Album review: Willie Nelson graced us with The Border
While the populace of the politically persuaded argue over two old men in the American Presidential Race in 2024, other old men are focused on something more beautiful other than politics: Creativity. Dick Van Dyke, at 98 years old, just won a Day Time Emmy Award, his first, for his work on “Days of Our Lives” and did a little dance on the red carpet. Clint Eastwood wrapped production of a new thriller he’s directed called “Juror No. 2” at 94 years of age. Harrison Ford is still famously acting in film and two concurrent television shows at a modest 81, and Willie Nelson at 91 years old, has graced us with a wonderful new album, The Border.
The title track of Nelson’s 75th solo record which dropped on May 31 was penned by Rodney Crowell and Allen Shamblin. Absent any political or humanitarian perspective, The Border simply cuts to a narrative of a border agents’ day to day struggles, balancing home life with the perils of a job of which he has little actual control over. “I come home to Maria, in a bulletproof vest; The weight of the whole world bearing down on my chest”. Willie treats this song as if it were his own.
Nelson is back in full force with his long-time writing partner and producer, Buddy Cannon. Together they brought “Once Upon a Yesterday” which could have passed for a classic Willie Nelson song from his clean cut days of hanging out at Tootsies Lounge.
“What if I’m Out of My Mind” feels like a friendly little punchy tune asking the obvious question every couple should. Who amongst us either hasn’t been crazy or loved someone who isn’t? Nelson has transcended so many decades it is natural he can swing from more modern themed music like the title track then weave his way around to what feels like a piece lost to nostalgia, effortlessly.
“Kiss Me When You’re Through” feels like the kind of love most have known at one point or another. When you ride the roller coaster of emotions, maybe you are used a bit and not to your disadvantage, but patience is strong and we know in the end, she’ll “kiss me when she’s through”.
The last Nelson/Cannon song is “How Much Does It Cost”. Asking how much it cost to be free, as well as many other poignant philological questions all good song writers consider, as the songwriting process is their way of working out everything they feel and experience in the tired. old world. “Why am I trying to make it alright”?
Another Crowell offering is “Many A Long and Lonesome Highway” which first made some noise back in 1989. Co-written by Will Jennings, it is a perfectly written song and layered with emotions of love, humor, and adventure. An enduring independence capturing the freedom one only finds in the solitude darkness of an open road. Note: Check out not just Crowell’s version, but the video he made back in the day featuring a road trip with Guy Clark.
“I Wrote This Song for You” comes from the pen of Larry Cordie (“Murder on Music Row”) and Erin Enderlin. This is such a sweet tune and Willie massages it into what feels like a love song from the outlaw days. “I worked out the melody, on my old guitar; I finally found the words, at the bottom of my heart; I know that that’s not much, but you know it’s what I do; The music speaks for me, so I wrote this song for you”.
“Hanks Guitar” is self-explanatory. You’re wishing you were a witness to history; “last night while I was sleeping, I dreamed I was Hanks Guitar”. This song comes to us from Buddy Cannon and Bobby Tomberlin. It has everything it needs and nothing it doesn’t to tell a sweet story and pay homage to the tragedy of a man who helped shape early country music.
“Made In Texas” sounds like it was written for Willie Nelson. Shawn Camp and Monty Holmes were perhaps thinking of Willie when they came up with it. After all, it is hard not to think of Texas absent Willie Nelson. This track is fun and it works on multiple levels. You can dance to it and sing it, and it makes you want to two-step right out across the Hill County.
“Nobody Knows Me Like You” is one of my favorite cuts. Writer, Mike Reid is a Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer and has been writing wonderful songs since his football career ended in the 1970s. The truth is in the title, the poetry is just all the fun getting there. This is a reliable song, and a solid master class by both the writer and the singer in how to make an honest, country love song.
The production is timeless, with support from acoustic bass, soft percussion, electric and acoustic guitars, organ, piano, steel guitar and of course Mickey Raphael on harmonica. The music is blended with Willie’s aged voice as if it’d been aging deep in an oak whiskey barrel for all of Willie Nelsons 91 years.
It’s a bit hard to picture Willie Nelson at 91 years old here. In the twilight of a musical career often an artist is either a fraction of their former self, or reduced to re-recording their hits, or both. The Border feels like a solid runaway hit, what feels like a foundation for a career. His voice may not be as vibrant as it was just 25 years ago, but it is stronger than it has been on recent offerings. He is playing more on his famed guitar “Trigger” and taking more solos, and nothing here is rehashed old standards. The Border is a solid album about a foot better than anything coming out of Nashville.
Featured photo by Pamela Springsteen
