Willie Nelson - Willie and Family Live

Willie Nelson has always enjoyed playing the casino circuit and this two-CD set catches him and his ever-touring entourage at a 1978 Lake Tahoe stopover. Nelson's live shows tend to have more in common with jam-rock-styled events than country-styled concerts--meaning that they are drawn-out experiences with peaks and valleys as opposed to tightly focused, song-oriented sets. Thus, those whose ears are expecting the latter might find the endless jamming a bit tedious and the vocal performances erratic. That, however, is their problem. This collection superbly captures the excitement, variety, enthusiasm, and spontaneity of a Nelson show as it rolls through Willie's own classics plus all the country chestnuts, standards, and spirituals that comprise his unerring American aesthetic. --Marc Greilsamer Amazon.com

(4.5 stars) THE WILLIE NELSON LIVE ALBUM ! (In 1978, Willie could do no wrong, and this album was one of his better moments)

Willie And Family Live (1978) was recorded at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, Nevada and features Willie Nelson at the peak of his career. He won the Country Music Association's Entertainer Of The Year Award the next year, and everybody seemed to be jumping on the Willie Nelson bandwagon.

The album opens (as Willie Nelson concerts do) with a rocking version of Whiskey River. After an uptempo Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer), he jumps right into his famous Funny How Time Slips Away/Crazy/Night Life medley and brings down the house. Most of Willie's pre-1978 biggies are here. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Good Hearted Woman, Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, If You've Got The Money (I've Got The Time), If You Could Touch Her At All, Georgia On My Mind, a Red Headed Stranger medley, and more. He does gospel (Amazing Grace, Uncloudy Day, Will The Circle Be Unbroken) with help from Emmylou Harris and Johnny Paycheck. Then Willie and Johnny have some fun with Paycheck's signature Take This Job And Shove It. These renditions are all energetic and sometimes even seem a little rushed, but the performances are tight and professional. Willie and his "Family" stretch out and jam on a few of these songs, too. It's a treat to hear Willie go back in time and perform songs that he wrote when he a struggling Nashville songwriter in the early 1960s. Mr. Record Man, Hello Walls, I Gotta Get Drunk, and I'm A Memory are some of these. I like this version of Bloody Mary Morning, too ("it's a Bloody Mary morning, baby left me with no warning, sometime in the night"). As usual, Willie reprises Whiskey River, and then comes back for an encore performance.

This is an upbeat, positive and enthusiastic concert, and the energy is non-stop. The performance isn't letter perfect, but that's not what this music is all about, anyway. If you're not a fan of Willie Nelson, this 2-CD set might seem to go on forever. If you are a fan, especially a long-time fan, this is a ticket back to the good ol' days when the rest of the world seemed to understand what we already knew about Willie Nelson. February 22, 2008

If you want to know what Willie's all about, buy this concert

While his studio recordings are usually stellar, the live show is what Willie Nelson is all about. And this is as close to a definitive one as you can get. He's been playing with these musicians since the dawn of time, and it shows in the way they function as a single organism capable of deftly handling any tempo shift, key change, or segue. And in addition to his hits, this show includes the entire Red Headed Stranger story in the same sequence as the album, but merged into a single, well-paced song. And they accomplish this without making it seem lengthy, with lots of lively tempo changes and subtle variation. If you want to hear Willie in his younger prime (he may never actually peak) this is a great choice. December 15, 2007

ESSENTIAL Willie

This double live album, along with 'Red Headed Stranger' and 'Tougher Than Leather' are must-have Willie Nelson works. This recording really catches Willie, his band, and the rest of the "family" at their peak in 1978.

In the mid-to late 70s, a live recording was, seemingly, a necessity for prominent(and not so prominent) artists. I call it the "Frampton Factor". Regardless, the quality of the vast majority of the stuff released during this era was quite dismal. This album is the exception.

Want hits? You got 'em here. Want guest stars? Emmylou Harris and the late Johnny Paycheck appear. But the real strength is Willie and Family, on the road again, doing what they were born to do--perform these wonderful songs in a live setting. These are the songs that made Willie who he is today. At his peak, in my humble opinion. Many of the song versions that appear here are superior to their original, studio recordings. My two cents, folks. Buy this thing. It don't get any better than this... March 4, 2007

Simply One of The Best

What I have found in many cases on Amazon is that people giving reviews are usually people who love the group/person and just fawn and gush about the recording, which is not at all helpful. I am going to rave about this because it is simply one of the best double CDs of all time. I like a huge array of music, if it is good, I like it, so I am not beholden to one style or artist. Willie Nelson is truly one of the gems of American music, as a songwriter and a performer, and this CD captures that very well. Incredible musicians back him up, and Willie can play and pick the guitar as good as anyone. He also has been willing throughout his career to do different styles, to explore new music types and to smash the frame people want him to be in. I don't like everything he has done, but of the thousands of CDs I have, this is easily in the Top 10, plus as a kicker, he signed it in 1999. Buy it. June 12, 2006

If you like Country...

...just buy this CD. Don't think about it. Don't debate about it. Just buy it. Put it in your cd changer or your iPod and it will stay there forever. Every song is a knockout! This is our Daytona 500 go to cd every single year...I'm surprised I haven't worn mine out! October 24, 2005

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