Willie Nelson Album: “Live at Billy Bob's Texas”

Description :

Personnel includes: Willie Nelson (vocals, guitar). Recorded live at Billy Bob's Texas, Fort Worth, Texas in October 2003. Personnel: Willie Nelson (vocals, guitar); Jody Payne (vocals, guitar); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Bobbie Nelson (piano); Dan "Bee" Spears (bass guitar); Paul English (snare drum); Billy English (percussion). Recording information: Billy Bob's, Texas. Known as "the world's largest honky-tonk," famed Texas music venue Billy Bob's has released numerous live CDs of country stars who've graced its stage, but Willie Nelson's LIVE AT BILLY BOB'S TEXAS is surely one of the biggest feathers in their cap. The concert in question was recorded in 2003, and one of the most shocking things about it is that the 70-year-old Nelson and his band sound every bit as soulful and exciting as they did on the classic 1978 recording WILLIE AND FAMILY LIVE. In fact, several songs from the earlier album are duplicated here, and one would be hard pressed to guess the vintage of one version or the other. Apart from the overlapping selections, the most interesting choices here include a pair of Kris Kristofferson covers ("Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Me & Bobby McGee"), a spirited take on Merle Haggard's "Workin' Man Blues," and the gloriously self-mythologizing Outlaw Country anthem "Me & Paul." That song's titular drummer, Paul English, on board for WILLIE AND FAMILY LIVE, is still with Willie here, as are most of the other '70s band members, and not one musician has lost a single step.

For the fan hoping for a c/d with the most recent "Willie Concert Sound," captured, you're in luck with this album. Everyone in the band is a little older now, and it shows in their voices (most notably Jody Paine on Working Man's Blues). Willie talks through most of the songs and rarely sticks to the rhythm or chord structure we're familiar with. I'm sure in person the concert was a blast--his shows always are. But transferring that show experience to a live album is extremely tricky. They don't quite pull this one off.

Further, this is the second "Willie Live" album I've been tricked into buying because I thought the accompanying DVD featured concert footage. Not so! Don't be fooled! This DVD does not feature the 3-hour concert footage--it's a 30-minute commercial for the "Live at Billy Bob's" line of DVDs that are available for sale. Willie speaks briefly at the beginning and plays a little at the end (under three minutes), and the rest is a pure commercial pitch for DVD videos from the many concerts by many artists at Billy Bob's.

I'll buy nearly anything Willie puts out, but the poor performance by Willie and the band, the poor editing job between tracks (cutting Willie's spoken words off at the end of tracks), and the "non concert, infomercial" DVD trick have left a very bitter flavor with this music fan and radio show host. Be warned.

An embarrasingly bad recording.

Bad mix

Bad EQ

Willie's guitar playing is just awful

Willie's voice is even worse.

Just painful to listen to.

Cannot believe the label would release such garbage.

Willie Nelson has had a similar impact on country music as Dylan has had on pop music. Both have composed tunes that have become standards in modern music. This live album shows Willie interpreting his songs in an inventive manner much as Dylan has done over the years. The guitar work is amazing. It sounds like a bunch of friends sitting in the back yard swapping tunes. Willie's phrasing allows the songs to sound fresh and the band is in a real groove.

The album is worth every penny and will age gracefully.