Country Review: Willie Nelson-Ride Me Back Home

Release Date:  June 21, 2019
Label:  Legacy Recordings
Website 

When Willie Nelson sings, people listen. Throughout his storied 60-year career, The Redheaded Stranger has become a genre unto himself. His mastery lies in the poetic, heartfelt expressions of romance, loneliness, and the exploits of an outlaw’s life on the road.

Willie’s 69th studio album Ride Me Back Home thematically does not wander far from home. Yet there are echoes of melancholy, remorse, and gravity, which force the listener to sit up and take notice. In late-stage releases from Bob Dylan (Tempest), Johnny Cash (American series), and Leonard Cohen (You Want It Darker), one hears underlying themes of the wrath of time, the futility of existence and death. These undercurrents serve as haunting reminders of what is to come and serve a warning for all to live every moment as if it were your last. In Willie Nelson’s inimitable style, Ride Me Back Home follows suit.

The title track is classic country fare serving a double-metaphor signifying a returning to his roots and a longing for a time when the world was a bigger place. “Come on Time” follows by pleading with the powers that be to give him more, and an acceptance that in the battle of Willie vs. Time, Time will ultimately prevail.

Willie’s cover of Guy Clark’s “My Favorite Picture of You” is a standout track. Heartbreaking lyrics layered on soft and subtle country chords is Willie at his finest. Reminiscent of his 1998 masterpiece, Teatro, the spacing between the lyrics and notes in this song is used to dramatic effect, proving what is left out can be as important as what is put in. “Just a moment in time that you can’t have back. You never left, but your bags were packed.”

Willie’s commonsensical wit is at the forefront of the upbeat “Seven Year Itch,” and “Hard to be Humble” while “Nobody’s Listening” and “Maybe I Should Have Been Listening” ride a rueful tone of sadness and remorse.

The sole misfire on the album is “Just the Way You Are,” a compulsory cover of the Billy Joel classic. The iconic Hammond organ sounds of the original do not port well to Willie’s country guitar jangling. When Willie sings, “I said I love you.” I couldn’t help envision him shouting this to his wife because she couldn’t hear him the first time. 

In Ride Me Back Home, Willie Nelson packages a set of covers, retreads, and new material co-written with Buddy Cannon to form a dark, yet delightful whole. As the last part of a trilogy beginning with 2017’s God’s Problem Child and 2018’s Last Man Standing, Ride Me Back Home is ironic as well. After being on the road so long, it is hard to imagine Willie ever turning back.

Key Tracks Include: “Ride Me Back Home”, “My Favorite Picture of You”, “Seven Year Itch”, “Nobody’s Listening”

Tom Endyke-MuzikMan.net Staff
October 9, 2019

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Tracks:
01. Ride Me Back Home
02. Come on Time
03. My Favorite Picture of You
04. Seven Year Itch
05. Immigrant Eyes
06. Stay Away from Lonely Places
07. Just the Way You Are
08. One More Song to Write
09. Nobody’s Listening
10. It’s Hard to Be Humble
 

Country Superstar T.G. Sheppard Brings The Star-Power With Upcoming Album ‘Legendary Friends & Country Duets’

Album Features Collaborations with George Jones, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Engelbert Humperdinck, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lorrie Morgan and Many More

Nashville, TN - Since leaving home in 1961 to pursue a career in music, T.G. Sheppard has done it all. He scored a job as a promotions executive for RCA Records, where he became friends with Elvis Presley who believed in his talent so much that he gave him his first tour bus, topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart an astonishing 21 times, and left an everlasting mark on Country music. Over the years, the smooth singer/songwriter has made a lot of impressive friends, which inspired the vision for his upcoming album, Legendary Friends & Country Duets, which is set for release on Oct. 30 via Cleopatra Records. On the upcoming project, TG collaborates with some of the most influential artists of all-time and those that he can actually call his personal friends.

“In my 40 years of recording music, this album has to be my most favorite I've ever recorded,” says T.G. Sheppard. “I'm very honored that so many of my personal friends came in to sing, with no questions asked, and gave their all.”

Listeners will be taken on a journey, with songs that hit the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Standout tracks on the album include the fun, “It’s A Man Thing” which features late country icon George Jones, the relaxing sing-along, “Song Man” with Grammy®winner Merle Haggard, and the inspiring, “In Texas” with country outlaw Willie Nelson. Legendary Friends & Country Duets will bring traditional country music back to the forefront, as the style currently makes a demanding comeback. With the remarkable list of guests on the album, Legendary Friends & Country Duets is a must-have for all music fans to remind them what made country music great.

“As a record company working multiple projects in all genres, it is always special to find an artist and project like what T.G. Sheppard has brought to Cleopatra Records,” says Tim Yasui, VP/GM of Cleopatra Records. “T.G. is loved within the Country music community and this project proves that his fanbase is much more than just the country music fans - his fellow artists love him, too! Albums like this come once in a lifetime and Cleopatra Records is very proud to be involved in this iconic recording.”

Sheppard has already begun promoting the album, with several upcoming appearances already scheduled. Airing on September 13-14, NBC’s “Open House” will take viewers inside the stylish Nashville home of Sheppard and his wife, singer/songwriter Kelly Lang. The show is described as the ultimate insiders’ guide to real estate and home design. Next, offering fans a never-before-seen glimpse into the past, present and future of T.G.’s storied career, Sheppard appeared on Heartland-TV’s new show “Reflections” on Sept. 14.

1. Down On My Knees with The Oak Ridge Boys
2. The Killer with Jerry Lee Lewis
3. Why Me Lord with Conway Twitty
4. Songman with Merle Haggard
5. Fifteen Rounds With Jose Cuervo with Delbert McClinton & Steve Cropper
6. The Next One with Lorrie Morgan
7. 100% Chance Of Pain with B.J.Thomas & Jimmy Fortune
8. It's A Man Thing with George Jones
9. Wine To Remember Whisky To Forget with Mickey Gilley
10. Dead Girl Walking with Kelly Lang
11. In Texas with Willie Nelson
12. Have You Ever Loved A Woman with Engelbert Humperdinck
13. I'n Not Going Anywhere with Crystal Gayle
14. If You Knew with Ricky Skaggs & The Whites

T.G. Sheppard Tour Dates:

SEPTEMBER:
9/25/15  World Chicken Festival  London, Kentucky
9/26/15  Jonesboro Fair, Jonesboro, Arkansas

OCTOBER:
10/8/15  Street Fair (w/Kelly Lang)  Loudenville, Ohio

NOVEMBER:
11/07/15  Texan Theatre, Greenville, Texas
11/15/15  Crystal Grand Theatre, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Press inquiries:

Webster PR:
Kyle Watson, kyle@websterpr.com, 615-777-6995 x221
Kirt Webster, kirt@websterpr.com, 615-777-6995 x226

Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com

Country Review: Willie Nelson-Band of Brothers

Release Date: May 6, 2014

Label: Legacy Recordings

Website

Debuting at number five on the Billboard Top 200 chart and number one on the Billboard Country chart for the first time in twenty eight years, Band of Brothers is classic Willie Nelson at his country singing best. Nine original songs out of fourteen tracks bring back what Willie is best at-his ability to write songs that reach into the grit and texture of humanity. 

From the beginning of the album with “Bring it On” you have a harmonica entwined with pedal steel and some percussion that stirs the blood. The lyrics throw a glimmer of challenge to the human condition, daring the fates to ‘bring it on.’ A rousing track, this is the perfect beginning to an album rich with imagery and emotion.

“Used to Her” is a fun and punchy number reminiscent of the faster, dance step country I grew up with. Plucky with cocky harmonica accompaniments, the vocals are well matched with the snap your heels on the dance floor and swing those hips mover of a song. Burnt bacon and bluegrass. How could you possibly go wrong with this inspiring song?

“Band of Brothers” is the title track for the album and one of my favorite pieces. The guitar playing and layers of music are woven together flawlessly. Moving into the future together, family is a bond built by love and respect. Guitar strings, harmonica and some percussive elements swirl and bob along to craft a song full to bursting with memories and life moments.

“The Git Go” has a bluesy gospel feel but is the least appealing song on the album. Lessons of life and too much in the way of politics make this one stand out from the rest of the pack. While it has some thought provoking points, it misses the artful mark the rest of the album holds.

In Willie Nelson’s long and distinguished career he has performed countless concerts and has a catalog of albums longer than my arm. His voice is smooth as butter and can turn to steel or velvet depending on his mood. His music has grown with me and seen me through my formative years. It is so wonderful to see this great artist writing original works again. If you are a Willie Nelson fan, you need to get this album. From fun and plucky to a little bit on the political side, it’s a musical experience you’re going to want in your collection.

4.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Bring it On, Used to Her, Band of Brothers, The Git Go

Tracks:
01. Bring It On Willie Nelson
02. Guitar in the Corner Willie Nelson
03. The Wall Willie Nelson
04. Whenever You Come Around Willie Nelson
05. Wives and Girlfriends Willie Nelson
06. I Thought I Left You Willie Nelson
07. Send Me a Picture Willie Nelson
08. Used to Her Willie Nelson
09. The Git Go Willie Nelson with Jamey Johnson
10. Band of Brothers Willie Nelson
11. Hard to Be an Outlaw Willie Nelson
12. Crazy Like Me Willie Nelson
13. The Songwriters Willie Nelson
14. I've Got a Lot of Traveling to Do
 

Dana Wright, Sr. Staff Writer

July 9, 2014

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