Jerry Jeff Walker, "Mr. Bojangles"

A Beautiful Time by Willie Nelson.

A friend of mine kindly gave me Willie Nelson’s new album called A Beautiful Time recently, and I have been enjoying listening to it for the past few days. Willie made his first solo album in 1962 and sixty years later his voice sounds as good as ever. This album was released on his 89^th birthday which is a remarkable achievement. I can’t claim to be a great Willie Nelson fan, although I know he is a living legend, and I did see him once at Glastonbury in 2000 when he was a mere lad of 67. This new album has a very attractive sleeve design with photos by Bruce Springsteen’s sister Pamela. The great opening track I’ll Love You Till The Day I die was written by Rodney Crowell and Chris Stapleton. I have followed Rodney Crowell for a while and remember a great concert he performed in Bristol with Emmylou Harris a few years ago. He also wrote Till I gain Control again which Willie and Van Morrison both recorded. My Heart Was A Dancer is the first of five songs here which Willie wrote with Buddy Cannon who also did a great job in producing the album. They also collaborated on Energy Follows Thought which is a very Zen-like philosophical song. ‘Your mind is in control, Even when you do not know, And if you let it idle, Ain't no telling where it'll go’, sings Willie, which shows that he thinks deeply about the human condition. 

Willie wrote Dreamin’ Again with Douglas Graham which has some beautiful guitar and harmonica playing. I Don’t Go To Funerals has Willie reflecting on mortality and he name drops many of his music legend friends who have gone before him. The title track A Beautiful Time is written by Shawn Camp and is a celebration of life on the road for a musician. We’re Not Happy (Till You’re Unhappy) is about losing at cards. Dusty Bottles is a reflection on the possible benefits of getting old. Me And My Partner was composed by Ken Lambert, an upbeat song about a road trip to Mexico. I think my favourite track on the album is Willie’s version of Tower Of Song. It seems tailor made for a country singer like Willie, especially with the references to Hank Williams. I have heard other cover versions of this classic Leonard Cohen song, but I think Willie’s is the best. (I have shared it below if you want to hear it) 

Live Every Day is another positive song about making the most of every day. Don’t Touch Me There isn’t as risqué as the title might suggest. It is about broken hearts that are still sore. With A Little Help From My Friends is Willie’s take on a Beatles classic. I bet he had a wry smile on his face singing ‘I get high with a little help from my friends’. The final track called Leave You With A Smile does just that and brings this most enjoyable album to a close. I’m very pleased I finally have an album by the great Willie Nelson.

Listening to the album reminded me that I read about four years ago that Van Morrison spent three days in the studio recording with Willie Nelson. I haven’t heard anything else about those sessions since. I’d like to hear what they recorded together.

Lukas Nelson, Buddy Cannon, Van Morrison, & Willie Nelson.

Willie Nelson - Tower of Song