Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson

Advantages: Willie's sweet voice and stinging guitar
Disadvantages: It's not twice as long

...The music: clean, uncluttered introspective. The songs: conveying the stark, sere, loneness of the singer. It's been called "blue collar blues" and I'd call it that, too, more than I'd call it country music. Only three of the songs are new, written in the 1990s, the rest are refashioned from the 1960s, and the 30 years in between scarcely matter. The songs were chosen and pieced together to tell the story of obssessive love or convey the concept of domestic abuse, whichever way you want to see it. And they do succeed in working together. They succeed in taking hold of your heart and grabbing onto it hard. Somehow, in Willie Nelson's mature voice, the older songs take on a new edge and freshness. Emmy Lou Harris's background voice deepens the poignancy and works sweetly with Willie's. Hers is the ghostly voice of the victim and... Read review

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Advantages: None
Disadvantages: It's very very poor

..., but any blues fan will know what I mean. This just sounds cold, calculated, unfeeling. It's boring to the 'n'th degree. I love Willie Nelson's voice. I'm not a typical country fan , but when someone has as unique a vocal as say Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, or Johnny Cash then I'll always give them a listen... till now. What's worse is the track listing on the album is a full of absolute gems from years gone by - including such staples as Georgia On My Mind, Stardust, Caldonia, Basin Street Blues. Each of these, and the rest of the songs on the album, should sound amazing if these guys were both on top form, but the versions are highly recommended as a cure for insomnia, they're just lacking that 'oomph' to get them out of first gear. Overall, possibly the most disappointing album I've ever bought. Sadly I can't give it a zero star... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great trip down memory lane for some!
Disadvantages: One or two fillers!

...’s free, Oooh Ooh Mandela’s free If the tears are flowing wipe them from your face I can feel his heartbeat moving deep inside It was 25 years that took that man away And now the world came dancing Nelson Mandela’s Free” STUNNING! So there we have it the Greatest Hits of Simple Minds Glittering Prize 1981/1992 , you can purchase from places like HMV, Play.com, Virgin and the typical cost should be around £9.99, you may have to hunt a bit for this, but I promise you it’s very worth while and for some a fantastic trip down memory lane! Well I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I have enjoyed my wee trip, thanks for reading and as always I look forward to your comments, take care Heather:)... Read review

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