Search - Willie Nelson :: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

A Sad surprise

Jonathan Schaefer | los angeles, ca | 07/12/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I'm disappointed with this one, sadly surprised. The musicians are great and the vocals by Freddie Powers are a nice treat but where the heck was Willie when they picked these songs? He sounds smooth but I swear you could plug a few quarters in him and get a few more tunes out of him -- he's on 'automatic' it seems for a very short collection.



I'm glad they titled 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" because I never would have recognized it.



Star Dust stands alone, nothing can come close to that. He put more energy and thought in one song (Moonlight in Vermont) than he did in this entire collection on Rainbow. The best Willie, for me, is Milk Cow Blues and right now Cindy Walker is neck to neck with Red Headed Stranger.



If you get a chance to hear the original Milk Cow Blues, or one of them, by Sidney Bechet and then listen to Willie you can't help but be impressed by the depth of this mans' talent and passion for music.



I'd skip Over the Rainbow if you're new to Willie -- if you want the commercial Willie, get Star Dust which is beautiful and warm and loving. If you want some serious blues and singing get Milk Cow Blues and now, if you want to kick up your heels or go cheek-to-cheek, get the Cindy Walker (amazingly talented woman).



But hey, it's WIllie and ya gotta love the man."