Pancho & Lefty [Bonus Tracks] (CD - 1983)

Personnel: Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson (vocals, guitar); Reggie Young, Johnny Christopher, Grady Martin, Chips Moman, Lewis Talley (guitar); Johnny Gimble (fiddle, mandolin); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Don Markham (saxophone); Bobby Emmons, Bobby Wood (keyboards); Mike Leech (bass); Gene Crisman (drums).

Producers: Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Chips Moman.

Recorded at Pedernales Studio, Spicewood, Texas and Moman's Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee. Originally released on Epic (37958). Includes liner notes by Rick Kienzle.

Personnel: Merle Haggard (guitar, background vocals); Johnny Christopher, Willie Nelson (guitar, background vocals); Chips Moman, Grady Martin, Lewis Talley, Reggie Young (guitar); Johnny Gimble (mandolin, fiddle); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Don Markham (saxophone); Bobby Wood (keyboards, background vocals); Bobby Emmons (keyboards); Gene Chrisman (drums).

Audio Mixer: David Swope.

Recording information: Moman's Recording Studio, Nashville, TN; Pedernales Studio, Spicewood, TX.

Photographers: Joe Bangay; Kenneth McGowan; Sandy Speiser; David Redfern; Bobby Wood.

This duet between two of country music's biggest contrarians includes four Willie Nelson originals and one by his partner, Merle Haggard. But the most notable inclusion is Townes Van Zandt's title track, the story of two outlaws at the end of the line, which became the album's signature hit in 1983. In addition to their remarkable interpretations of the album's contemporary songs, Nelson and Haggard's weathered voices are ideally suited to their more vintage material, including California country music pioneer Stuart Hamblen's "My Mary," and two Texas Playboys covers, "Still Water Runs the Deepest" and "My Life's Been a Pleasure." The album's relaxed feel is enhanced by its being done at Nelson's own Pedernales studio outside Austin.

The remastered, expanded edition of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson's 1982 classic, Pancho & Lefty, was well worth the wait. First, there's the sound. In the title cut, there are voices and guitars listeners have never heard before either on LP or CD. There are stunning little surprises like a keyboard or a marimba in "My Mary," or the subtle organ shadings in "Reasons to Quit," or the extra reverb on Hag's electric on "No Reason to Quit." These might seem like audiophile nitpickings to some, but they actually change the way one hears this recording -- and it wears its legendary status very well indeed. The bonus tracks are winners, too. In those days country records only had ten songs on them because the labels didn't want to pay the publishing. "Half a Man" is a slow Nelson waltz written in his trademark style; this is an unissued version of the song minus Hag. It's full of slinky honky tonk pianos, a slowly walking bassline, and a gorgeous Mickey Raphael harmonica solo. "My Own Peculiar Way" is a familiar song to Nelson fans; he's played it in his live sets forever, as it dates from 1965. But this is a completely fleshed-out, reworked version with many surprises instrumentally and vocally. For the price tag, this is ultimately an unbeatable -- and necessary -- item for the country collection. ~ Thom Jurek minimize