Disco de Willie Nelson: “Stars & Guitars”

Descripción (en inglés) :

Personnel includes: Willie Nelson (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar); Dan Dugmore (acoustic & steel guitars); Jody Payne (guitar, background vocals); Bill Evans (saxophone); Bobbie Nelson, (piano); Jim Cox (keyboards); Glenn Worf (bass); Chad Cromwell (drums); Sheryl Crow, Toby Keith, Lee Ann Womack, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Ray Price, Hank Williams III, Keith Richards, Norah Jones, Aaron Neville, Brian McNight, Patty Griffin, Matchbox Twenty, Emmylou Harris, Ryan Adams, Family, Vince Gill. <p>Considering STARS & GUITARS's pop idol-heavy list of guests, one might expect the album to be just a live retread of Willie Nelson's 2002 studio effort, THE GREAT DIVIDE. Fortunately, unlike that album, which attempted to fit the artist into the same pop box that helped Carlos Santana out of a career slump, this is ol' Willie's show through and through. As anyone who has seem him live knows, Nelson's onstage personality is such a powerful force of nature, no one can hope to tame it. STARS AND GUITARS shows, once again, that though Willie Nelson is capable of playing any type of music he chooses, his musical personality is so strong that most guest artists can only hobble along behind him, thanking their lucky stars for the opportunity. Notable exceptions are Willie's contemporaries Ray Price and Aaron Neville, both of whom make the reasons for their legendary status abundantly clear. Overall, the album has the relaxed feel of a jam session (as if Willie could do it any other way). Though it may not be an essential addition to Nelson's catalog, STARS & GUITARS is an interesting curio that shows how different artists deal with the enigma that is Willie Nelson.

I love Willie and this has become one of my favorite live "Wille Albums"! All of the songs on this recording are wonderful and distinctly reveal Willie's ability as guitarist, songwriter, and performer. The many people who he invited to perform with him have been influenced by him and are proud to be a part of this album. There is no gimmick-madness trying to make some last minute money with an old country legend here!

Additionally, I have to say that those who did not like Aaron Neville's 'Stardust' need to listen to it again (and again!). It is the subtlety of Willie's vocals with Neville's unique singing ability that makes the song perhaps one of the best covers I have heard of 'Stardust'. Long live Willie! This is Willie revealing his genius. Buy this CD!

Don't be fooled. This album is more than just a collection of big names. The folks on this album are all very talented, and every piece is really a wonderful rendition, with vocalists who bring the right texture, the right sound to the music. This album has continued to grow and grow on me. Track 12 is exceptional, with Sheryl Crow's powerful vocal style complimenting Willie wonderfully. Lee Ann Womack's performance in Mendicino County Line is also something not to be missed. If those were the only two tracks on the album, it'd be worth every penny, but even Matchbox 20 (who I thought I was entirely sick of hearing) shows off a different side on track 13, and nails it.

I'll admit there are a few tracks that don't do all that much for me, but even those, I don't feel the need to hit FF on. Bon Jovi's voice sounds almost slurred among the rest of the very crisp, articulate vocalists on the album. I will say that Bon Jovi put together an creative video for "Misunderstood", and is a fine artist in his own right.

Willie is one of the truly great songwriters of the last century (that's hard to deny even if you don't like his voice), and the lineup on this album is an awe inspiring collection of his works being performed by some of the most capable and well suited artists alive today.

I am not much of a Willie Nelson fan. Classic country isn't my thing - I stick to the new stuff. However, I loved the song Maria Shut Up and Kiss Me and decided to buy the CD. I am so glad I did. The guests sound fantastic and lend a new voice to some of the old songs. There are a huge variety of sounds, voices and music on this disk and even though I'm not into classic country, I can't seem to remove the CD from my car stereo!

I'm so glad I took a chance - it's a great compellation!