Willie Nelson HEROES Vinyl 2LP Record (2012) NEW

$

80

Willie Nelson's album 'Heroes' is an eclectic collection of ambient emo-country, Texas swing and jazzy ballads. The singer isn't confined by the country genre on any of the 14 songs. No one will ever doubt his credentials, so even songs like 'The Scientist' feel like one Hank Sr. may have chosen decades ago. OK, perhaps that's an exaggeration, but few other singers could give the political lyric the proper twang.

'Every Time He Thinks of Her' is one highlight on this project, in stores May 15. His son Lukas Nelson -- who is deserving of having his name on the album jacket -- joins his father for the most pure three minutes on the project.

The younger Nelson is a welcome addition to nine songs on 'Heroes.' Other guest artists include Jamey Johnson, Merle Haggard, Sheryl Crow, Ray Price, Micah Nelson, Snoop Dogg and Kris Kristofferson. On at least one occasion ('Come on Up to the House'), the mix feels too much like an award show, but that's a finicky complaint. One is left to wonder if Nelson no longer believes he can carry an entire album as he approaches 80-years-old, but he shows no cracks on 'The Scientist' or 'That's All There is to This Song.'

'Hero' and 'The Sound of Your Memory' are tracks to skip as the plodding beat and lazy harmonica playing do little to add to the project. 'Cold War With You' is a confusing moment on 'Heroes.' It's as if a female singer backed out on the love song and the opportunistic Lukas Nelson was standing by ready to fill in.

From start to finish, 'Heroes' is a artistically satisfying album full of colorful lyrics and patient, skilled musicianship ('Home in San Antone' being a fine example of the latter). But it's not an album to dial up for a long jog or a road trip. The mood is similar to the recent one of duets Tony Bennett produced.

Tracklist

A1       –Willie Nelson With Merle Haggard A Horse Called Music

Written-By – Wayne Carson*

4:37

A2       –Willie Nelson With Snoop Dogg, Jamey Johnson & Kris Kristofferson     Roll Me Up

Written-By – Buddy Cannon, John Colgin, Mike McQuerry, Rich Alves, Willie Nelson

3:25

A3       –Willie Nelson            That's All There Is To This Song

Written-By – Buddy Cannon

3:02

A4       –Willie Nelson With Lukas Nelson   No Place To Fly

Written-By – Lukas Nelson

5:07

B1       –Willie Nelson With Lukas Nelson   Every Time He Drinks He Thinks Of Her

Written-By – Lukas Nelson

2:48

B2       –Willie Nelson With Sheryl Crow & Lukas Nelson  Come On Up To The House

Written-By – Kathleen Brennan, Tom Waits

5:16

B3       –Willie Nelson With Jamey Johnson & Billy Joe Shaver      Hero

Written-By – Willie Nelson

4:38

B4       –Willie Nelson With Lukas Nelson   My Window Faces The South

Written-By – Abner Silver, Jerry Livingston, Mitchell Paris*

2:33

C1       –Willie Nelson With Lukas Nelson   The Sound Of Your Memory

Written-By – Elizabeth Rainey, Lukas Nelson

6:10

C2       –Willie Nelson With Ray Price & Lukas Nelson       Cold War With You

Written-By – Floyd Tillman

4:04

C3       –Willie Nelson With Lukas Nelson   Just Breathe

Written-By – Eddie Vedder

4:02

D1       –Willie Nelson With Lukas Nelson   Home In San Antone

Written-By – Fred Rose

4:09

D2       –Willie Nelson With Lukas Nelson & Micah Nelson            Come On Back Jesus

Written-By – Buddy Cannon, Micah Nelson, Willie Nelson

3:24

D3       –Willie Nelson            The Scientist

Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Willie Nelson

Drums, Keyboards – Justin Stanley

Engineer, Mixed By – Justin Stanley

Guitar, Bass – Doyle Bramhall II

Pedal Steel Guitar – Greg Leisz

Producer – Doyle Bramhall II, Justin Stanley

Written-By – Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland*, Will Champion

5:03

Companies, etc.

Licensed To – Yep Roc Music Group

Licensed From – Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.

Distributed By – Redeye

Manufactured By – Sony Music Entertainment

Manufactured For – Yep Roc Records

Phonographic Copyright (p) – Sony Music Entertainment

Phonographic Copyright (p) – Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.

Copyright (c) – Sony Music Entertainment

Pressed By – United Record Pressing

Recorded At – Pedernales Studio

Recorded At – Cannon Productions

Recorded At – Sound Emporium

Mixed At – Cannon Productions

Mixed At – Sound Emporium

Mastered At – Georgetown Masters

Lacquer Cut At – Well Made Music

Credits

Acoustic Guitar – Bobby Terry (2), Buddy Cannon

Backing Vocals – Buddy Cannon, Kris Kristofferson, Lance Miller, Melonie Cannon

Bass – Buddy Cannon, Kevin "Swine" Grantt*

Coordinator [Production] – Shannon Finnegan

Drums – Steve Brewster, Tony Creasman

Electric Guitar – Bobby Terry (2), Lukas Nelson

Engineer [Additional] – Eric Fritsch, Jeremy Brown (7), John "Ace" Otten, T.W. Cargile, Travis "Shaggy" Marshall

Engineer [Assistant] – Brendan Bond, Gordon Hammond, Hunter Van Houten, Jared Dodd, Ryan Staples

Harmonica – Mickey Raphael

Lacquer Cut By – CJIII*

Mastered By – Andrew Mendelson

Mastered By [Assistant] – Daniel Bacigalupi, Natthaphol Abhigantaphand, Shelley Anderson

Mixed By [Assistant] – Paul Bowman (2)

Organ [Hammond B3] – Jim "Moose" Brown, Paul Schaffer*

Performer [Trigger] – Willie Nelson

Piano, Electric Piano [Wurlitzer] – Jim "Moose" Brown

Producer – Buddy Cannon

Recorded By – Steve Chadie

Recorded By, Mixed By – Butch Carr (tracks: A2, B3, D2)

Steel Guitar – Mike Johnson (4)

Synthesizer – Butch Carr

Notes

Recorded at Pedernales Recording Studios; Austin, TX.

"Hero", "Roll Me Up" and "Come On Back Jesus" recorded at Cannon Productions and Sound Emporium Recording Studios; Nashville, TN.

Additional recording at Sound Emporium Recording Studios, Vibe 56 Studio, Eastwood Studios, Big Gassed Studios, The Moose Lodge, Hicksville Studio, Brewbeat Studio; Nashville, TN - Ocean Way Hollywood, DSR; Hollywood, CA - Merle Haggard's Talley aStudio; Palo Cedro, CA.

Mixed at Cannon Productions and Sound Emporium Recordings Studios; Nashville, TN.

Mastered at Georgetown Masters, Nashville, TN.

"The Scientist" recorded at Henson Studios; Hollywood, CA and Blackbird Studios, Nashville, TN.

© 2012 Sony Music Entertainment. ? 2012 Sony Music Entertainment (tracks 1-13), ? 2011 Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Used under license from Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (Track 14). Under exclusive license to Yep Roc Music Group. Distributed by Redeye. Manufactured for Yep Roc Records by Sony Music Entertainment / 550 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022-3211.