By Andrew W. Griffin
pop writer
As many of you digest yesterday's Thanksgiving feast, country music legend Willie Nelson will roll into Norman today to perform at Riverwind Casino at 8 p.m.
And 2009 has been a busy year for the icon from Abbott, Texas, who released two albums -- "Naked Willie," a collection of old songs stripped of the fluff and production of the late 1960s and early 1970s, and "American Classic," a recording of pop standards that nearly equals his 1978 release, "Stardust."
On "Naked Willie," the 17 songs on this RCA/Legacy release that came out in March are originals, but you won't find the "syrupy strings" and slickness of the originals. With Willie's voice, guitar and minimal production?humorously "un-produced" by Willie's long-time harmonica player, Mickey Raphael -- beautiful songs like 1967's "The Ghost" or the dusty feeling "Where Do You Stand?" sound fresh and honest.
Fast forward to the Blue Note recording "American Classic" Willie put out this summer. Here songs like "Fly Me To the Moon" avoid schmaltziness because Willie's comfortable and familiar voice help enhance this intimate recording.
A remix of "Always On My Mind" with more jazzy, cocktail lounge feeling is pure Willie. And listeners are bound to enjoy the two duets, "If I Had You" with Diana Krall and "Baby It's Cold Outside" performed with fellow Texan Norah Jones.
Both albums are required for any Willie Nelson fan or fan of top-notch American music and deserve an "A" grade.
Tickets for tonight's show at Riverwind are $73 premium, $78 for VIP and $83 for platinum seating.
For more information, go to www.riverwind.com or call 322-6464.
