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Willie Nelson
Milk Cow Blues
What a wonderful treat for Nelson to allow seldom-heard blues diva Francine Reed to lead off on the opening title track. With a silky, jazz-inflected voice, Reed is considered by many as the Ella Fitzgerald of the blues, while Nelson slips in a twangy verse or two in between. What some would consider an obvious marketing ploy (the weary-tho'-congenial Nelson issuing a long overdue album of blues standards with dozens of guest stars), blossoms into one of the Red Headed Stranger's strongest recording in years. Whether it's trolling with B.B. through a swampy "The Thrill Is Gone," or trading sarcastic jabs with Dr. John on "Black Night," Nelson seizes the opportunity to put his own stamp on a few smoldering chestnuts (even turning his own "Crazy" into a Delta-bound ballad, coupled here with Susan Tedeschi) and blow off a couple of licks from his battered acoustic. And while a few folks, like Kenny Wayne Shepherd's high-volume, SRV-take of "Texas Flood," sound as if they might have overpowered their cordial host, Nelson takes it all in stride, with a his usual respect and aplomb. Also features wunkerkind Jonny Lang and Keb'Mo'. –peter moore (Island)
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