The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family

Dualtone – 80302-01162-2

Format: CD, Album, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2004
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country, Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 Worried Man Blues: George Jones (3:11)
02 No Depression In Heaven: Sheryl Crow (3:20)
03 On The Sea of Galilee: Emmylou Harris with the Peasall Sisters(3:16)
04 Engine One-Forty-Three: Johnny Cash (3:38)
05 Never Let The Devil Get the Upper Hand of You: Marty Stuart & Fabulous Superlatives (4:50)
06 Little Moses: Janette and Joe Carter (2:19)
07 Black Jack David: Norman and Nancy Blake with Tim O'Brien (2:57)
08 Bear Creek Blues: John Prine (4:23)
09 You Are My Flower: Willie Nelson (2:39)
10 Single Girl, Married Girl: Shawn Colvin with Earl Scruggs and Randy Scruggs (2:19)
11 Will My Mother Know Me There?: The Whites with Ricky Skaggs (3:04)
12 The Winding Stream: Rosanne Cash (4:31)
13 Rambling Boy: The Del McCoury Band (4:24)
14 Hold Fast To The Right: June Carter Cash (2:55)
15 Gold Watch And Chain: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Kris Kristofferson (4:06)
[Credits]
Producer: John Carter Cash
[Notes]
Country musicians, be they alternative, traditional, or neo-traditionalist, never tire of singing praises to the Carter Family. Heck, even the occasional rocker will say a few kind words about the Carter legacy. With this type of enthusiasm, there's never a bad time to put together a tribute album like The Unbroken Circle. The album is packed with VIPs like Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Sheryl Crow, and Willie Nelson, and it even includes no less than three Cashes (Johnny, June Carter, and Rosanne). Despite this impressive list, The Unbroken Circle gets a very rocky start with lukewarm efforts by Jones, Crow, Harris, and Johnny Cash. Jones and Cash sound fairly rough, and Harris' outing, backed by the Peasall Sisters, is underwhelming. Crow's appearance on a country record is somewhat surprising, and perhaps it was meant to add a little pizzazz to the disc. Unfortunately, she sings "No Depression in Heaven" as though she were auditioning for Freakwater. While the album never quite recovers from this early stumble, there are bright spots after those first four songs. Marty Stuart offers a truly superb version of "Never Let the Devil Get the Upper Hand of You," filled with creepy ambience and a fine vocal, while Janette and Joe Carter's take on "Little Moses" sounds more old-time than the Carter Family. There are solid offerings by Nelson, John Prine, and the Del McCoury Band before everything comes to a crash landing with the less polished contributions of June Carter Cash and Kris Kristofferson. While fans of the artists on this compilation may want to check it out, there are better Carter Family collections (Bristol by Ginny Hawker and Kay Justice and Songs of the Carter Family by Jody Stecher and Kate Brislin), and there's always the option of listening to the Carter Family themselves. -- AllMusic Review by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Emmylou Harris: Duets

Reprise Records – 7599-25791-2

Format: CD, Compilation, Club Edition
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Country
[Tracklist]
01 The Price I Pay with The Desert Rose Band (2:58)
02 Love Hurts with Gram Parsons (3:40)
03 That Lovin' You Feelin' Again with Roy Orbison (4:00)
04 We Believe in Happy Endings with Earl Thomas Conley (3:34)
05 Thing About You with Southern Pacific (3:51)
06 Star of Bethlehem with Neil Young (2:43)
07 All Fall Down with George Jones (3:19)
08 Wild Montana Skies with John Denver (4:02)
9 Green Pastures with Ricky Skaggs (3:08)
10 Gulf Coast Highway with Willie Nelson (3:09)
11 If I Needed You with Don Williams (3:35)
12 Evangeline with The Band (3:10)
[Credits]
Emmylou Harris (vocals)
Designer: Janet Levinson and Janet Levinson, Assemblage: Bradley Hartman, Photographer: Caroline Greyshock, Engineer: Bradley Hartman and Glenn Meadows
[Notes]
Duets is a compilation of duets by the country music artist Emmylou Harris in partnership with other well-known country and rock artists. Most of the twelve tracks on the album originally appeared as singles or on albums released by her singing partners. Several of the tracks attained positions on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts: "That Lovin' You Feelin' Again" with Roy Orbison was at #6 in 1980; "If I Needed You" with Don Williams at #3 in 1981; "Wild Montana Skies" with John Denver at #14 in 1983; "Thing About You" with Southern Pacific at #14 in 1985; and "We Believe in Happy Endings" with Earl Thomas Conley at #1 in 1988. Also included is "Love Hurts", an early duet with Gram Parsons from his Grievous Angel album. Duets reached #24 on the country albums chart in 1990.

Sing Me Back Home: The Music Of Merle Haggard

Blackbird Presents – 8914027545

Format: 2 x CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2020
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country
[Tracklist]
01 What Am I Gonna Do (With The Rest Of My Life): Ben Haggard (4:54)
02 Heaven Was A Drink Of Wine: Ben Haggard & Aaron Lewis (4:04)
03 The Farmer's Daughter: Tanya Tucker (2:55)
04 I'm A Lonesome Fugitive: Bobby Bare (3:30)
05 0That's The Way Love Goes: Connie Smith (3:00)
06 Big City: John Anderson (3:05)
07 Carolyn/Daddy Frank: Toby Keith (4:10)
08 Don't Give Up On Me: Buddy Miller (3:10)
09 Footlights: Jake Owen & Chris Janson (4:26)
10 Going Where The Lonely Go: Lucinda Williams (3:39)
11 Kern River: Jamey Johnson (4:46)
12 Silver Wings: Alabama (1:52)
13 I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink: Hank Williams, Jr. (2:18)
14 Today I Started Loving You Again: Loretta Lynn (2:32)
15 Honky Tonk Night Time Man: Lynyrd Skynyrd (4:18)
16 Mama Tried: The Avett Brothers (3:02)
17 White Line Fever: John Mellencamp (4:53)
18 Rainbow Stew: Kacey Musgraves (2:28)
19 It's All In The Movies: Ronnie Dunn (3:19)
20 The Bottle Let Me Down: Billy F Gibbons (2:50)
21 Workin' Man Blues: Billy F Gibbons & Warren Haynes (6:04)
22 If We Make It Through December: Dierks Bentley (2:35)
23 Natural High: Sheryl Crow (3:32)
24 Misery And Gin: Miranda Lambert (3:01)
25 Pancho And Lefty: Willie Nelson & Kenny Chesney (4:38)
26 Sing Me Back Home: Keith Richards (5:14)
27 Reasons To Quit: Keith Richards & Willie Nelson (3:45)
28 Ramblin' Fever: Willie Nelson & Toby Keith (2:57)
29 Okie From Muskogee: Various (1:35)
[Credits]
Executive-Producer: Keith Wortman, Mark Rothbaum, Theresa Haggard, Music Director: Ben Haggard, Buddy Cannon, Don Was
[Notes]
Recorded Live On April 6th, 2017 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The lineup for the Merle Haggard tribute concert—dubbed Sing Me Back Home. The Music of Merle Haggard—just got a little bigger with the addition of Sheryl Crow and Rolling Stones guitarist/vocalist Keith Richards. "Stuff happens, but you just have to be your own man, and have something to say," said Keith in a statement.

Country Music: A Film by Ken Burns The Soundtrack

Public Broadcasting Service

Format: 5xCD, Compilation, Limited Edition, Stereo, Mono
Country: US
Released: 2019
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass, Country, Honky Tonk, Western Swing
[Tracklist]
Disc One
101 Can the Circle Be Unbroken: The Carter Family
102 Blue Yodel No. 8 (Mule Skinner Blues): Jimmie Rodgers
103 Barbara Allen: Bradley Kincaid
104 I'll Fly Away: James and Martha Carson
105 If the River Was Whiskey: Charlie Poole with The North Carolina Ramblers
106 Fox Chase: DeFord Bailey
107 Blue Yodel No. 9 (Standin' on the Corner): Jimmie Rodgers
108 Wildwood Flower: The Carter Family
109 In the Jailhouse Now: Jimmie Rodgers
110 Comin' Round the Mountain: Uncle Dave Macon and Sam McGee
111 Pretty Polly: Coon Creek Girls
112 T.B. Blues: Jimmie Rodgers
113 Mountain Dew: Grandpa Jones and his Grandchildren
114 Home On the Range: Gene Autry
115 I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart: Patsy Montana & The Prairie Ramblers
116 Tumbling Tumbleweeds: The Sons Of The Pioneers
117 Medley: Keep on the Sunny Side / I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes: The Carter Family
118 The Great Speckled Bird: Roy Acuff
119 Whoa Babe: Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
120 New San Antonio Rose: Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
121 Wabash Cannonball: Roy Acuff
122 Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8): Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys
Disc Two
201 Honky Tonkin': Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys
202 It's Mighty Dark to Travel: Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys
203 New Mule Skinner Blues: Maddox Brothers and Rose
204 I'll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms): Eddy Arnold
205 Foggy Mountain Breakdown: Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs with The Foggy Mountain Boys
206 Molly and Tenbrook: The Stanley Brothers
207 Lovesick Blues: Hank Williams
208 I Saw the Light: Hank Williams
209 Hey, Good Lookin': Hank Williams
210 It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels: Kitty Wells
211 I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry: Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys
212 Jambalaya: Little Brenda Lee
213 New Step It Up and Go: Maddox Brothers and Rose
214 I Walk the Line: Johnny Cash & The Tennessee Two
215 Crazy Arms: Ray Price
216 Bye, Bye Love: The Everly Brothers
217 The Long Black Veil: Lefty Frizzell
218 El Paso: Marty Robbins
219 Night Life: Ray Price
220 Hello Walls: Faron Young
221 I Fall to Pieces: Patsy Cline
222 Ring of Fire: Johnny Cash
223 Crazy: Patsy Cline
224 I Can't Stop Loving You: Ray Charles
Disc Three
301 Dang Me: Roger Miller
302 I've Got a Tiger by the Tail: Buck Owens
303 Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind): Loretta Lynn
304 Coal Miner's Daughter: Loretta Lynn
305 Kiss an Angel Good Mornin': Charley Pride
306 Hungry Eyes: Merle Haggard & The Strangers
307 Mama Tried: Merle Haggard & The Strangers
308 Harper Valley P.T.A.: Jeannie C. Riley
309 Don't Touch Me: Jeannie Seely
310 Folsom Prison Blues: Johnny Cash
311 Stand by Your Man: Tammy Wynette
312 She Thinks I Still Care: George Jones
313 You Ain't Goin' Nowhere: The Byrds
314 Me and Bobby McGee: Kris Kristofferson
315 Help Me Make It Through the Night: Sammi Smith
316 Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down: Kris Kristofferson
317 Okie from Muskogee: Merle Haggard
318 Man in Black: Johnny Cash
319 Girl from the North Country: Bob Dylan with Johnny Cash
320 Grand Ole Opry Song: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
321 Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Disc Four
401 Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way: Waylon Jennings
402 Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8): Dolly Parton
403 Jolene: Dolly Parton
404 I Will Always Love You: Dolly Parton
405 We're Gonna Hold On: George Jones & Tammy Wynette
406 Texas Cookin': Guy Clark
407 If I Needed You: Townes Van Zandt
408 I Can't Stop Loving You: Johnny Rodríguez
409 I've Been a Long Time Leaving (But I'll Be a Long Time Gone): Waylon Jennings
410 Love Hurts: Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels
411 Boulder to Birmingham: Emmylou Harris
412 Bluebird Wine: Emmylou Harris
413 Whiskey River: Willie Nelson
414 Miles and Miles of Texas: Asleep At The Wheel
415 Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain: Willie Nelson
416 A Good Hearted Woman: Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
417 Family Tradition: Hank Williams Jr.
418 Seven Year Ache: Rosanne Cash
419 Pancho and Lefty: Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson
420 He Stopped Loving Her Today: George Jones
Disc Five
501 Don't Get Above Your Raisin': Ricky Skaggs
502 On the Road Again: Willie Nelson
503 Amarillo by Morning: George Strait
504 Somebody Should Leave: Reba McEntire
505 Diggin' Up Bones: Randy Travis
506 Why Not Me: The Judds
507 Honky Tonk Man: Dwight Yoakam
508 Streets of Bakersfield: Dwight Yoakam with Buck Owens
509 Where've You Been: Kathy Mattea
510 I'm No Stranger to the Rain: Keith Whitley
511 Go Rest High on That Mountain: Vince Gill
512 Guitar Town: Steve Earle
513 She's In Love with the Boy: Trisha Yearwood
514 Tennessee Flat Top Box: Rosanne Cash
515 Get Up John: Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers
516 Uncle Pen: Ricky Skaggs
517 I Still Miss Someone: Rosanne Cash
518 Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
[Notes]
"If you write the truth and you're writing about your life, it's going to be country. It'll be country 'cause you're writing what's happening. And that's all a good song is." Loretta Lynn COUNTRY MUSIC, the eight-part, 16-hour film by Ken Burns, chronicles the creation of a truly American genre of music through the songs and stories of its greatest trailblazers. Country Music A Film By Ken Burns (The Soundtrack) includes more than 100 timeless classics as heard in the film, including songs by The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Bill Monroe, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and many more. This deluxe 5CD set includes 68 pages of liner notes and rarely seen archival photos, documents and memorabilia.

A Tribute: The Songs Of Jimmie Rodgers

Columbia CK-67676

Format: CD, Album, Various Artists
Country: US
Released: 1997
Genre: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country, Country Rock
[Tracklist]
01 Dreaming With Tears In My Eyes: Bono (3:40)
02 Any Old Time: Alison Krauss And Union Station (3:46)
03 Waiting For A Train: Dickey Betts (4:16)
04 Somewhere Down Below The Mason Dixie Line: Mary Chapin Carpenter (3:36)
05 Miss The Mississippi And You: David Ball (3:05)
06 My Blue Eyed Jane: Bob Dylan (3:16)
07 Peach Pickin' Time Down In Georgia: Willie Nelson (3:40)
08 In The Jailhouse Now: Steve Earle & The V-Roys (2:52)
09 Blue Yodel # 9 (Standin' On The Corner): Jerry Garcia, David Grisman & John Kahn (4:15)
10 Hobo Bill's Last Ride: Iris DeMent (3:06)
11 Gambling Bar Room Blues: John Mellencamp (4:01)
12 Mule Skinner Blues: Van Morrison (4:33)
13 Why Should I Be Lonely: Aaron Neville (3:11)
14 T For Texas: Dwight Yoakam (5:31)
[Credits]
Liner Notes: Bob Dylan, Design: Geoff Gans, Executive Producer: Jeff Kramer & Jeff Rosen, Production Team: Christy Epstein, Debbie Sweeney, Diane Lapson, Julia Kim & Vickie Mathis, Product Manager: Greg Linn, Mastered by: Vic Anesini
[Notes]
Sometimes tribute albums are just that, an act of homage meant to remind us of how good a set of songs are. So The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute stands as a 14-song reminder that Rodgers was, as Bob Dylan puts it in the liner notes to the first release on his new boutique label, ”one of the guiding lights of the 20th century.”

The Chieftains: Another Country

RCA Victor 09026-60939-2

Format: CD, Album, Dolby Surround
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country, Bluegrass, Celtic
[Tracklist]
01 Happy to Meet (3:03)
02 I Can't Stop Loving You: Don Williams (3:26)
03 Wabash Cannonball/Morning Dew/Father Kelly's Reels: Ricky Skaggs (3:22)
04 Heartbreak Hotel/The Cliffs of Moher Jig: Chet Atkins (3:19)
05 Goodnight Irene: Willie Nelson (4:16)
06 Cúnla: Colin James (3:36)
07 Nobody's Darling But Mine: Emmylou Harris (3:37)
08 Cotton Eyed Joe: Ricky Skaggs (2:37)
09 Tahitian Skies: Chet Atkins (3:28)
10 Killybegs: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (3:40)
11 Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore: Kevin Conneff (4:40)
12 Finale: Did You Ever Go-A-Courtin', Uncle Joe/Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (12:06)
[Credits]
The Chieftains: Martin Fay (fiddle) Seán Keane (fiddle) Kevin Conneff (bodhran/drums/vocals) Matt Molloy (flute) Paddy Moloney (whistle/pipes) Derek Bell (harp/tiompán/keyboads)
[Notes]
Recorded at Javelina Studios, Nashville on March 9 and April 28 - May 4, 1992, except Track 6 recorded at Sounds Interchange Studio, Toronto on March 18, 1992. Track 5 recorded at Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin on April 17, 1992.

Willie Nelson: My Own Way

RCA Victor AHL1-4819

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Reissue
Country: United States
Released: 1983
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country
[Tracklist]
A1 I'm A Memory (2:24)
A2 My Own Peculiar Way (2:57)
A3 Both Sides Now (2:58)
A4 Funny How Timw Slips Away (2:41)
A5 Hello Walls (2:13)
B1 One In A Row (2:32)
B2 Stay Away From Lonely Places (2:58)
B3 Pins And Needles (In My Heart) (3:31)
B4 Rainy Day Blues (3:13)

Willie Nelson's Greatest Hits

ABC (Int'l) Records K2-146

Format: CD, Album
Country: China
Released: 2008
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country
[Tracklist]
01 Sweet Memories 甜蜜的回憶 (3:11)
02 Mona Lisa 蒙娜麗莎 (2:30)
03 My Cricket & Me 我的板球和我 (2:58)
04 It`s Not Supposed To Be That Way 不該如此 (3:27)
05 Georgia On My Mind 心系喬治亞 (4:18)
06 So Much To Do 太多的事要做 (3:08)
07 No Reason To Quit 沒理由放棄 (3:14)
08 Slow Down Old World 舊世界放慢腳步 (2:52)
09 Always On My Mind 永在我心中 (3:29)
10 My Life`s Been A Pleasure 我的美好生活 (3:21)
11 Not That I Care 我並非關心 (2:53)
12 You Look Like The Devil 你似惡魔 (3:24)
13 Bridge Over Troubled Water 憂鬱河上的橋 (4:35)
14 Sad Songs And Waltzes 悲傷之歌和華爾滋 (3:05)
15 There You Are 你在那 (3:01)
[Notes]
Chinese Title:「威利・尼爾森」（發燒精選）ABC(国际)唱片

Loretta Lynn: Full Circle

SONY Legacy

Format: CD, Album
Country: United States
Released: 04 March 2016
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, & Country
[Tracklist]
01 Whispering Sea Introduction
02 Whispering Sea
03 Secret Love
04 Who's Gonna Miss Me?
05 Black Jack David
06 Everybody Wants to Goto Heaven
07 Always on my Mind
08 Wine Into Water
09 In the Pines
10 Band of Gold
11 Fist City
12 I Never Will Marry
13 Everythingit Takes (feat Elvis Costello)
14 Lay Me Down (with Willie Nelson)

Emmylou Harris: Roses in the Snow

Warner Bros. Records BSK-3422

Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: United States
Released: 1980
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass, & Country
[Tracklist]
A1 Roses In The Snow (2:32)
A2 Wayfaring Stranger (3:26)
A3 Green Pastures (3:08)
A4 The Boxer (3:16)
A5 Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn (3:22)
B1 I'll Go Stepping Too (2:16)
B2 You're Learning (2:57)
B3 Jordan (2:07)
B4 Miss The Mississippi (3:40)
B5 Gold Watch And Chain (3:12)
[Credits]
Emmylou Harris (guitar/vocals) Ricky Skaggs (banjo/guitar/mandolin/fiddle/vocals) Tony Rice (guitar/vocals) Buck White (keyboards/piano/vocals) Jerry Douglas (dobro/guitar) Bryan Bowers (autoharp) Albert Lee (mandolin) John Ware (drums/percussion) Emory Gordy (bass) Brian Ahern and Willie Nelson (guitars) Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Sharon White & The Whites (vocals)
Arranger & Producer: Brian Ahern, Design & Photographer: Tom Wilkes, Engineer: Brian Ahern, Donivan Cowart & Stuart Taylor
[Notes]
Recorded in The Enactron Truck (July 1979). Mixed in Enactron Studio Two. Combining acoustic bluegrass with traditional Appalachian melodies (and tossing one contemporary tune, Paul Simon's "The Boxer," into the mix), Roses in the Snow ranks among Emmylou Harris' riskiest -- and most satisfying -- gambits. (AllMusic Review by Jason Ankeny)

Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson: Django and Jimmie

Legacy 88875093782

Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 02 Jun 2015
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country
[Tracklist]
01 Django And Jimmie (2:53)
02 It's All Going To Pot (2:57)
03 Unfair Weather Friend (4:14)
04 Missing Ol' Johnny Cash (3:27)
05 Live This Long (3:35)
06 Alice In Hulaland (3:02)
07 Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (4:11)
08 Family Bible (3:37)
09 It's Only Money (3:56)
10 Swinging Doors (2:51)
11 Where Dreams Come To Die (3:19)
12 Somewhere Between (3:24)
13 Driving The Herd (2:50)
14 The Only Man Wilder Than Me (2:35)
[Credits]
Producer: Buddy Cannon, Art Direction: Federico Ruiz, Coordinator: Shannon Finnegan, Creative Director: Frank Harkins, Designer: Federico Ruiz, Photographer: Danny Clinch
[Notes]
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard first teamed up on record for Pancho & Lefty in 1983, a record released some 20 years after both singers began their careers. Back then, they were both hovering around 50, already considered old guys, but Django and Jimmie arrives 32 years after that record, when there's no question that the pair are old-timers. Appropriately enough, mortality is on their minds throughout Django and Jimmie, a record whose very title is taken from Willie and Merle's childhood idols. It's a song that seems like a confession, as does the casual admission that they didn't think they'd "Live This Long," but neither Nelson nor Haggard wrote this, nor the title track or the album's first single, the near-novelty "It's All Going to Pot." These are made-to-order originals by some of the best in the business -- Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson, and Larry Shell wrote "It's All Going to Pot," Jimmy Melton and Jeff Prince the title track -- and it shows how producer Cannon has a sharp ear for material, along with a way with a relaxed groove. That comfortable, familial atmosphere is one of the best things about Django and Jimmie and extends far beyond the marquee names; the studio pros, friends, family, and fellow travelers who support Willie and Merle help give this a warm, worn-in feel that's appealing on its own terms. As comforting as the vibe is, it's the singers and their songs that linger. Neither Nelson nor Haggard make any attempt to hide their age -- Willie is a bit thinner than he used to be, Merle a bit growlier -- and their age is affecting when they revisit songs from the past, whether they wrote them or not (Hag's "Swinging Doors" is revived, as is the country standard "Family Bible" and Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"). This nod to the passage of time isn't as explicit as "Live This Long" or "Missing Ol' Johnny Cash," where they bring in fellow survivor Bobby Bare to reminisce about their old pal. Often, country memories can get maudlin, but Willie and Merle are filled with good humor here and the pair often strike a delicate balance of fun and sweet melancholy which gives Django and Jimmie a soulful lift. Both singers are aware they're approaching the twilight, but they're not cursing the dark, they're enjoying the sunset.--AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard: Smoke and Joke in the Studio

Making of Django and Jimmie

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard have teamed up over the years, from their 1983 classic "Pancho and Lefty" to their Last of the Breed album and tour with Ray Price, but as Haggard has said, they only do it when the material is right. The duo linked, though, once they heard "Django and Jimmie," a tribute to Nelson and Haggard's respective heroes, Django Reinhardt and Jimmie Rodgers (written by Jimmy Melton and Jeff Prince). "It pulled my heard right out," says Haggard. "I thought, 'That's a pretty good song.'" It became the genesis of their new album, out June 2nd. In honor of Nelson's 82nd birthday, enjoy this 10-minute video – filmed at Austin's Arlyn Studios – which gives a rare glimpse into Haggard and Nelson working in the studio, full of weed and jokes. ("Can I borrow some money to get home?" Haggard asks Nelson.) "It’s almost surreal," says producer Buddy Cannon, of being part of it. (via Rolling Stone, Read more...)