. "Sweet Jennie Lee" and "Oh! You Pretty Woman" are particularly swinging standouts.

In the early Seventies, Atlantic R&B producer Jerry Wexler signed Willie Nelson; the duo
shared a fondness for the Western swing of Bob Wills and planned to record a tribute to
the music. It got put off until just before Wexler's death in 2008, when they finally put this
disc in motion. It was worth the wait: Nelson's laid-back croon acts as a warm dishrag over
the fiddle, pedal steel, cowboy harmonies and roadhouse jazz of Western-swing... More >