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If ever there were doubts about the breadth and depth of Willie Nelson's ambitions and talents, Across the Borderline should put them to rest. Nelson surveys roughly two decades of popular music, tackling songs by writers as varied as Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Willie Dixon, and Lyle Lovett. That Nelson covers such a variety shouldn't really come as such a surprise: the songs on Across the Borderline simply consolidate the range of material he's covered previously, from the Bing Crosby-inspired pop standards albums Stardust to the folk-rock of "City of New Orleans." Nelson, along with producer Don Was, assembled a stellar cast of musicians for the album. Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt, and Mose Allison all guest, and a rock band is Nelson's backup unit for most of the tracks. Of course, country music is at the center of Nelson's vast repertoire, and the two Lyle Lovett compositions he chose to cover for Across the Borderline are wonderfully done, with the accompaniment of Nelson's regular backing band. There are also Nelson's own songs, both new ("Valentine") and old (the rather gloomy "She's Not for You"), as well as a writing and singing collaboration with Bob Dylan ("Heartland"). For all the strengths of the other 13 tracks, the most stunning song on the album is Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up." The parts originally sung by Kate Bush on Gabriel's So album are sung here by Sinead O'Connor, a brilliant piece of casting. Nelson and O'Connor's rendition is quietly triumphant and every bit as powerful as Gabriel and Bush's original. The result of the apparently scattershot song selection and numerous musicians is an album that possesses a quiet majesty, further establishing Willie Nelson as one of the most important writers and interpreters of the last half of the 20th century.
© Martin Monkman /TiVo
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Willie Nelson, Acoustic Guitar - Willie Nelson, Performer - Paul Simon, Arranger - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Richard Travali, Acoustic Guitar - David Campbell, Harmonium - Don Was, Producer - Bob Clearmountain, Mixing Engineer - Marty Brumbach, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Recording Engineer
(P) 1993 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Willie Nelson, Guitar - Willie Nelson, Performer - Bonnie Raitt, Performer - Bonnie Raitt, Slide Guitar - T.S. Bruton, Composer - T.S. Bruton, Lyricist - Stephen Bruton, Arranger - Fred Tackett, Guitar - Jim Keltner, Drums - Don Was, Producer - Dan Bosworth, Assistant Engineer - Bob Clearmountain, Mixing Engineer - Chris Laidlaw, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Recording Engineer
(P) 1993 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Willie Nelson, Acoustic Guitar - Willie Nelson, Performer - John Hiatt, Composer - John Hiatt, Lyricist - Reggie Young, Guitar - John Leventhal, Guitar - Eric Bazilian, Mandolin - Jim Keltner, Drums - Mark O'Connor, Violin - James "Hutch" Hutchinson, Bass - Mickey Raphael, Harmonica - Don Was, Producer
(P) 1993 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Willie Nelson, Performer - Willie Nelson, Vocal - Peter Gabriel, Arranger - Peter Gabriel, Composer - Peter Gabriel, Lyricist - Reggie Young, Guitar - John Leventhal, Guitar - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Jim Keltner, Drums - Sinéad O'Connor, Performer - Don Was, Bass - Don Was, Producer - Mickey Raphael, Harmonica - Mark Isham, Trumpet - Chris Albert, Assistant Engineer - Bob Clearmountain, Mixing Engineer - Martin Brumbach, Mixing Engineer - Greg Goldman, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Recording Engineer
(P) 1993 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Willie Nelson, Acoustic Guitar - Willie Nelson, Arranger - Willie Nelson, Composer - Willie Nelson, Lyricist - Willie Nelson, Performer - Don Was, Bass - Don Was, Producer - John Leventhal, Guitar - Bob Dylan, Arranger - Bob Dylan, Composer - Bob Dylan, Lyricist - Bob Dylan, Performer - Eric Bazilian, Mandolin - Chris Albert, Assistant Engineer - Marty Brumbach, Assistant Engineer - Reggie Young, Acoustic Guitar - Bob Clearmountain, Mixing Engineer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rik Pekkonen, Recording Engineer - Mickey Raphael, Harmonica
(P) 1993 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Willie Nelson, Guitar - Willie Nelson, Performer - JAMES DICKINSON, Composer - JAMES DICKINSON, Lyricist - John Hiatt, Arranger - John Hiatt, Composer - John Hiatt, Lyricist - Ry Cooder, Arranger - Ry Cooder, Composer - Ry Cooder, Lyricist - Jim Dickinson, Arranger - Danny Timms, Background Vocal - Danny Timms, Guitar - Danny Timms, Organ - Danny Timms, Piano - Robbie Turner, Mandolin - Reggie Young, Electric Guitar - Gene Chrisman, Drums - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Mike Leech, Bass - Mickey Raphael, Harmonica - Don Was, Producer - Aidan McGovern, Assistant Engineer - Aidan McGovern, Mixing Engineer - Brian Masterson, Mixing Engineer - Brian Masterson, Recording Engineer
(P) 1993 Sony Music Entertainment
Willie Nelson, Acoustic Guitar - Willie Nelson, Performer - Paul Simon, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Simon, Arranger - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Paul Simon, Performer - Ray Phiri, Electric Guitar - John Selelowane, Electric Guitar - Gene Chrisman, Drums - Mike Leech, Bass - Mark O'Connor, Fiddle - Mickey Raphael, Harmonica - Don Was, Producer - Carl Glanville, Assistant Engineer - Michael Gilbert, Assistant Engineer - Roy Halee, Mixing Engineer - Richard Travali, Recording Engineer
(P) 1993 Sony Music Entertainment INC.
Willie Nelson, Acoustic Guitar - Willie Nelson, Performer - Lyle Lovett, Arranger - Lyle Lovett, Composer - Lyle Lovett, Lyricist - Jody Payne, Acoustic Guitar - Mark Goldenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Grady Martin, Electric Guitar - Billy English, Percussion - Paul English, Drums - Bobbie Nelson, Piano - Johnny Gimble, Violin - Bee Spears, Bass - Mickey Raphael, Harmonica - Don Was, Producer - Dan Bosworth, Assistant Engineer - Dan Bosworth, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Recording Engineer
(P) 1993 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Willie Nelson, Acoustic Guitar - Willie Nelson, Arranger - Willie Nelson, Composer - Willie Nelson, Lyricist - Willie Nelson, Performer - Grady Martin, Guitar - Paul English, Drums - Bobbie Nelson, Piano - Johnny Gimble, Violin - Bee Spears, Bass - Mickey Raphael, Harmonica - Don Was, Producer - Dan Bosworth, Assistant Engineer - Dan Bosworth, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Recording Engineer
(P) 1993 Sony Music Entertainment INC.
Willie Nelson, Acoustic Guitar - Willie Nelson, Performer - Bob Dylan, Arranger - Bob Dylan, Composer - Bob Dylan, Lyricist - Fred Tackett, Guitar - Debra Dobkin, Percussion - Jim Keltner, Drums - James "Hutch" Hutchinson, Bass - Mickey Raphael, Harmonica - Don Was, Producer - Dan Bosworth, Assistant Engineer - Bob Clearmountain, Mixing Engineer - Martin Brumbach, Mixing Engineer - Greg Goldman, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Recording Engineer
(P) 1993 Sony Music Entertainment INC.
Willie Nelson, Acoustic Guitar - Willie Nelson, Performer - Willie Dixon, Arranger - Willie Dixon, Composer - Willie Dixon, Lyricist - Reggie Young, Guitar - Smitty Smith, Drums - Mose Alison, Piano - Milt Hinton, Bass - Don Was, Producer - Chris Albert, Assistant Engineer - Chris Albert, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Recording Engineer
(P) 1993 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Willie Nelson, Acoustic Guitar - Willie Nelson, Performer - Lyle Lovett, Arranger - Lyle Lovett, Composer - Lyle Lovett, Lyricist - David Crosby, Background Vocal - Jody Payne, Acoustic Guitar - Mark Goldenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Grady Martin, Electric Guitar - Billy English, Drums - Bobbie Nelson, Piano - Johnny Gimble, Violin - Bee Spears, Bass - Mickey Raphael, Harmonica - Don Was, Producer - Dan Bosworth, Assistant Engineer - Bob Clearmountain, Mixing Engineer - Greg Goldman, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Recording Engineer
(P) 1993 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Willie Nelson, Arranger - Willie Nelson, Composer - Willie Nelson, Guitar - Willie Nelson, Lyricist - Willie Nelson, Performer - Reggie Young, Guitar - John Leventhal, Guitar - Jim Keltner, Drums - Mark O'Connor, Violin - James "Hutch" Hutchinson, Bass - Mickey Raphael, Harmonica - Don Was, Producer - Chris Albert, Assistant Engineer - Bob Clearmountain, Mixing Engineer - Greg Goldman, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Recording Engineer
(P) 1993 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Willie Nelson, Acoustic Guitar - Willie Nelson, Arranger - Willie Nelson, Composer - Willie Nelson, Lyricist - Willie Nelson, Performer - Don Was, Producer - Jody Payne, Acoustic Guitar - Dan Bosworth, Assistant Engineer - Dan Bosworth, Mixing Engineer - Grady Martin, Electric Guitar - Rik Pekkonen, Mixing Engineer - Rik Pekkonen, Recording Engineer - Billy English, Percussion - Paul English, Drums - Bobbie Nelson, Piano - Johnny Gimble, Violin - Bee Spears, Bass - Mickey Raphael, Harmonica
(P) 1993 Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
If ever there were doubts about the breadth and depth of Willie Nelson's ambitions and talents, Across the Borderline should put them to rest. Nelson surveys roughly two decades of popular music, tackling songs by writers as varied as Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Willie Dixon, and Lyle Lovett. That Nelson covers such a variety shouldn't really come as such a surprise: the songs on Across the Borderline simply consolidate the range of material he's covered previously, from the Bing Crosby-inspired pop standards albums Stardust to the folk-rock of "City of New Orleans." Nelson, along with producer Don Was, assembled a stellar cast of musicians for the album. Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt, and Mose Allison all guest, and a rock band is Nelson's backup unit for most of the tracks. Of course, country music is at the center of Nelson's vast repertoire, and the two Lyle Lovett compositions he chose to cover for Across the Borderline are wonderfully done, with the accompaniment of Nelson's regular backing band. There are also Nelson's own songs, both new ("Valentine") and old (the rather gloomy "She's Not for You"), as well as a writing and singing collaboration with Bob Dylan ("Heartland"). For all the strengths of the other 13 tracks, the most stunning song on the album is Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up." The parts originally sung by Kate Bush on Gabriel's So album are sung here by Sinead O'Connor, a brilliant piece of casting. Nelson and O'Connor's rendition is quietly triumphant and every bit as powerful as Gabriel and Bush's original. The result of the apparently scattershot song selection and numerous musicians is an album that possesses a quiet majesty, further establishing Willie Nelson as one of the most important writers and interpreters of the last half of the 20th century.
© Martin Monkman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:59:46
- Main artists: Willie Nelson
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia Nashville
- Genre: Country
(P) 1993 Sony Music Entertainment
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