I recently listened to Willie Nelson's "Countryman," his 2005 reggae record which actually began production ten years earlier in 1995. I liked it when I first heard it and I still like it now. Steve Leggett over at All Music, on the other hand, does not, though his 6.4 star rating doesn't really jibe with his review, which uses phrases like "woefully out of whack" and states that "there isn't enough ganja in Kingston or enough whiskey in Nashville to make this hybrid Texas reggae idea work."
One thing I don't disagree with in Leggett's review is his assessment that "Countryman" is neither good reggae or good country. While that may be true for purists, I think the hybrid that Willie delivers works as a really fun and upbeat record. Plus, any record that has a cover of "The Harder They Come" as good is this one is surely a keeper.
6 comments:
A lot better than I expected. I give Willie a strong pass on "The Harder They Come".
I didn't expect to like the Jimmy Cliff cover but I did.
Thanks for this, sir. I recall it was released to meh or unfavorable reviews and during a very prolific period in Willie’s career. Looking forward to hearing the rest.
Years before I’d ever heard the original:
https://youtu.be/dRhn5R7aaZQ?si=5ZnD0njVFji9acwp
Thanks for all you do. :)
I'm not a fan of reggae but I love Willie Nelson. I thought the cover of"The Harder They Come" Was really really good. A country version of a Reggae tune. The second cut was more of a reggae version of country tune. Didn't like it as much as the first but both tunes piqued my interest enough to go listen to the album.
I can't say yes to this, and I love reggae and sometimes like Willie. But the Joe Jackson version is fun.
Have you listened to Willie & Marty Dread - Peace Works?
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