Willie Nelson and Friends: Live and Kickin'

Performer: Willie Nelson
Artist: Ray Charles; Eric Clapton; Elvis Costello; Wyclef Jean; Norah Jones; Toby Keith; Diana Krall; Shania Twain
Engineer: Thom Cadley
Producer: James Stroud
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Willie Nelson (vocals, guitar); Ray Charles, Kenny Chesney, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Toby Keith, Diana Krall, Lyle Lovett, Shelby Lynne, John Mellencamp, Ray Price, Leon Russell, Paul Simon, Shania Twain, Steven Tyler, ZZ Top (vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic & electric guitars); Brent Mason (electric guitar); Wyclef Jean, Andy York (guitar); Dan Dugmore (steel guitar); Miriam Sturn (violin); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); John Hobbsm, Matt Rollings, Robert Aaron (keyboards); Michael Rhodes, Jerry Duplessif (bass); Kenny Aronoff, Donald Guillaume, Dane Clark (drums); Shannon Forrest (percussion); Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Corky Churke (background vocals). Recorded live at The Beacon Theatre, New York, New York on April 9, 2003. LIVE & KICKIN' was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Country Album. "Wurlitzer Prize" was nominated for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals. "Beer For My Horses" was nominated for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals and for Best Country Song. Personnel: Willie Nelson (vocals, guitar); Wyclef Jean (vocals, guitar); Diana Krall, Eric Clapton, John Mellencamp, Kenny Chesney, Leon Russell, Norah Jones, Paul Simon, Ray Price, Shania Twain, Shelby Lynne, Steven Tyler, Toby Keith, ZZ Top, Elvis Costello (vocals); Andy York (guitar); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Brent Mason (electric guitar); Dan Dugmore (steel guitar); Miriam Sturm (violin); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); John Hobbs, Matt Rollings, Robert Aaron (keyboards); Donald Guillaume, Kenny Aronoff, Dane Clark (drums); Shannon Forrest (percussion); Cory Churko, Julia Waters, Maxine Willard Waters (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Julian King; Mike Wanchic; Paul Mahern; Thom Cadley. Recording information: The Beacon Theatre, New York, NY (04/09/2003). Photographer: Kevin Mazur. For his 70th birthday gala, Willie Nelson decided to celebrate by inviting a cast of musical stars to join him in duets on a televised concert. In keeping with Willie's eclecticism, only a few of the famous participants (Shania Twain,Toby Keith, old pal Ray Price) are country artists. How much is added to Nelson's classic "Crazy" by guests Diana Krall and Elvis Costello (hot celeb couple of the moment) is an open question; what's really important is the well deserved recognition Nelson receives from the musical world's biggest names. If you're a hardcore Willie fan, you've probably already got a couple of earlier live versions of, for example, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," but part of LIVE AND KICKIN's purpose is to expose fans of Nelson's duet partners to the magic they've been missing out on for many decades.

Willie Nelson began working in a conventional Nashville style and had great success as the songwriter of Faron Young's hit "Hello Walls" and others, but he was initially unable to make it as a performer. In the 1970s, he and Waylon Jennings made history with their outlaw country sound and image, growing their hair long and utilizing a raw, rock-influenced sound that endeared them to millions of country fans and rockers alike. Subsequently, Nelson ventured into Sinatra territory with STARDUST, an album of standards that became a huge success and established him as a singer who transcended genre boundaries. Throughout the '80s, '90s, and into the 21st century, he crossed over into pop and back again continually, even releasing an album of reggae covers, working with artists as diverse as Julio Iglesias and Ryan Adams.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25