Dennis Ladd
Apr-27-2010, 11:41am
On impulse I got the new Willie Nelson "Country Music" CD at Starbucks last Saturday. It was produced by T Bone Burnett and promised fiddles, banjos and mandolins so I went for it.
Antone buying the CD for mando content will be disappointed. Both Ronnie McCoury and Mike Compton are on it and the producer commits the sin most country producers make that don't understand bluegrass: They don't give them any breaks!!!
Imagine it . . . Ronnie McCoury and Mike Compton relegated to rhythm status for almost the entire CD. RM gets a nice snappy break off in the middle of "Man with the Blues" and a nice tremolo intro to "Ocean of Diamonds" but that's it. Mike Compton gets a few fills here and there but nothing else. What a waste - I hope they got paid a lot. Stuart Duncan on fiddle and Riley Baugus on banjo get a few moments but not enough for these ears.
So that leaves the songs. Willie Nelson sings in his usual relaxed style and there were a couple of songs that got me. I never heard "Seaman's Blues" before and his "Pistol Packin' Mama" is a joy. I'll keep both of them for future reference. He beefs up the pace on "Freight Train Boogie" and does fine on "Man with the Blues" - but haven't we heard these before with more energy and excitement? Del McOury's version of "Man with the Blues" stands alone for me and Ronnie gets a true bluegrass break that has everything you'd want. Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen do a great version of "My Baby's Gone" that leaves this one in the dust.
So this CD is not a keeper for me.
An interesting question for another thread: Who in country music understands how to let their backup musicians fly? My first two nominees: Ricky Skaggs (of course) and Rodney Crowell.
Anybody else hear this CD?
Antone buying the CD for mando content will be disappointed. Both Ronnie McCoury and Mike Compton are on it and the producer commits the sin most country producers make that don't understand bluegrass: They don't give them any breaks!!!
Imagine it . . . Ronnie McCoury and Mike Compton relegated to rhythm status for almost the entire CD. RM gets a nice snappy break off in the middle of "Man with the Blues" and a nice tremolo intro to "Ocean of Diamonds" but that's it. Mike Compton gets a few fills here and there but nothing else. What a waste - I hope they got paid a lot. Stuart Duncan on fiddle and Riley Baugus on banjo get a few moments but not enough for these ears.
So that leaves the songs. Willie Nelson sings in his usual relaxed style and there were a couple of songs that got me. I never heard "Seaman's Blues" before and his "Pistol Packin' Mama" is a joy. I'll keep both of them for future reference. He beefs up the pace on "Freight Train Boogie" and does fine on "Man with the Blues" - but haven't we heard these before with more energy and excitement? Del McOury's version of "Man with the Blues" stands alone for me and Ronnie gets a true bluegrass break that has everything you'd want. Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen do a great version of "My Baby's Gone" that leaves this one in the dust.
So this CD is not a keeper for me.
An interesting question for another thread: Who in country music understands how to let their backup musicians fly? My first two nominees: Ricky Skaggs (of course) and Rodney Crowell.
Anybody else hear this CD?