WILLIE NELSON Live With Friends

Original released on CD Lost Highway B000045302

(EU 2003, June 24)

For his 70th birthday gala, Willie Nelson decided to celebrate by inviting a cast of musical stars to join him in duets on a televised concert. In keeping with Nelson's eclecticism, only a few of the famous participants are country artists (Shania Twain, Toby Keith, and old pal Ray Price). How much is added to his classic "Crazy" by guests Diana Krall and Elvis Costello (then-hot celebrity couple of the moment) is an open question; what's really important is the well-deserved recognition Nelson receives from the musical world's biggest names. If you're a hardcore Willie fan, you've probably already got a couple of earlier live versions of, for example, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," but part of "Live and Kickin'"s purpose is to expose fans of Nelson's duet partners to the magic they've been missing out on for many decades. In that, it's a success. (John Bush in AllMusic)

THE CHIEFTAINS & DUBLIN FRIENDS

Original released on CD RCA Victor RD 60824

(UK, 1991)

“The Bells of Dublin” features The Chieftains with guest vocalists – Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Marianne Faithfull, Nanci Griffith, Rickie Lee Jones and Kate & Anna McGarrigle. And The Penguin does some narration! (that is Burgess Meredith). But the album is very much about The Chieftains who were – at the time – Derek Bell, Martin Fay, Sean Keane, Kevin Conneff, Matt Molloy and of course Paddy Moloney. Sadly, Derek Bell and Martin Fay are no longer with us but I see from Wikipedia that the others are still working and long may they continue. “The Bells of Dublin” features traditional Christmas tunes and more contemporary songs. For example the excellent “St Stephen’s Day Murders” sung by Elvis Costello was written by him & Paddy Moloney while Marianne Faithfull sings “I Saw Three Ships A-Sailing” and very well. The McGarrigles sing, wonderfully, of course, “Il Est Né/ Ca Berger” and there is also “Once In Royal David’s City”, “Ding Dong Merrily On High” & “O Come All You Faithful” among many traditional carols. And I see that the great Kathryn Tickell appears on the track “Brafferton Village/ Walsh’s Hornpipe” – she would have been in her early twenties then. Far too many highlights and wonderful performances to mention here – although Nanci Griffith sings “The Wexford Carol" beautifully. The album runs for about 63 minutes and every second is terrific. It is, I think, a “proper” Christmas album and stands alongside “The Holly Bears The Crown” by The Collins sisters and The Young Tradition as one of the great Folk Music Christmas albums. (in RateYourMusic)