Willie Nelson – Summertime – Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin

In 2015 Willie Nelson received the esteemed Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. This seems to have inspired him to record a cover album of Gershwin songs. It ends up being a bookend piece to what Tony Bennett has done throughout his career. This is the Country music rebel’s interpretation of the American master songwriter’s material. First off, his voice is not what it used to be. That is natural considering he is eighty-two years old. It does not mean that he is not up to the requirements of the songs. Rather even at his advanced age his voice is still rich adding flavours that you might not have thought of previously. Especially the case in regards to the torch songs on the album. His voice becomes tender and charming on songs like “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Embraceable You”, a duet with Sheryl Crow. Besides those two gems you get all the expected ones like “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” as well as a couple of surprises like “Somebody Loves Me”. Applaud the fact that the man continues to release one or two albums each year. The weed he smokes has not affected his work ethic!