Willie and Family Live [Expanded] [Remaster] (CD - 1978)

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Personnel: Willie Nelson (vocals, guitar); Jody Payne (guitar); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Bobbie Nelson (piano); Chris Ethridge, Bee Spears (bass); Paul English, Rex Ludwick (drums).

Recorded live at Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Nevada in 1978. Includes liner notes by Rick Petreycik.

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Personnel: Willie Nelson (vocals, guitar); Emmylou Harris, Johnny Paycheck (vocals); Jody Payne (guitar); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Bobbie Nelson (piano); Rex Ludwick, Paul English (drums).

Audio Mixers: David Swope; Bradley Hartman.

Liner Note Author: Rick Petreycik.

Recording information: Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, NV (04/1978).

Photographers: Don Hunstein; Sandy Speiser; Beverly Parker; Neil Leifer.

This exceptionally long two-record set seems to prove two things: the family can jam (sometimes to the extent that you ask yourself what the point is), and Nelson seems to be bored with some of his own material. Instead of singing, he talks his way through the songs. If you need this to fill out the collection, that's one thing. If you want to hear him do these songs, look for the studio albums. ~ Jim Worbois

Recorded at Lake Tahoe in 1978, WILLIE AND FAMILY LIVE effectively documents the laid-back, freewheeling approach Nelson and his band take to live performances. Unlike many country acts that strive to play the same set with the same note-for-note precision every night, Nelson's band prefers to live on the edge, wringing surprises out of every note and beat. This "free jam" aesthetic explains why Nelson is popular among Grateful Dead fans, and aficionados of this musical approach will be most likely to enjoy WILLIE AND FAMILY LIVE.

The album, which clocks in at over ninety minutes, contains some instances of frustrating off-handedness (Nelson occasionally sings indifferently) but also many moments of full-throttle energy, including blistering versions of "Whiskey River," "Under the Double Eagle," and the Bob Wills classic "Stay a Little Longer," as well as fine takes on the ballads "If You Could Touch Her At All" and "Till I Gain Control Again." Nelson, his pianist sister Bobbie, and harmonica player Mickey Raphael are all great soloists, and each is given plenty of opportunities to stretch out and show off some hot licks.

Recorded live at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe at the height of Willie madness in 1978, the double-CD remaster of Willie and Family Live makes an already long set even longer by the addition of two bonus tracks. Fortunately, those cuts added to the end of disc two are from the same show and include a soul-bearing alternate version of Rodney Corwell's "Til I Gain Control Again" and a tender and moving read of the Hoagy Carmichael classic "Georgia on My Mind." As for the rest, the newly warmed-up sound makes all the difference in the world. While the LP version was fantastic, this set's previous CD incarnation was shrill and lacked bottom. That's all remedied here, and what made that evening so exciting for the folks at Harrah's is plenty evident here: Nelson's band of family (sister Bobbie on piano) and friends -- including guest appearances by Johnny Paycheck and Emmylou Harris -- kicks ass. The material is classic Nelson, from his own songs such as "Good Hearted Woman" and "I Can Get Off on You," written with Waylon Jennings, to "Crazy" and "Funny How Time Slips Away," as well as a long suite from Red Headed Stranger. These of course are on disc one. Disc two is where the gig really heats up and the band stretches out and loosens up, playing largely segueing tunes ranging from Nelson standards and nuggets such as "Bloody Mary Morning" and "Hello Walls," a beautiful combination of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and "Amazing Grace," before inviting Paycheck up for "Take This Job and Shove It"! But Nelson goes right back to gospel on "Uncloudy Day" before he moves secular again. In a long suite that starts with "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" and continues through Leon Russell's "A Song for You," the original of "Georgia on My Mind," "I Gotta Get Drunk," and back to the show opener, "Whiskey River," Nelson Moebius-strips back to "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" one more time before the bonus versions kick in. In all, it's a solid, rollicking ride with one of the best bands in the business at the time and one of Nelson's more inspired performances. ~ Thom Jurek minimize