Willie Nelson Album: “Rainbow Connection”

Is there any genera or idiom that Willie Nelson can't feel at home with? Having successfully worked in everything from western swing, polka, r&b, mainstream jazz, rockability and everything in-between, Willie set out to record a childrens album.

Starting out with the lovely title track, Joe Robosso's composition, Rainbow Connection, a song that will forever be associated with the late Jim Hensen and his alter-ego, Kermit the Frog. Willie jumps right into this project with his usual relaxed feel and understated sweetness. Ol' Blue, an ode to a man's best friend is covered in typical Willie fashion, with some very tasty steel guitar thrown in for good measure. And then there's Micky Newbury's Just Dropped In, (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) a perfect vehicle for Willie and Micky Raphael's peerless harmonica playing.

There's not much here to astound or blow you away, but if you love Willie, and who doesn't you'll enjoy this lighthearted romp through fields and over the rainbow.

One reviewer complained about Willie not reaching certain notes...but this is Willie Nelson!!! His voice is getting better with age. Rainbow Connection is a kids cd in the same way that the Wizard of Oz or Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory are kids movies. It's the weird parts that make them interesting. Some people seem to think all a kid needs is the sugar coated nothingness of a Barney song or some Disney soundtrack. This is a family album in the sense that the first part is for the tykes, and the last part is for ma and pa. Some of the cheesy (...) parents buy for their children nowadays is far more harmful than this marvel of a cd which treats children as having some degree of intelligence.

I purchased this album for our 3- and 5-year old grandsons to listen to in the car. Think Raffi. That type it is not.

However, after listening to it myself several times, I find I like the songs and Willy is always soothing. I'm in charge of who listens to what in my car so Rainbow Connections it will be and if a song doesn't feel right, we'll just pass it by for now.

It really does become comfortable very quickly.

get this CD for the title track only. only willie could do "rainbow connection" without irony. this track makes the whole CD worth 5 stars.

i was hoping that this CD would be just willie and a guitar... a stardust-type album. but it's cluttered with a bit too much variety... some tracks are just OK, most are good.

This is my favorite Willie recording!! I love the songs that are just Willie and his daughter Amy singing as though they are sitting in our living room instead of in some high-tech impersonal recording studio. Amy has a clear, sweet voice and does a beautiful version of Tom Hunter's "Rock Me to Sleep" (which speaks to all of us adults who've ever cared about anyone). The accompanyment on this song is pure, unadulterated Willie. I also love Amy's song "Wise Old Me" and the warm, gentle way that Willie sings "Playmate." I'd encourage everyone to buy this refreshing collection of pure, gutsy, natural music that hearkens to Willie's origins and the origin of song -- done for the heart, not for the profit. You'll find yourself singing along. (However, beware of selections 9-13 - they're definitely not for children!)