Willie Nelson Album: “San Antonio Rose”

This album should appeal to any lover of good writing, good singing and good musicians. In fact this album sounds best loud.

The album consists of several country and western swing standards (San Antonio Rose, Faded Love) as well as signature Ray Price songs (Night Life).

My favorite two tracks are Funny How Time Slips Away and Night Life which let Willie and Ray belt out the blues.

The arrangements are incredible and the musicians are excellent. You really have to listen to this album with head phones.

What is also great about this album is that Willie's and Ray's vocals (which alternate on every song, sometimes coming together on the refrains) are both unique yet complement each other. You can tell this was not a gimmick album designed to create consumer interest (as some duets are) but a real collaboration of equals, lovingly put together.

If only there was more C&W music like this.

this is the real willie. the original willie.twenty years ago, the songs you found all over texas in every juke joint and in every 8 track tape player in the state. you'll wish more than ever that your wife had left you, just to fully enjoy the misery he sings of.

In 42 minutes and through 13 songs, Willie and Ray pay homage to the country styles of the '50's, '60's and '70's, and to influences such as Hank Williams and Bob Wills. They also pay tribute to the writing skills of Wills, Harlan Howard, Hank Cochran, Floyd Tillman and Nelson himself. The lesser-known titles here are all interesting, but the versions of the classics are superb: San Antonio Rose, I Fall To Pieces, Crazy Arms, Release Me, Funny How Time Slips Away, Night Life and Faded Love. Those seven alone make the CD a good buy. Ray Price gave Willie a job in his band in 1961 before songwriting began to pay off big for Nelson, and by 1980 Willie was riding high, and repaid the favor to a friend who was considered a turncoat to country because he had gone out for crossover success, and then was thought to be too old-fashioned for anymore pop chart appearances. So on this project Ray returned to his roots, to great acclaim, and showed he could still hold his own with the fast-rising Nelson. Read the earlier review by redtunictroll to be further persuaded to add this CD to your shelf.

you might not think the combination of Price and Nelson would be so good but how well they blend Willie has a one of the kind voice and RAY IS THE BEST OF ALL TIME Together they are quite a team

This has the best version of San Antonio Rose I have ever heard. Willie is his usual great, eclectic self. Ray Price must have one of the greatest voices in the world. In this collaboration, they are greater than the sum of their parts.