Willie Nelson & Family Honeysuckle Rose: Music From The OST

The soundtrack to the 1980 film of the same name, Honeysuckle Rose is essentially a Willie Nelson live album with a few vocal spots from his movie co-stars Dyan Cannon ("Two Sides to Every Story"), Amy Irving ("If You Want Me to Love You I Will") and Emmylou Harris ("Angel Eyes") backed by the loose and fit instrumental prowess of his Family band. ("Fiddlin' Around" and "Jumpin' Cotton Eye Joe" serve as dexterous instrumental breaks.) The original album spawned one of Nelson's biggest hits with "On the Road Again" and this deluxe expanded addition turns the release into a career overview, offering 26 tracks in spirited renditions that often eclipse the solid, more formal studio versions. "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," "Working Man Blues," "Whiskey River" and "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" never sounded better. Nelson's ear for the seasoned songwriting of Kris Kristofferson, Rodney Crowell and Lee Clayton among his own originals bears out his influence as an interpretive singer. The audience noise has been reduced and the re-mastered sound improves things considerably.