It Always Will Be

by Willie Nelson

Overview

On his millionth album (or does it just feel that way?), Willie Nelson teams with a new band -- except for Family Band harmonicat Mickey Raphael -- and duets with some major leaguers. Most of the time, It Always Will Be feels like a Willie album of old. Recorded for the Lost Highway label and produced by James Stroud in Nash Vegas, it's an inspired collection of fine songs for the most part, and Nelson is in fine voice with the edges beginning to show just a tiny bit. He wrote the title cut, one of the strongest here. Lyrically, it's tender without being overly sentimental, sweet without being saccharine, and delivered with his trademark elegance and grace. The cover of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan's "Picture in a Frame," though faithful, puts Nelson's stamp firmly on it. With Raphael's harmonica, Willie's acoustic, and a skeletal band featuring an understated pedal steel, Nelson's dignity in the delivery is deeply moving. When he's this on fire, the only place he usually blows it is in duets -- at least on his own records. There are duets here. "Be That As It May," with daughter Paula and written by her, is just a gorgeous country song. The pair's voices contrast beautifully and the tune itself is tight and hooky in a Texas country music way. "Dreams Come True," with Norah Jones, is a pretty swing tune that is forgettable but far from offensive, and Lucinda Williams is the star on her own "Overtime." Willie and Lucinda were made to sing together; the melancholy of the tune lends itself well to her whiskey contralto and his easy baritone. The tune sweetly drifts and lilts with swaying guitars, an accordion, and whispering brushwork. Toby Keith makes an appearance singing background vocals on his "Tired," but Nelson makes the song his own. Nelson's "Texas" is a wonderful mariachi blues song that gives way to bittersweet Southwestern honky tonk balladry and showcases his excellent guitar work. The set closes with the album's only dog, a big-beat over-produced dancy punch-up of Gregg Allman's classic "Midnight Rider." It sucks bad. Why this song made the cut is a mystery, but it's a typical thing for Nelson, to add something that just doesn't fit. Thankfully, it's the album's final song and can be skipped. Be that as it may, It Always Will Be is the best outing for Nelson since Teatro. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	11/10/2023
Label:	Lost Highway
UPC:	0602458187397
Rank:	30439

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Willie Nelson   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Paula Nelson   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Toby Keith   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Lucinda Williams   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guest Artist
Norah Jones   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guest Artist
Paul Franklin   Guitar (Steel),Pedal Steel
Michael Rhodes   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Shannon Forest   Drums
Biff Watson   Guitar (Acoustic)
Mickey Raphael   Harmonica
Chris Dunn   Horn
Clayton Ivey   Piano,Keyboards
Steve Nathan   Piano,Keyboards
Wes Hightower   Vocals (Background)
Sam Levine   Horn
Scotty Emerick   Guitar (Acoustic)
Shannon Forrest   Drums
Matt Rollings   Piano,Keyboards
Brent Mason   Guitar (Electric)
Glenn Worf   Bass
Dan Dugmore   Pedal Steel
Kenny Greenberg   Guitar (Electric)
Steve Patrick   Horn
Jim Horn   Horn
Eddie Bayers   Drums
Liana Manis   Vocals (Background)
Amy James   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Julian King   Audio Engineer,Mixing,Engineer
James Stroud   Audio Production,Producer
Paula Nelson   Composer
Sonny Throckmorton   Composer
J.C. Hopkins   Composer
Chuck Cannon   Composer
Rusty Adams   Composer
Dave Zettner   Illustrations
Robert Payne   Composer
Jimmy Day   Composer
Scotty Emerick   Composer
Kathleen Brennan   Composer
Micheal Smotherman   Composer
Toby Keith   Composer
Willie Nelson   Composer
Tom Waits   Composer
David Anderson   Composer
Gregg Allman   Composer
Al Willis   Assistant
Lucinda Williams   Composer
Richard Hanson   Assistant
Dave Loggins   Composer
Lukas Nelson   Composer
Craig Allen   Art Direction
Steve Chadle   Assistant
David Bryant   Assistant
Jake Burns   Assistant
Hank Williams   Mastering
Tammy Luker   Production Coordination
Jim Herrington   Photography
Robert Kim Payne   Composer