For aptly-titled new album Bluegrass (out Sept. 15 via Legacy Recordings), Willie Nelson revisited some of his favorite compositions and set them to the musical innovations of Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers.
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As we've learned from his Frank Sinatra and George and Ira Gershwin tribute albums, Nelson's weathered voice morphs to fit a variety of styles. It's no surprise, then, that Nelson sounds like he's a natural at harmonizing with bluegrass pickers.
As for the song selection, 11 solo writes and Waylon Jennings co-write "A Good Hearted Woman" offer a solid survey of a catalog that now spans 151 albums. The different musical context draws more attention to something pretty obvious— Nelson's a poet with lyrics that become no less compelling on repeat listens, regardless of stylistic musical or vocal tweaks.
Read on for five standout tracks from an album without a dud.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle A haunting jazz number from 1998's Teatro, "Somebody Pick Up My Pieces" assumes more of a classic Texas country identity when grassed up. If he were alive, Ray Price could've handled vocal duties here and relived his glory days. Instead, we get another Nelson run as a timeless country crooner. Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images All-time great album —no country qualifier needed— Shotgun Willie (1973) brought us this, one of Nelson's best steel guitar-driven slow-burners. Texas swing-style fiddle accompaniment by ACM Award-winner Aubrey Haynie makes this sound more like the classics that initially set Nelson's career sights on country music. Rick Kern/WireImage for Shock Ink The brawnier bluegrass sound pioneered by ex-hippies and kept relevant by Balsam Range lends a country-rock edge to 1993's "Still is Still Moving to Me." How fitting that a Nelson song from the past 30 years suits this exploration of how bluegrass changed with the times without losing its identity. Brandon Bell/Getty Images The title track of Nelson's seminal 1971 concept album, "Yesterday's Wine" is no less crucial for understanding the singer-songwriter's greatness than "On the Road Again" and other pillars of 20th century country lore. Here, another modern take on classic grass —think Po' Ramblin' Boys— guides along a textbook example of Nelson's storytelling talent. Gary Miller/Getty Images for Shock Ink Nelson wrote "Bloody Mary Morning" circa 1970 about his drive to become a better parent. A staple of his Family Band's live set, it deserves Top 10 consideration when revisiting a vast catalog of American standards and hidden treasures. Like "Yesterday's Wine," it morphs without a hitch into a high-energy bluegrass stomper in the mold of today's top traditionalists. It's all tied together by the great Dan Tyminski's scorching mandolin solo."Somebody Pick Up My Pieces"
"Slow Down Old World"
"Still is Still Moving to Me"
"Yesterday's Wine"
"Bloody Mary Morning"
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