Half Nelson

Sound DNA

• Folk
• Traditional Folk

• warm
• nostalgic
• outlaw

About

You’d think since Willie Nelson has recorded more duets than any other country singer (to date), that his <i>Half Nelson</i> compilation would run deeper than ten songs — but after listening, it's evident this is the cream of his duets crop. Townes Van Zandt’s “Pancho and Lefty” gets the urban cowboy treatment that has somehow aged well — or maybe the wonderful sound here was born in the sharp contrast of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson singing to a disco-era production of Texas-flavored twang. Willie’s duet with Neil Young on “Are There Any More Real Cowboys?” is a real gem in that both singers possess such uniquely characteristic voices that it’s hard to believe there’s room enough for both of them in just one song — until they harmonize together to sound like they could very well be blood-related. The haunting “I Told a Lie to My Heart” features Willie crooning with the late, great Hank Williams under the antiquated crackles and analog hiss of old two-inch tape.

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits