Willie Nelson Album: “You Don't Know Me: The Songs Of Cindy Walker”

Since I've been a fan of Willie Nelson's since the eary '70's I think I'm a pretty good judge of his work. For the last 5 or 6 years Willie has been devoting alot of his career to singing with alot of the newer Country artists who admire Willie's work for many reasons. I mention that because even though I have enjoyed alot of that vein that he was in, I continually was longing for just good 'ole "Willie Nelson" music. During that period Willie's voice often seemed to be weakening, which I guess you can expect from a 73 year-old singer who has been doing 200 plus shows a year for more than 30 years. Then, all of a sudden Willie puts out an album in 2004 titled "It Always Will Be", and knocks my socks off! The voice is sounding better, and the selection of songs was fantastic. If you Willie fans don't have it, buy it and sit back and relax, and enjoy yourself.

Now today, March 14, 2006, Willie releases something that he's wanted to do for years, a tribute to the great Texas songwriter, Cindy Walker called "You Don't Know Me". Well folks, I think with this one and the previous album I mentioned, we finally have Willie back again, doing what he does best.This is one of the best albums Willie has done in the past dozen years. His voice is stronger than it's been in a long time. Every song out of the 13 are winners, not a bad cut on the album. The only thing that I was upset with was when it was over. I wanted more. It's that good. And, what an all-star lineup of musicians Willie has playing with him. To name the ones who really stand out: Buddy Emmons on Steel Guitar, who Willie has played with it seems like his whole career; Gordon More on piano, and as good as he's ever been, the great Johnny Gimble, Willie's old buddy from Bob Wills and His Texas Playboy fame. People, if you love Willie Nelson when he sings ballads, and if you are a fan of Texas Swing, you have to treat yourself to this album. Supposedly Willie did enough Cindy Walker songs to fill three albums. I can't wait for the next one.(Hope you read this Will). Now, if we can just get Willie in the studio with Merle Haggard to do a whole new album again, instead of just a tune here and there, we'll have "real country music" back again! Thanks, Willie! You still got it!

Listening to this cd I am amazed at the variety of talents all on one cd (why one though? I do hope there is a vol 2 in the vaults somewhere) Last month you could have asked me who Cindy Walker was and I honestly didn't have a clue - but listening to all these songs, that I already knew from a variety of artists; the woman bowls me over.

Everyone involved on this cd is a master in their own right and the end product is pure joy for the speakers. Their love, and respect, for good music is evident and I am most grateful.

Cindy Walker has written some of the best known country songs for many, many years for some of the best artists we have had. "You Don't Know Me", "Sugar Moon", and "Cherokee Maiden" will delight any country music fan, especially if you like Willie Nelson and the flare he adds. "Bubbles In My Beer" is a fun song while "Take Me In Your Arms" can tug at your heart. This CD is a wonderful tribute to a lady who gave so much to the music industry.

Nelson's prolific streak of releases on Lost Highway (including live and studio LPs each of the past three years) continues with this collection of Cindy Walker covers. Walker's songs are best known as hits rendered by a who's-who of swing, honky-tonk, country and pop stars that includes Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Webb Pierce, Merle Haggard, Eddy Arnold and Ray Charles. The Texas soul of Walker's songs fit Nelson to a tee, and as a legendary songsmith in his own right, his devotion to Walker's work is both a compliment and an acknowledgement of these songs' fundamental role in his own artistic development.

One time Texas Playboy fiddler Johnny Gimble leads a stellar swing combo that includes the steel of Buddy Emmons and background harmonies of The Jordanaires. Nelson's familiarity with the material occasionally turns his vocals too casual, but the highlights are outstanding, including a jazzy rendition of "Don't Be Ashamed of Your Age," a forlorn, heartbroken reading of "Not That I Care," a wearily styled "Warm Red Wine," and a warm, Western-themed take on "Dusty Skies." Nelson's a skilled interpreter, and backed by a sympathetically swinging combo, this is a wonderful tip-of-the-cowboy-hat to Walker's songwriting. [©2006 hyperbolium dot com]

I am realtively new to country music. I purchased this because I had the pleasure of hearing Willie sing "You Don't Know Me" on CMT one afternoon. I was quite taken with his rendition and recalled hearing this song growing up. From this one time "soft rocker" I couldn't be happier. Go Willie!