“That cat’s a blues singer,” Frank Sinatra famously said of Willie Nelson. “He can sing my stuff but I don’t know if I can sing his.” The great man would definitely be impressed by THAT’S LIFE , Nelson’s second Sinatra album, following on from 2018’s MY WAY.
The two singers do have a surprising amount in common, it would be fair to say that like Frank, Willie is a crooner. “I learned a lot about phrasing listening to Frank”, he has been quoted as saying. They did appear together on stage and on record and there is no doubt there was tremendous mutual respect.
At 87 Willie is now older than The Guv’nor was when he retired at 79. ( Sinatra died aged 82)
For someone who started out as a country music star Willie Nelson can certainly swing, with effortless vocals in an intimate conversational style and in amongst Matt Rollings’ lush arrangements you can hear the faithful sounds of Trigger. Not the horse (of course) but Willie’s well worn Martin guitar which has been with him for so much of his musical journey.
Treats to listen out for are Diana Krall duetting on ‘I Won’t Dance’ and the joy in his voice as he sings, ‘You Make Me Feel So Young’, proving the ageless quality of his talent.
We are now featuring his new album THAT’S LIFE on Willie’s personal radio station.
