Reviews (page 6 of 14)
As a self proclaimed loverboy/simp myself, I found myself relating to this album. Great cover of blue skies, and while it's simple it just works.
This one was a winner. Front to back heartfelt country takes on jazz standards from ol willie. Tess mentioned how his voice makes anything feel nostalgic, and I will echo that sentiment. Will be relistening and buying the vinyl if I see it around.
an album of jazz standards from a country artist?? no idea this could exist. It was a lovely collection. I enjoyed the addition of harmonic throughout the album. The whole thing is very nostalgic to me.
Ah, Willie Nelson, rien que le nom et on a déjà l'image qui va avec : le bandana, les tresses, le nuage de fumée et, bien sûr, cette country "outlaw" qui a fait sa légende. Alors, quand j'ai vu "Stardust" sur ma liste des 1001 albums, je me suis préparé psychologiquement... J'ai sorti mon Stetson imaginaire, me suis versé un fond de bourbon (toujours imaginaire) et j'étais prêt à affronter des torrents de pedal steel et des histoires de cow-boys solitaires. Et quelle ne fut pas ma surprise, mes aïeux ! L'agréable surprise, je m'empresse de le préciser. Dès les premières notes de "Stardust", ce standard de Hoagy Carmichael qui donne son titre à l'album, j'ai froncé les sourcils. "Attends... c'est quoi ce bordel ?" me suis-je dit. Pas de twang, pas de violon larmoyant, pas de banjo frénétique. Non, juste la voix nasillarde et si particulière de Willie, posée sur un arrangement d'une sobriété et d'une classe folles. Une guitare acoustique, un piano discret, et cette voix. Cette voix qui, débarrassée de l'attirail country habituel, prend une dimension totalement différente. On n'est plus dans un saloon du Texas, mais dans un club de jazz feutré à New York, tard dans la nuit. Et c'est là tout le génie de ce disque sorti en 1978. À une époque où Nelson était au sommet de sa gloire "hors-la-loi", le parrain d'un mouvement qui envoyait paître les conventions de Nashville, que fait le bonhomme ? Il prend tout le monde à contre-pied. Il décide d'enregistrer un album entier de reprises de standards de la pop américaine, des chansons écrites pour la plupart entre les années 20 et 40. Des morceaux que nos parents, voire nos grands-parents, écoutaient. Le suicide commercial annoncé ? Le caprice de star qui va se planter en beauté ? C'est ce que sa maison de disques a dû penser, et on ne peut pas vraiment leur en vouloir. Le rock progressif et le punk venaient à peine de débouler, et notre Willie voulait nous faire écouter du Irving Berlin. Il fallait oser. Et putain, qu'est-ce qu'il a bien fait ! L'album est d'une cohérence et d'une beauté à tomber par terre. Le choix des morceaux est impeccable, de "Georgia on My Mind" à "Blue Skies", en passant par "All of Me" ou "Someone to Watch Over Me". Ce sont des chansons que tout le monde connaît, qu'on a entendues des milliers de fois, souvent massacrées par des crooners en smoking ou des chanteuses à voix de supermarché. Mais ici, Nelson les déshabille, les dépouille de toute grandiloquence. Il ne cherche pas à impressionner, il chante, tout simplement. Sa voix, souvent moquée, devient ici son plus grand atout. Elle est fragile, un peu fatiguée, mais elle a une sincérité désarmante. On sent qu'il aime ces chansons, qu'il les a en lui depuis toujours. Il ne les interprète pas, il les vit. Il y a une sorte de mélancolie douce qui parcourt tout le disque, une nostalgie sans amertume. C'est le son d'un type qui a bourlingué, qui en a vu des vertes et des pas mûres, et qui se pose un instant pour se souvenir des belles choses. La production de Booker T. Jones (oui, oui, le Booker T. de Booker T. & the M.G.'s) est un modèle d'intelligence et de subtilité. Il a compris qu'il ne fallait surtout pas noyer la voix de Nelson sous des tonnes d'arrangements. Tout est minimaliste, chaque instrument est à sa place, chaque note est pensée. C'est de la haute couture, mais avec un jean usé et des santiags. Je le répète "Stardust" est une belle surprise, on s'attend à de la country pur jus et on se retrouve avec un album de pop intemporelle, un classique américain qui transcende les genres et les époques. Pour moi qui ai passé des années à disséquer des disques dans une boutique indépendante, c'est le genre de pépite qui vous réconcilie avec les artistes "mainstream". Un disque qui prouve que quand un artiste a une vraie vision et un vrai talent, il peut se permettre toutes les audaces. "Stardust" n'est pas un album de country, ce n'est pas non plus un album de jazz, ni de pop. C'est un album de Willie Nelson, un disque honnête, touchant, et d'une beauté simple qui vous file des frissons. Ça ne révolutionne rien, ça ne crie pas, ça ne provoque pas. Ça se contente d'être là, magnifique et évident. Et parfois, c'est tout ce qu'on demande à la musique. Alors oui, je le réécouterai avec grand plaisir. Pas tous les jours, ce n'est pas un disque qui s'écoute en faisant le ménage ou en headbanguant dans sa bagnole. C'est un disque pour les moments calmes, pour les fins de soirée, pour quand on a envie de se sentir un peu moins seul. Un compagnon de route discret mais fidèle. Une sacrée belle découverte, vraiment. Un beau 4/5
A lovely surprise. Will play this again on a Sunday morning.
The most perfect country and western album
Classic Willie
boring
Why? Did he really need to prove how bad he is at cover?
тепло, уютно, спокойно, красиво. идеально подошло осенним пасмурным пейзажам за окном электрички
Beautiful! Songwriting is so simple but makes you stop and listen. Love his voice.
Not for me Not genre Far too slow and all one paced
Willie ran into Booker T. Jones on the beach in Malibu one day and the rest is, literally, history. The link between Tin Pan Alley and the rest of American music has rarely come through this clear - I hate to be the guy who tells you to focus on the notes that *aren't* there but, you know, *do that*. And I love the Eagles as much as the next guy but this album represents the real Road Not Taken for El Lay country - respectful, serene, centered, edibles rather than powder. "Blue Skies" sounds like a prayer. They all do, actually.
A grizzled country man pouring his heart out.
76/100. This is really good. Such a calming and soft record. Nelson really hits it right with this release, delivering timeless covers with warmth and ease.
Cuando vi que se trataba de un álbum de Willie Nelson pensé que la escucha iba a consistir en música country, sin embargo me sorprendí para bien cuando noté que eran versiones de temas de jazz y afines. La grabación suena excelente, y la instrumentación es muy apropiada. Los primeros temas me gustaron mucho, sobre todo la versión de "Georgia On My Mind" que considero sobresaliente. Sin embargo, el resto del álbum recae en los clichés del estilo, sin aportar mucho al mismo. La voz de Nelson no tiene ni la potencia ni el carisma de cantantes como Sinatra, que supieron interpretar mucho mejor músicas de este estilo. Si el álbum hubiese apostado por una interpretación más íntima y original hubiese tenido mejores resultados a mi parecer. Termina siendo un álbum bastante inocente, inocuo, parecido al estilo de Randy Newman, aunque menos molesto.
Solid performance, but for a collection of jazz standards it's not particularly remarkable.
It's just Willie singing songs by someone else. On almost all I preferred the original recording.
Love Willie. This is a classic 4.5/5
I said I would give this five stars and I'm sticking to it. BUT...this is kind of awful. In a great way? I imagine that while he was high with his buddies, someone suggested kind of jokingly that he should go into the studio and record his take on a bunch of sometimes-forgettable standards, and he was like..."why not?" And so this totally harmless album was recorded and yes, it's totally fine. And terrible. And great. I don't know why this needs to exist. Anyway, it was just what I needed at just the right time. Willie is a good guy.
Willie Nelson is a justly revered icon, and I appreciate his desire to revisit the songs he loved when he was young. This is pleasant, but I disagree that I needed to hear his take on 10 standards before I die.
This was pretty nice. I don't think Ive ever listened to a willie nelson album before, so for the first one to be a cover album I was a little underwhelmed at first, but by the time it ended, I was disappointed there wasnt more.
Dad- 7 Mom- 5 Mike- NA Lori- 5.5 Michael- 6.5 Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 6
It was easy to listen to. It’s just Willie Nelson singing cover songs. I think most of these songs have been done better by other people though.
I've never enjoyed Willie Nelson's voice all that much. His singing sounds to me like he's untying a knot in his throat. That being said, the instrumentation is really nice, though it's subtle. This album fits nicely into a rainy day curled up with a book on the couch.
slaps so hard
Yeah this one is really good. Just a bunch of standards covered well
Yeah, oldie and goldie but kind of lame with some nice songs.
His renditions here are charming, but a bit more sentimental than I would listen to on the regular.
Not my usual listen. Chilled and basic. Enjoyable enough.
My partner was filled with joy while listening to the album. It was a part of her childhood and it was beautiful experiencing that with her. Country is a genre I struggle with getting, but this objectively a cool album from an artist who I respect. I'll explore more in the future, especially seeing the joy from my lover
This isn't at all my favourite style, but Nelson delivers pretty nice covers of these songs. I liked that he doesn't lean that hard into the country side, but has a pretty consistent and specific style to his work, and he showcases it very well here. They're very stripped down, laid-back versions, and most of them work pretty well. "Georgia On My Mind" is a classic and he delivers well, "Unchained Melody" was pretty well done too. "Someone To Watch Over Me" was also good.
Just not for me.
Best album so far!!!!
Loved it
one of the best country albums i’ve heard 4.5/5
It's a really excellent album that was so close to getting a 5 on first listen, but that cover of Unchained Melody just didn't do it for me. I understand that the album is made up of covers, and maybe if I was more familiar with different versions of these songs, I might feel different, but that one specifically felt a little undercooked. I will be relistening though. 4 Stars.
It was interesting listening to an artist that was almost unrecognized here in Europe at that time. Willie Nelson was part of the outlaw movement (more or less started by Johnny Cash) in the country music scene but this album contains only cover versions of standards. While the (actually great) songs are nicely arranged, Nelson's voice and his straight and sometimes even hectic timing ruin much of the vibe known from other artists singing those pieces. Nice try, but doesn't make too much sense to me
What a nice and relaxing experience this album was. The one and only Willie Nelson provides a serene half hour of folky classic country tunes, among them a lovely cover of Unchained Melody.
So pretty.
Willie! I hadn’t heard this album before. Really liked it. Total country crooner, slowed down vibes. It really hit for me today.
3/5 started off strong but got boring too slow
Not a bad slow melody album for a mad stoner
I think it's smart that Willie called this album "Stardust," instead of "Willie sings the songs of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Hoagy Carmichael." It's not particularly my cup of tea, but is quite pleasant on the whole. Thank you for your service, Willie.
This was delightful. Always love some Willie.
Beautiful bunch of standards very well done
Reminds me of my childhood
Surprised by how well this worked. Reminded me of some awful covers I've heard but it teetered in the right side of a vulnerable vocal.
Very nice
Willie is so soft and sweet. I could listen to this all day in a hammock.
Not my cup of tea
A magical album from a tremendous country artist.Those popular songs get the willie nelson treatment and a superb production.Georgia on my mind is as dreamy as you wanted and needed.Unchained melody though is an untouchable original win all the way i think it does it justice.Moonlight in Vermont almost gives me those Sinatra vibes,fantastic.
Willie Nelson is a blind spot for me outside of his big hits like To All the Girls I've Loved Before and Always on My Mind and, erm, bong hits I guess. I am so glad this is my first Willie album. It's completely beautiful. When the 2nd track Georgia on My Mind came up I did a double take. This is a Willie Nelson song? That prompted me to read the album notes on YouTube Music which revealed this is a covers album of standards. I'd never have expected to find a covers album on here but I can see why this one stands out. Willie has such an effortless and intoxicating way of singing I was transported by his entire vibe. He is a treasure and I'm grateful that I finally got to learn this otherwise well known fact.
I really wanted to like this album. I really want to like Willie Nelson. I remember this being a big hit when it came out, and it was not at all in my music wheelhouse at the time so I ignored it. But I'm older now and I figured maybe I've mellowed enough with age to appreciate this more than back in 1978. The main problem is I still don't really enjoy the standards in general. And Willie's take on them was just boring, making even songs I sort of like into something hard to really listen to. Ultimately it's really just background music, but not in good way. Willie has a nice voice, so it's not a total bust.
Inte dåligt, men segt
Mysigt
Fint cover-album!
Det är coolt att Willie Nelson eller gräs, men det här är trist musik.
This was amazing! I love how Willie sounds like he’s having so much fun. I’ll be listening to this one again
Great!
I do like some Willie but this is too smooth and easy for me atm, I prefer his self penned songs with an edge
I like the nylon-string guitar and muted trumpet.
Not sure what I expected; the music is pretty mellow considering Willie Nelson's reputation.
Willie does easy listening cover songs Feels like being trapped in a Mall for Seniors Unchained Melody should have been so much better Sadly reveals what a limited vocal range he has In fact largely spoken rather than singing Nothing for me here
Gotta be honest, not a ton of context around Willie's music heading into this. I know he's an icon, know what he sounds like, but could not tell you a time I've ever listened to one of his songs. This album rules. I know it's mostly (if not entirely) covers but he just puts his own imprint on all of these tunes and puts out such an uplifting and easy listen. This one caught me by surprise and was quite nice.
Absolutely beautiful-best cover album ever.
Gorgeous album cover from an artist I am bidding farewell to surprisingly early. It's been 32 albums since I listened to Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger, which I didn't really think much of. It was supposedly a groundbreaking album and I enjoyed the renegade concept, though the actual music didn't do much to hook me. I'm looking forward to giving this guy another go. A bit of a stylistic shift from Red Headed Stranger, which I was gearing up for after judging this album by the cover like all true critics should. I quite like it. There's a robust musical palette on this album, and there's something about this music which is very deeply pleasing. Nelson lends himself nicely to this kind of laid back, refined sound. The title track is a good opener. A very nice acoustic sound, and Willie's vocals are surprisingly quite beautiful. Great lyrics, too. "Blue Skies" is another solid tune. The electric guitar hook and acoustic guitar solo are good and all, though it's the excellent string ambience which really grabs me. "September Song" has an excellent atmosphere. The delicate, echoing piano is fantastic and where the song goes from there is also great - big fan of the organ. "Moonlight in Vermont" is in the same ballpark as the previous track. There's a quaint beauty to this music which really strikes a chord with me. Gonna check the book for why this is in here. Comprised entirely of old-timey standard covers. "...one of the best and most distinctive American singers of any day" - I'm inclined to agree. Stayed on the US charts for 2 years. Yeah, this seems like a solid pick. Nelson really owns these tracks. I cosign this inclusion.
Pleasant. Not a revelation but well done. I won't be on my deathbed thinking "My life is complete because I listened to Startdust".
4.4 To be consistent, I have to deduct half a point for not writing any of the songs (Dusty Springfield rule). With that being said what an absolute jem and no record collection would be complete without this album. Wille takes these songs and makes them his own. I thought the instrumentals were pretty much perfectly arranged; must have had some real pros working on this, in addition to Booker T. And I was hanging on every note of Willies guitar playing.
I think it’s a generational thing. Not bad but it just wasn’t for me at all
Excited trepidation as I saw this come up. Excited, because it's Wiilie. And I've never given him a listen. Trepidation, because it's country. But an artist that seems to transcend. Right? Title song, I did not like. Georgia? Not in a class with Ray. Blue Skies? Dull. The rest? Well, my lack of enthusiasm for the genre seems to extend to tge all time greats too. Sorry Willie.
Not a fan of Willie. Sorry! ★★
Meh
Willie Nelson has so many great albums and so many great songs why do we get an embarrassing collection of soft jazz covers?
What a lovely album cover. I wonder if the country music will match its loveliness. It does. Tenfold. What a stupidly lovely album. I mean, you’d expect something at least halfway heartfelt with Willie Nelson, but this is just something else entirely. It’s like the smoothness of Sinatra and the country sophistication of Cash have blended in a happy union, with the strings pulled by Nelson’s vocals and his musical ensemble. Willie is still with us and is still churning out music at 92, but even after he’s gone this collection of standards shall eternally shine. All because of, that word again, its loveliness.
Can't get past this all sounding really dated and cheesy Don't like this at all
Amazing record. Let's get an outlaw country Texan weed smoking lifer to cover classic urbane and cosmopolitan American songbook standards. The arrangements are gorgeous, Willie is a brilliant interpreter of these songs, and it's beautiful. Reminds me in a way of Ray Charles' R&B soul covers of country songs. These kinds of crossovers make me miss America, or at least, the one that these great records exemplify.
It’s enjoyable to listen to Willie sing almost anything with his mellow, restrained, poignant voice, and the arrangements are often lovely.
I dig this… countryfied top songs…
Goddamn young boy at the height of his powers here. Masterful guitar playing and singing. And I think booker T produced? Memphis shit.
yeehaw. it was soft country which i don’t entirely mind.
This album was fine, but I did find it a bit boring. And it does lose a point for being 100% covers. No disrespect to Mr. Nelson.
The vibes are impeccable. A perfect album for driving down a country lane to have a picnic, or sitting on the porch as the sun is setting with an ice cold beer in hand.
Easy listening in the not pejorative sense. Great songs and a lovely voice with arrangements that let you enjoy the songs and the vocals.
I love Willie but the covers fell a bit flat and hokey for me. Still, his voice is beautiful.
Willie Nelson's voice makes any song sound like it was etched in stone.
1978 It's a massive "No" from me... Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ in part Revisit ❌️ nope No ★☆☆☆☆ (2/10)
Willie Nelson does show tunes. Does them well enough, but why? Why you gotta do Willie dirty like that?
I prefer the Red Headed Stranger but I enjoyed this
What beautiful album. He's a gracious, honest, and thoughtful lyricist, and his arrangements are simple but lovely.
Nice voice, maybe just too mellow for the day
Liked it.
Hearing the Outlaw Country guy take songs from the Great American Songbook was certainly neat, but at the end of the day it was a country covers album. It was okay, but I've heard a few songs from this album covered much better, and the ones I've never heard before weren't particularly mind-blowing. I'm mostly indifferent to the album more than anything.
Middle of the road, no edge no grit no offence
Note to self: don’t listen to Willie Nelson sing romantic covers while you’re snuggled up in bed lest you feel lonely and sad 👍 I was a bit skeptical of this one, because Willie doesn’t have the best voice in my opinion. I was worried he might ruin some of these songs that I really really love in their original form. But he didn’t. I liked this album a lot. He put his own charming spin on it and that really worked for me. Favorite songs were Stardust, All of Me, Unchained Melody, and September.
We should buy this album. Very chill and soulful.
Very sweet❤️ quality lyrics
Bah
Mediocre covers album. Not for me
Doesn’t set my world alight but very listenable
I like a bit of Willie and this was a pleasant stripped back listen but feel like it never really got going. Stunning unchained melody though
Not a fan
Oh, so Willie Nelson is the good parts of country distilled down to it's barest essence. More of this please.
A slow listen to be honest, would suit them chilled vibey days. Unfortunately, yesterday was not one.
Already know and love this album. Have it on LP. So fabulous.
it has its moments
Nice set of covers. I like his voice on these and the vibes are good. 7/10
Enjoyed it more than I expected. Unchained melody covers are always fun
I was caught of guard by how beautiful this was. It is cozy and sweet. Each song choice is great and this versions all feel unique and comfortable at the same time
Fire on ice
Beautiful and relaxing, perfect!
Lovely standards record, runs more like a vocal jazz or pop thing than country, a subdued and sweet listen if a bit samey when Willie's singing and the arrangements feel like they run together, despite that tho I understand the love for it
31/1089 hearing his young(er) voice was a bit of a shock, but it’s so smooth and relaxing stardust was a really nice introduction. very sleepy but not in a bad way necessarily. I may or may not have heard Georgia On My Mind before but I’ve definitely heard reference to it in other songs. I’m not a harmonica fan generally and that song didn’t change that. Blue Skies was sweet and jazzy, the harmonica worked better there for me his version of Unchained Melody is pretty great This album was so calm and nice to listen to, it’s not something i expect to go back to (maybe when i next get a willie nelson album on this list because there must be more here) but i’m glad i heard it. this one’s hard to rate because of the style and the consistency across the tracks (no one track stands greatly over the others) fave: Stardust least fave: Don’t Get Around Much Anymore but i’m thinking 3 stars or 61/100
I have heard songs off the album especially Georgia on my mind, but I have never listened start to back. I didn’t realize these were all covers. Super cool. Great covers.
Great rendition of American standards. Especially the first two tracks are great examples of the more relaxing, melancholic country out there. In the end it's a collection of known songs and therefore not really that standing out stuff you'd want from that list.
Great album! His voice supports these standards as well as anybody ever.
Really good album. Lovely piano and vocals. Can't say I've listen to Willie Nelson much before but I will probably check more of his stuff out
Willie sure can play that harmonica! Good album, but not something I would normally turn too. I like the variety in the tracks, from up beat to smooth and sad. It's just not my kind of music 5/10
A collection of quiet and slow ballads. Willie sings some classic pop songs. This is decent to play in the background, but kinda boring in any other setting.
Willie's voice works perfectly with this set of old standards. Such a mellow album, with a short runtime, a consistent vibe, and a cover which captures that vibe exactly. 4.5/5.0: Excellent
enjoyed willies take on some classics. wish it wouldve had some originals on it
Sweet
Outlaw country som er at det er meget løsrevet og personligt både i produktion og vokal. ellers er det jazzet og countrymusik. Skulle åbenbart have været en karrieredræber, men viser sig at blive en klassiker. Meget minimalistisk og fokus på vokal og stemme. Det er meget smukt synes jeg og meget personligt. Det kan man sagtens høre. Føler man skal være et sted i livet hvor man er meget i ro med sig selv og have fundet fred i en selv. Jeg forestiller mig det er sådan noget man lytter til om mange år hvor det har fået meget mere styrke. Jeg synes ikke det er til mig i mine unge dage endnu. Men det er meget romantisk og kunne sagtens forestille mig at forbinde til det sammen med en partner også.
I’ve listened to a few Willie Nelson songs randomly here and there but never a full album. It’s a pretty laid back slower paced album that I need to be in the right mood to enjoy but plenty good when I am in that mood
Snork
willie has the greatest outlaw run of all time right before this and instead we get fuckin georgia on my mind
Never heard Willie Nelson, I like the style of this album, went in cold knowing any other albums or songs, would listen again to others. 2.5/5
Very enjoyable despite not being my thing at all. I loved the jazzy ones.
What a beautiful, soothing voice. Considering the fact that this is essentially a folk/country cover album, I found it a surprisingly enjoyable and relaxing listen, containing a couple of gems. I'll revisit this!
Noodley nonsense...
Een in principe geen onaardig album van een enigszins croonende Willie Nelson met een heel erg ingehouden jazzbandje erbij. 36 minuten lang liedjes-liedjes. Smaakvolle, lichte composities qua instrumenten. Ik vind het niet onaardig, maar er zitten een aantal tracks tussen die voor mij iets teveel richting het genre slaapliedjes hellen. Een beetje een winterachtig album ook, misschien omdat ik deze hele stijl (ondanks het vleugje country) associeer met kerst. En vandaag wordt het 36 graden en is het in m'n kantoor nu al 26.7 graden Celsius dus dat matcht niet helemaal lekker. Als ik kijk naar m'n recente historie wil ik eigenlijk niet wéér een 3 geven, maar meer of minder kan ik er toch echt niet van maken. Het kon zeker een stuk erger, weinig mis mee.
Country version of Frank Sinatra? Oo
Lovely album cover, surprisingly enjoyable content as well.
Songs and Wille's voice are good, but too much a lack of variety for me...
I definitely don’t really like country. I grew up hearing a lot of it and I don’t like most of it. But this album is not just country, it’s also alittle bluesy. Plus it has really really great production and the songs that don’t sound like country song so really loved. As always I struggle with slower songs, so there were plenty of songs I didn’t get a lot out of. But the songs I did like I’d say are some of my favorite country songs. Everytime I go to a yard sale or any kind of used record stores, I’m gunna be looking for this album.
Aww, this is a really sweet little album. It’s only flaw and it’s not much of one is I’ve heard better covers of some of the songs. But that’s unfair
Perfectly pleasant, like a lullaby album sung by Nelson and his soft, lovely voice. Idk why there’s so many cover albums on this list tho! While the art of the cover is to be lauded, I’m not sure there’s a place for them on this list, especially when I think about the albums and artists not represented on it!
Really amazing album, I always forget how many good tracks Willie Nelson Nelson has. A beautiful voice, I forget that he sings a lot of the classic standards, every song is fantastic. Five out of five.
i saved a song from this to my playlist and it was blue skies and i want to dedicate it to my girlfriend!!!
this album cover is GOOOORGEOUS WTF???????? i hope i like this! also all i know about him is that beyonce had him on cowboy carter so he must be a legend LMFAO ....okay listened to it and it was so lovely early in the morning as i was getting ready to work out omg. it's pretty! and then some songs were um ok! we love a mixed bag
Olipahan hieno tunnelma ja miellyttävää kuunneltavaa. Mutta kun ei laula omia lauluja ei voi antaa kun 4
Hyvää musisointia ja laulua. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lovely and relaxing even if you dont like folk/country I believe you can enjoy this one. Awesome covers, no skips. loved it
Yes, absolutely. Play this shit at my funeral.
I know some people love it (I see you Allison Russell, and the other two people who chose their One by Willie from this album), but it's not my favorite.
Nice, easy listen
Bunicel
Day581 - how much courage did it take to make an album of standards at the peak of your career? willie is an icon and these songs will be with us forever
Great folk album!
Two Willie albums in a row? Dang, how many Willie albums are in this 1001 collection? This is a great melodic album full of more lullabies. I wished for more folk-song-storytelling like on red headed stranger. This album made me realize what a player Willie is/was lol. Pretty album and enjoyable to listen to, but not a lot of variety.
dfdds
a nice album with Willie's interpretations of classic songs
Really don't understand how an album of covers of the "Great American Songbook" makes it onto a "must listen" list. I've heard all these songs before of course, often by other musicians, and often done better. I just found the whole thing dull. I paused it about halfway through to get something, and almost didn't turn it back on. I'm not sure it falls to the level of 1 bad, but it was definitely not something I'd spin again.
Definitely not for me, particularly the vocals. The guitar work is pretty cool though. Although the mix, for me, was painful. Hearing the raw plucks of the strings on the guitar, that’s cool and all, but it was way too loud. It physically bothered my ears. Which is how I feel about his voice too, it’s just too loud in comparison to the mix and it’s too harsh.
I'm not sure I understand this. I thought WN was a meant to be a countercultural stoner icon, not the purveyor of great-american-songbook crooner-lightweight-cover-versions? Perfectly pleasant and laid-back, but not exciting to me at all I'm afraid
I didn’t think I needed a Willie Nelson album. I really didn’t need a Willie Nelson album of covers - some of which are not good. 1/5
Weird cover versions album. Was it necessary?
Great album
Its my problem, not Willie's. I'm just not into him.
Didn't do much for me.
Willie Nelson makes the chillest country music.
A relaxing album with my Willie out. My Willie might not be the most impressive but he does know how to put on a show. 7/10
Soothing one. There are certain good songs while others are just a decent background. As the 1001 list should have stricter criteria, I'll give it 3.4 thus 3 on the five-star scale. Favourite song: "Blue Skies".
Inte min grej, tråkigt
4.5 rounded up :-) highlights: stardust, all of me, moonlight in vermont (mar 14 2026)
Tenía muchas ganas de escuchar un disco entero de Willie Nelson. Por Dios, qué clase y qué calidad.
This an old fave, though one's always thought Willie sounded less than fully comfortable with the format and the arrangements, as if his deep respect for the material led him to be somewhat stiff in his approach. Yes, editors, he is a bit of a jazz singer, and it's cool how he countriies these tunes despite the broad, sweeping and normie orchestrations. There are better Willie records (Teatro should be on the list, say), though the quality and originality abound here, too. The strong commercial reception is well deserved (and no doubt helped with his parlous tax situation), though slightly more variance in tones/tempos as the record progressed mighta made it even better. Bottom line: these are timeless songs intriguingly interpreted by a truly original artist and a delight to hear overall, far transcending the bad vibes stemming from the fact that this was a favorite of one's ex-wife.
I think Ill give it a five just because it has a feel to it. Very easy to listen to and really probably is only country for the fact Willie is singing. Also feels like album that belongs in a collection.
I feel like it's a very calm and enjoyable album, not deep or something but just a couple of songs that works together. Fav song - September Song 3/5
What a pleasant and relaxing album. I thought I was getting ripped off with a bunch of covers at first, but it's very enjoyable.
Great album. Willie picked some great songs to cover and showed off his voice.
Really good covers
This was a superb cover album. It is not any easy thing to do a cover album this well but Willie killed it. Normally I’m kinda lukewarm about Willie but this was really, really well done. Would very much like to listen to this again on a cool fall day out on the front porch.
really enjoyed this one. yes, it's covers but the choices let Willie's voice & arrangement shine even more. and this brings some great memories of listening to my Dad sing some of these.
Leuke verrassing! De jazzcovers werken heel goed. De popcovers iets minder.
Really nice cover of all of me on here. The cover art matches it perfectly.
Dont hit me, Not loud, no Energy. Sorry Willie
It was nice
I enjoyed this. Obviously, Willie Nelson is a legend. His voice is great. For what it is, this album is good. I kept wanting the music to do more, but that isn’t the music’s fault (if that makes sense).
I should listen to Willie Nelson more. Perfect slow rainy Friday music while sitting in a hotel room getting ready for a wedding.
A few years ago I went to the "Country Music Hall of Fame" in Nashville and walked through over a century of country/folk/blues history. Since then I have said on more than one occasion that I love country up to Willie Nelson. I'm sure that there's some stuff after him that I'd like, but in general that captures my feelings on country. I've never listened to this album, so I'm excited to get into it. "Stardust" is a very appropriately named song. It does feel like I'm floating with Willie through space. "All of Me" has some sweet guitar. "September Song" also has sweet guitar. Willie is really plucking on the heart strings in this record. "On the Sunny Side of the Street" is so nice. Willie wrote a lot of other people's most famous songs. I only recently listened to Patsy Cline for the first time and had a real "Hurt" Johnny Cash/NIN moment with "Crazy". I loved this album. Lots of really great songs. I love what Willie's cooking. 8/10
Technically good, but not my cup of tea. It's almost a parody of itself. Unless Willie Nelson is so famous that the parodies I've heard are literally making fun of his style?
This is a weird one for me, I like Willie Nelson generally, I like his songwriting and his voice, but this album just didn’t do it for me, I think maybe knowing they aren’t his songs kinda brought it down a bit, but one I don’t feel like I’ll be revisiting
A cover album of songs I either don't like, or I do like but but not what Willie Nelson makes of them. I'd give it a 1 but it's not quite as bad as the 1s I have given so far. A generous 2 then.
Classic Willie Nelson, pairs well with whiskey... Or tea
Good album, all covers though which brings it down a bit
Fue un buen album. Realmente se lucio con los covers, me gustó mucho los arreglos y la voz.
I realized that I knew many of these songs but didn't necessary relate them to Willie Nelson. Now I understand that these are pop standards that he picked. I would like to listen to a proper Willie Nelson written album.
It's hard not to be uncharged by this album in large part because of Willie's image as a performer a musician in the outlaw country world as well as the way that he is aged in the public eye and remained a darling for hippies in traditionalists alike. I'm probably also a little biased towards Willie Nelson because of my father, so there's that. 4/5
27/1001 :: Willie Nelson - Stardust Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Rating: 2 Fav Tracks: Georgia On My Mind I’m gonna start this review by saying I love Willie Nelson… I’ve seen him 3 times. I got up early Sunday morning Woodstock 99 to catch his set, saw him when he did the baseball stadium tour (early 2000s) with Dylan and recently at his Outlaw Fest (TBH though I was there to see Bob Weir). I remember being mesmerized in 99 by a blistering blues set as it was the perfect encore to Metallica’s epic performance the previous night. Frankly I was still high AF but whatever… But every time I see Willie there’s a bit ion badass there. THIS was not that. This album was the toughest Easy Listening I’ve ever encountered. There was some good guitar work but overall it was so slow and so soft… I’m sure it’s great for someone out there are he’s a good singer but it’s just not for me. Sorry Willie, I still love you…
Very relaxing
Willieee
Про эту музыку нельзя сказать ничего плохого. Но и желание слушать её не возникает
What a voice on young Willie. Some great stuff here, but points off for it essentially being a cover album.
This could be on Sesame Street. The Rainbow Connection could be on this album. It's fine, just not a must hear genre.
It feels like Willie Nelson, or someone who may as well be Willie Nelson, appears at least monthly, and they're always basically the same. Which is to say rubbish. This one is on the better end of that scale I suppose, but it's still very unemotional, stoic crap.
These classics are smoothly done by the red headed stranger.
I hate not to give this one 5 but it's really not my fave album of his.
As an austinite, I am legally obligated to give any Willie Nelson album 5 stars. Loved this one!
Beautiful Sound. Cold nights are starry and warm here
"I love this record... i know it intimately... as a teen boy i had a lot of trouble falling asleep... and late at night, there were two albums i could put on and not disturb my parents... "Days of Future Past" by The Moody Blues, which i'm SURE will be on this list... and this one... Willie was at his peak in my opinion... he had done "Red Headed Stranger" (which WILL also be on this list)... and "Waylon and Willie" (ditto)... the arrangements... the song choices... and the VOICE of Willie Nelson... "Stardust" by Hoagy Carmichael starts it off in a very hauntingly beautiful way... then comes the ONLY version of "Georgia On My Mind", not sung by Ray Charles, that i ever want to hear... Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" is next and is done to perfection... "All of Me" and all the rest of the tracks, sublime... every song a STANDARD... and every performance a tour de force... "Someone To Watch Over Me" closes this GEM... probably one of the best "cover" albums of all time... FIVE STARS forever..."
Great album
Familiar songs. Vocals and guitar. Easy listening
Almost entirely composed of solid bangers
Everyone know who Willie Nelson is, he is a classic American figure. But I have to admit, I never actively listened to Willie. I have heard several songs in my over 4 decades of life, and could pick out his distinct voice on any song. For what could be considered my maiden voyage into Willie, I really enjoyed this slow and mildly bluesy version where he covers some of the most popular songs of all time. I know he is more of an outlaw country singer/performer but this was a quaint and enjoyable album that I am glad I heard. I have been saying for years I was going to dive into Willie's catalog, maybe this will jump start my adventure. 8.1/10 117/1001
I just wasn't in the mood for this. It's too sickly sweet. I don't dislike cover albums, but my general feeling is unless you can do something interesting with the original then don't bother. I don't particularly enjoy the originals of many of these songs, so that doesn't help. This feels like a filler album. It's not hateful, but it's not great either.
Not quite my thing. Couple alright songs on here but nothing I would revisit. Cool that it's one year older than I am.
Quick country album, I appreciate the harmonica and Willie's vocals.
I like it, but I'd like to hear him singing his own songs vs. the Great American Songbook.
It was enjoyable but why is a cover album on this list and of all ppl willie, the guy has a ton of albums.
Nice
Nice voice, easy to listen to
Beautifully arranged and performed pop standards. Willie's delicate voice shines!
The score is not for the quality of music or the talent of Willie, its just that an album of cover versions doesn't do it for me. No matter how good they are.
Mysigt och chill.
Loved this, such a lovely vibe. Really chill and relaxing
Somewhere between pensive and languid we find this ultra chilled out collection of arrangements of American standards. And it’s somewhere between “Blue Skies” and “Moonlight…” that I find myself asking why these songs? I was charmed to discover that this pretty random looking assemblage was arrived at during jogs on the Californian sand. The image of Willie getting his exercise in while tossing up whether or not to throw “Unchained Melody” into the mixer too brings me no small measure of joy. The outlaw made an album that feels decidedly “dinner with the in laws” and that’s quite alright by me. I’ll have to try it again when a run on the sand is on the cards. 2.5.
good
Another mainstay in my parents catalog of CD’s. Never really gave it too many listens as a kid because I thought it was too slow. But it is a very beautiful album. Willie really gets to show off his vocal range amidst covers and originals.
Beautiful vocals, wonderful instrumentals, and good variation across the album. However, they are slow, meaningless, and unchanging songs.
I was pleasantly surprised by "Stardust." I quite enjoyed the gentle, bossa nova & jazz influence on Nelson's typical outlaw country.
Uninteresting but very good sounding. I can't imagine that someone doesn't like how Willie Nelson sounds, but that doesn't mean their fun to listen to. I'm sleepy now.
One of America's great storytellers covering some classic po and jazz standards. A great collaboration with Booker T.
I gotta spend some more time with Willie. Both albums have been fantastic.
Delightful album that was sang from the bottom of his heart. You can feel the emotion
8.5/10
An interesting one and not what I expected. Quite enjoyed
Prettu chill this one
I like this but it’s also fair to say it’s not the most gripping album ever recorded
While interesting that a cover album would be the first album revealed, it proved to be an album you cant help but like. Classic and timeless songs sung so dreamy it’s as if you were transported to another decade. The melodies are calming but also make you want to move with the song. And yes, he didn’t write these songs but it still feels like a story, choosing his favorite songs from his childhood. I enjoyed this album more than I expected.
Halfway through, and my man hasn't bested 90 bpm. What a slow album. Surprised to hear Blue Skies. Didn't realize that it's a standard. Oh gosh, September Song. Nelson obviously considers himself a crooner, but this album belongs 30 years in the past. Released in 78, it feels self indulgent. Oh, it's an album entirely of standards. I guess that's why it feels so idiosyncratic and slow. Hey, On the Sunny Side of the Street is 120 bpm. We did it. In summary, an inoffensive background album. No fun to actively listen to, though. A 2. Not terrible, but forgettable and not something I'd seek out.
Very easy listen, especially in the car with the windows down. The start was so strong I thought this was a quick 4, maybe even 5 potential — so I was bummed that the songs veered away from the initial vibe. Still good, still enjoyed.
Pleasant to listen to, calm and soothing
I don't typically care for cover albums
Willy. No. Especially after listening to Ramblin' Jack Elliott.
Not the country album I was expecting at all. Beautiful easy-listening album.
Strange Willie Nelson album. It was pretty lackluster overall, so not something I think I would ever choose to listen to again. 2.4/5
This was fine but I'm not in love with the pop standards he was covering. Pretty boring, honestly. 2/5
All covers
I actually really liked this? Great atmospheres, gorgeous voice, nice!
Questionable lyrics about gay people
a lovely little country album with a little jazzy, Sinatra, Christmas standard warmth to it. :-)
Normally I don't care for standards, and I've always thought Willie was a bit overrated as an album artist, so it's a pleasant surprise to have really enjoyed this!
Very cozy
The man has 70+ solo studio albums over his lengthy career, but only about 3 or 4 of them are absolute classic Willie. This is one of them.
Country Music is my worst genre, and I always deduct a point for albums with excessive cover songs(yes, even Led Zeppelin). Be grateful I gave this three stars. The Red Headed Stranger has that ability. Favorite Track: "Blue Skies".
01) Stardust - 6,5 02) Georgia On My Mind - 7,0 03) Blue Skies - 6,5 04) All Of Me - 6,0 05) Unchained Melody - 6,5 06) September Song - 6,0 07) On the Sunny Side of the Street - 6,5 08) Moonlight in Vermont - 6,5 09) Don't Get Around Much Anymore - 6,0 10) Someone to Watch Over Me - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,35 (64/100)
A perfectly nice set of standards done in Willie style.
This the only Willie Nelson Album I own which is strange because it is far away from the outlaw cowboy music he is known for. His voice is not powerful but it's expressive, agile and even "weary" quality perfectly matches the standards he chose to cover here. Brave choice that shows his confidence as an artist.
A really good vibe, very laid back and pretty. A nice Americana jazz ish album with old songs reimagined. Will return to this for sure and loooking forward to more Willie Nelson in the list
Slow but good! Can tell it influenced a lot of music beyond just country. Lyrics especially.
Very good, just not sure I can put it above a 3 being all covers.
Been too long since I’ve listened to this one! Needs to be in regular rotation
Though this album did not blow me away, it was a great listening experience. Just a tiny bit drunk after a family reunion turned into an evening of drinking, this album grounded me again on the way back. I can definitely see myself returning tot his again.
It's warm and wholesome. Not all of the covers landed for me but the ones that did felt great. I'll come back to this one.
Found this one quite boring. Music felt like it was playing in a lounge on an old school cruise. Unchained Melody is always a banger though.
This is not Willie’s best record (see: Red Headed Stranger) and I’m not sure why it’s even on this list? The covers are good but a bit of a snoozer.
Very different than most of Willie's music, but really good, and very unique performances of some American classics.
i didn’t know willie had this side to him!! super good
This album was already one of my favorites of all time, I was stoked to get this one.
A nice relaxing album. Mostly covers. Ironically given to me on July 4th for a listen.
Lovely 4/5
Its Willie Nelson at his best, no notes, nothing. Just sit back and take it in
One of the first albums I bought on vinyl. Just a great showcase for Willie’s voice. The definitive version of Moonlight in Vermont. I love this album!
Not my cuppa tea. Didn't know many songs. It was ok.
This is a very good album by Willie Nelson! It's one of his more popular albums lots of good covers and kind of ethereal feel to it!
This is a remarkably rich collection of jazz and country standards, entirely different from an Ella Fitzgerald cover album, which emphasizes her genius and improvisatory skill, closer in kind to Rod Stewart's The Great American Songbook volumes, tho a thousand times better. In reality, this is a mere cover album, but it possesses something grand, something transcendent, not just a sum greater than its parts, but parts that are greater than their parts, etc. It could be that, w/o Willie's songwriting on display, you're reminded just how quietly superb a singer he is. It could also be that well-arranged covers are souvenirs of an artist's love for music and its history. Whatever it is, Stardust is a touching, often jaunty record, & one for keeps.
There's not much to say-Willie is the GOAT. Not an album of originals but just a lot of extremely well done covers of pop standards. I personally prefer his other older stuff that's a little more country-themed specifically but it's good.
Willie Nelson singing the Great American Songbook? No thanks. Or so I thought. This album is a surprise. Willie Nelson is in great voice here. He's not trying to be a crooner. He's not trying to sing bigger than he is able. The arrangements are great and allow him to give understated, yet effective, performances. 4 stars
Love Willie. Love his voice. Much prefer him singing his own songs. This wasn't bad, just not as good as his own material. On top of that, a few songs fell victim to the dreaded 70s country production. Overall OK but not great.
I would love to hear some Willie Nelson ... but not Willie singing standards. Also should cover albums really classify as albums I should listen to before I die?
What a wonderful record. You can really hear how much Willie loves these songs that he grew up with. The arrangements are full without being too dense and the album flows beautifully from song to song. Standouts for me are "Georgia On My Mind", "Blue Skies", "On the Sunny Side of the Street", and "Someone to Watch Over Me".
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. What a delightful little album. Nothing super special to it, but a very tender and beautiful side of Willie. Loved all the covers, very peaceful and easy to listen to.
ei kuullosta countrylta niin taitavaa poikaa…
I remember listening to this when it was first released and gaining a new appreciation and admiration for Willie’s talent. He’s not just a great Country star, but a genuinely stellar musician. Five stars!
Willie Nelson seems like a cool guy in person but all I can think about this album is that he got really high and rode the elevator up and down singing along to the Muzak.
Really good - sounds great and WN’s voice amazing
I liked it more on the second listen - Bob Dylan needs to get in touch with Willie's harmonica volume mixing guy for his next album.
I liked the concept, but the songs blended together and didn't pull me in.
3.5
Unlike Willie Nelson's idiotic record company exec I know the songs, and I like the songs, but I don't like Willie's performance of them. They don't suit him really. If I want to hear this canon of American music there are much more interesting arrangements and vocal talents to listen to. This is not an album that anyone should hear before they die. They were lame covers gobbled up by his lemming audience. Go find the originals, they much more emotionally engaging.
Albums like this make me glad I'm going through this list because I honestly would have never listened to this myself. So many reasons for me to enjoy this: I love cover albums, I already like a lot of these songs, and I like these interpretations! Would totally listen to this again on a drive or a quiet evening.
This was a very relaxing album to listen to, gives a christmas vibe off of it. I realized that this was a cover album and it was really well done. A lot of the songs had his personal twist to them which I thoroughly enjoyed.
My second Willie Nelson album and very enjoyable. Still not my genre but this felt smoother than the other one and was very pleasant - maybe less overtly country? Very pleasant to listen to.
Song I liked: blue skies. I'm debating whether to give these "most of these songs are boring except for one which is mildly good" albums a 2 star rating or a 3 star rating.
Pretty good. They feel like movie credit songs, and I gotta respect that.
I love this one. I bought it when it first came out. Over the years I've had it on cassette, disc, and have it downloaded. It just gets better with time.
Excellent.
Don’t know if I’m just in a certain mood, but this was just wonderful to listen to. Sparse at times, but calming and comforting. 4.5
His 22nd album ! 22 albums! It's an album of cover songs. His persona is 'outlaw country music' This is a departure and an album of pop covers. A very mellow album. Sipping whiskey on the porch kind of thing. There's nothing discernibly bad about this album. It's...umm...nice.
I’ve only ever known one man smoke Willie under the table. Mr Len Houmous! 4.1 7/10 on the sunny side of the street
Mijn grootste probleem met countrymuziek is dat het vaak een beetje allemaal hetzelfde is. En dan vooral qua muziek. De zang is vaak juist heel sterk, countryzangers hebben iets breekbaars in hun stem. Wie dan ook besloten heeft dat Willie vooral een cover album moest maken verdient dan ook wat mij betreft meteen opslag. (Zo te lezen was dat vooral Willie zelf, zn label wilde dit juist absoluut niet) Probleem is wel dat ik een groot deel van de covers ook het origineel al ken. Zo valt een Georgia on my mind toch een beetje vlak in vergelijking met bijvoorbeeld Ray Charles. Maar andere nummers vind ik echt hele mooie versies. Niet alles werkt, maar ik vind Willie echt een fantastische stem hebben. Het is ontzettend country, maar dan eindelijk met wat meer variatie dan "Man speelt gitaar." in de productie. Ja dit is best wel een lekker album eigenlijk. Niet lekker genoeg voor 4 sterren, maar wel een lekker albumpie FAVO: Blue Skies, All of me, Dont get around much anymore
Pretty songs, not many i wanted to save but still easily listenable
nice relaxing study music!
estaba guapo ritno lento pero triston
Easy listening, exceptional intertwining of piano guitar and harmonica.
First time listening to a full Willie Nelson record. Although it was tempting to dismiss it as another dose of Americana, the quality of his voice, and the musicianship was hard to dislike. His voice has a remarkable way of breaking during a phrase which renders the lyrics tender and authentic, even during a song that has been recorded many times.
Tender
One of Willie’s 3 best albums. Sure, it’s a covers album, but few people can consistently improve upon a cover song like Willie!
This album was good. Not sure I will ever listen to it again. I enjoyed it. 3 Stars