I love Willie Nelson. You probably do too. When I launched the podcast version of my show, I decided episode 1 should be my interview with Willie. Yesterday I found myself in the unenviable spot of being stuck in metropolitan traffic. Flipping through the channels on Sirius XM I heard a promo spot that they were debuting the new Willie Nelson record, Ride Me Back Home on Willie’s Roadhouse (Channel 59). I changed to that channel immediately and it was at the beginning of the show.
It was an in-studio listening party where they played all 11 tracks of the new album. Joining Willie Nelson was Buddy Cannon, his best compadre and go-to record producer for the last 10 years. The host and master of ceremonies was Paula Nelson who is Willie’s daughter, a singer and also a radio personality on Willie’s Roadhouse. Needless to say, the live audience and the entire broadcast was a very relaxed, but exciting affair.
This is one of Willie Nelson’s best albums in recent years and I happen to think he’s been putting out some of his best material these days. The title track, “Ride Me Back Home” was co-written with the great Sonny Throckmorton. The lyrics are wistful and a reminder that there are still great writers in country music. Willie’s still one of the best singers we have.
Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon also write some great songs together. Another song they debuted on the show is called “Come on Time.” We all know that time is something we can’t stop. Willie and Buddy’s poignant look at the matter is delivered with equal parts wisdom and humor.
Time, as you’ve passed me by
Why did you leave these lines on my face?
You sure have put me in my place
Come on time, come on time
It looks like you’re winning the race.
(Nelson, Cannon)
Listening to the album’s tracks being played I felt a lot of emotions. There were plenty of songs that left me misty eyed. Willie can emote the meaning of a lyric, similar to the way Sinatra did. The album has a pair of Guy Clark songs and even a cover of Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You are,” who Willie says he has never met. However, Joel emailed Willie saying he loved his take on Willie’s song. Towards the end of the broadcast they played a very witty, humorous Mac Davis song, “It’s Hard to be Humble.” It really cracked me up.
As I pulled my car into my final destination, I thought to myself, “Thank God for Willie Nelson.” At 86 years old, he’s still making records and telling great stories. Some songs he wrote, but all of them he made his own. We only have one Willie Nelson, but somehow he makes us all think he’s singing to only us. His songs remind us to feel everything deeply, but never at any point take yourself too seriously. Thank you Willie. You made me glad to be in traffic.
