Disco de Willie Nelson: “Countryman [Digipak]”

For some reason that I cannot understand, this album was severely criticized by music reviewers. Perhaps they just thought "Oh, this is goofy. Who needs a reggae album from Willie Nelson?" Perhaps they figured it didn't make any sense musically. Perhaps they thought it was nothing more than a reflection of Willie's fondness for the little green-leafed plant pictured on the cover of the album.

But if you love Willie Nelson, IGNORE those critics. Here's what you get on this album:

(1) You get nine of Willie Nelson's finest compositions, many of them rarities that he originally recorded back in the 60s before he was well-known. And these reggae-tinged versions are SUPERIOR to Nelson's own original recordings of the same songs. Trust me, I've listened to the originals! If you love those really sad, sad, sad Willie Nelson songs that he wrote back in the days when he was a truly sad guy (before all the fame, before the whole hippie thing), you will LOVE these songs. They are not really reggae versions. They are classic Willie Nelson country songs with a reggae TINGE to them. It's Willie with a very subtle, low-key reggae rhythm section -- and that riddim DOES fit with Willie's slightly off-the-beat trademark vocal style.

(2) You get a great Johnny Cash song ("Worried Man") with Willie Nelson dueting with Toots Hibbert.

(3) Finally, you get two cuts that, in my view, were unnecessary: Willie's cover versions of two reggae standards "The Harder They Come" and "Sitting in Limbo." Frankly, I these are the weakest cuts. And I think some critics, hearing those cuts, got turned off to the whole project, thinking "oh this is just some cheesy reggae retreads."

Not that there's anything wrong with those two reggae covers per se. It's just that they kinda confuse the concept. The REAL concept of this album is NOT "Willie Nelson does reggae." It's that Willie Nelson re-records some of his best older songs from his sad old days, and does so with a bit of a reggae flavor.

(4) You get some of best-sounding Willie Nelson vocals in his entire recorded catalog. And some of those great understated Willie Nelson acoustic guitar breaks.

If it sounds like I'm on a crusade for this album, well in a way I am. I am a huge fan of REAL country music (of the Hank, Lefty, Merle, Johnny Cash school) and I'm a huge Willie Nelson fan, and I think this album has been unfairly derided by way too many people, professional and amateur critics alike.

I own literally thousands of albums, and Willie Nelson's "Countryman" is honestly and truly one of the ones I'd take with me to that proverbial desert island.

When I mentioned to old time Willie Nelson fans that he was coming out with a reggae album many were clearly not interested. Apparently branching out to reggae was not a good thought, in their mind, for Willie. However, after they and others get a listen to this I think they will change their minds.

Part of that is because Willie always has been able to make everything he sings his own, and the traditional reggae beats and harmonies are no different. In fact, this could be just a traditional Willie album with seemingly slight changes, because you just cannot take the voice out of Willie. That is why the album ends up sounding more Jimmy Buffett-ish then anything, and also why it still should be able to find a mainstream audience, not that it has too.

I actually was worried on the opposite end, because after hearing the first two songs, both light on reggae and heavy on Willie, I thought most of the others would sound almost exactly the same. However, with the third track "Worried Man," featuring Toots Hibbert, I was relaxed to hear something fresh that combined reggae and Willie in a much nicer fashion. Thankfully, that continues more or less for the rest of the album.

By no means am I saying this was the best Willie's accomplished (thus the 4 stars), but one should be pleasantly surprised when they hear Willie do reggae.

My suggestion? Ignore the five star ratings. Ignore the one star ratings. If you are a die hard Willie fan, buy it. If you're on the fence, listen to some tracks first. There's some good stuff here to be sure, but this is an effort that lacks focus. As is well known, it was kind of strung together from different sessions over a number of years and somewhat patched together once the green light was given to put it out. Some old Willie tunes just don't seem to fit the production - "Something To Think About" springs to mind. And, let's face it, Willie's habit of late has been to go back to his old songs again and again on new projects - it would be nice to hear some new material. But this is Willie and that makes it better - and more interesting - than just about anything (certainly on country radio) being put out now (compare this work to Toby Keith and that ilk, and it sounds like a classic). "I'm A Worried Man", "The Harder They Come" and "Darkness On The Face of the Earth" are given interesting go-rounds to be sure. And, like I said, this is Willie. Not great Willie, but still Willie.

It's sad to say that it took a wise old American countryman to spin the best reggae album in some time. For those of you reggae fans that appreciate "real" reggae without the rap crap influence, this is for you. Willie nails this one...great song writing, perfect tempo, and on the money production by Don Was. And what's more, Willie makes a perfect mix of country and sweet reggae. The man is getting better with age. Check out "Worried Man" and hear how Was puts it all together...sweetness. Willie and Toots Hibbert... two veterans of their respective musical genres in perfect sync. Or try "Live here in your eyes." Another example of master infusion of two music types worlds apart, yet neighbors in the sense of earthy groundage. I don't know how the backup musicians came to be, but all wise choices. You will not here more on the money percussion and timing from this bass and drum combo...tight, sweet and on the money. Keep it going Willie. My vote for album of the year. Awesome!

I'll make this review brief as there have been many that have covered what I'm writing on this right here. Willie is an American musical legend and this album lives up to the hype. I, being a reggae music afficianado, had many doubts about his pulling off this genre respectfully. Thankfully, I was surprised by this set. He has made the most listenable reggae-fusion album ever recorded to this date (yeah, that is what I wrote). Willie is more musically important than he has ever been in 2006. (with Johnny Cash & Waylon Jennings gone). Long live Willie!!!!