4.5 stars

"When Willie Nelson began his ascent to country music stardom in the 1970s, he managed to corral two types of fans. The first group was the rednecks, drawn to Willie's country sound and perhaps even his pedigree as the guy who wrote "Crazy" for Patsy Cline; and the second group was the hippies, who saw Willie as one of their own: a long-haired, scruffy-bearded pot-smoker with a propensity for traditional music. Thirty years later, Nelson's audience has expanded beyond those two polar demographics, and the man himself has become an icon" Pitchfork

Willie Nelson is back to his old roots with this CD, admirably produced by Ryan Adams. Adams has his band the 'Cardinals' playing, and as someone else said this CD should be named 'Wille Nelson and The Cardinals'. The Cardinals add such a wonderfully rich touch, and Ryan Adams sings vocals in some of the songs. They provide Willie Nelson's "knotty old pipes a scene for boisterous settings" 11 songs, written by old friends and new and sung with distinction.

'Rainy Day Blues'-shuffling blues number written by Willie, which will make you want to hear more right away with its soulful guitar.

'Songbird"-The Fleetwood Mac, Stevie McVie, title track gets a `70s country rock treatment, which is appropriate as it's a `70s-era pop song.

'Blue Hotel'- Ryan Adams's song that talks of a mythical American West full of lies and fools.

"Back to Earth" Willie Nelson's own song. He begins with just an occasional strum of the acoustic guitar and his bare voice.

'Stella Blue"- Greatful Dead and Jerry Garcia's tune accented with great guitar work.

'Hallelujah'- Leonard Cohen's song and my favorite on this CD, finds "Willie drawing comparisons of the fall of some mighty men such as David and Samson with his own failings as a man in love. He sings:

I did my best, it wasn't much

I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch

I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you

And even though

It all went wrong

I'll stand before the Lord of Song

With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah"

'$1000 Dollar Wedding"- Wille sings about his young almost-bride-to-be on Gram Parsons's "$1000 Wedding" with a harshness that implies Nelson still hasn't forget the pain of heartbreak from all those years ago".

'We Don't Run'- Willie's own song and it rocks out. "Kick it off if you're ready", Nelson instructs the band before launching into "We Don't Run", and they turn the ballad into a rockabilly-style rave-up.

'Yours Love'-One of the sweetest 'love songs' I have heard Wille sing.

"May the Comfort I praise be yours love, and the arms that I seek be yours love".

'Sad Songs and Waltzes'- the third of Willies songs-a true waltz and Willie said he was writing a song for his love who had cheated and was leaving.

'Amazing Grace'-the final sing on the album and this is a cover unlike any you've heard before. "Willie paints the hymn in a minor key darkness, as he sings the songs almost sounding condemned as opposed to saved. The haunting melody is reminiscent of the classic "House of the Rising Sun" and finishes off the album with a great bit of creativity."

"Songbird, a collaboration with Ryan Adams is Willie Nelson's finest in a decade. The sound is burly, surrounding his inimitable lilt with shuddering electric guitars. But the slow and stately stuff really sparkles, which proves the old troubadour can still write the best weepers around. "Entertainment Weekly

This CD has some amazing songs. With the addition of Ryan Adams producing, and the renditions of "Hallelujah" "Yours Love" and "Amazing Grace" this CD sould be heard time and again.

Highly Recommended. prisrob 12/01/06

Willie Nelson may be over 70 years old but he is undaunted by trying new kinds of music. This album features a rocking background of electric guitars, a bluesy beat, and a gospel chorus. Not exactly traditional Nelson music, although on a couple of songs you hear the unmistakable twang of Willie playing his beaten and battered acoustic guitar.

I like most of these songs. "Rainy Day Blues" sounds just like a song of this title should; "We don't run" is an uptempo makeover of a song he wrote and previously recorded; "$1000 Wedding" is a fine version of an old Gram Parsons song. "Songbird" belongs to Eva Cassidy, but Willie's version is tolerable. "Amazing Grace" is New Orleans-y and sounds more like "St. James Infirmary" than "Amazing Grace."

None of these songs blow me away -- but it's a pleasant listenable CD with some interesting backing instrumentation. One of Willie's old comrades who appears on this CD is Mickey Raphael on harmonica and his playing is -- as always -- a highlight.

Smallchief

Give this 7 listens. Most of Ryan Adams work requires up to 7 listens before he gets you...and then forget about it. You'll be hooked. But don't worry, he has plenty of research for you thanks to his prolificality.

Songbird is a great new sound for Willie Nelson as well. For the old fans let go of your tartar sauce and let Willie expand your mind as he is probably expanding his as we speak...or at least as we read. So some of the sounds are a little new for you, tell you what: giddy-up the RV, lock this disc in position for non-stop play and listen to it til you get to Canada*. If you still don't like it, throw the disc out the window...and then just try to get the songs out of yer head!

*this assumes you are above the mason-dixon line.

A lot of Willie fan's (and music critics) act as if he was not a willing participant in the recording of this record. Maybe he wanted to stay on the path of making the records he wants to make. So what if its not another Red Headed Stranger or Phases and Stages, it's an interesting record that a musical icon wanted to make. Songbird's not a great album, but it is a good album that fits into his catalog of making music how and with who he wants.

Please don't be jaded by some of these reviews below. This is a FANTASTIC album from start to finish. I believe it has a clear, coherent message with great, supportive production. Ryan Adams did a great job letting Willie be Willie on certain songs and brushing up a few things to elevate the album to a new level on others. I think the cover art says everything you need to know about this record. It's Willie reinvented yet again with colorful twists and a new outlook. One of the year's best albums, hands down. Hopefully this will lead to future collaborations between Willie and Ryan and more production for Adams in the country spotlight. Because, as we know, country needs a turn for the better these days...and I think this album is a definite start.