Rough And Rocky

Just got the sad news that Paul English passed away yesterday. The longtime drummer for Willie Nelson, immortalized in the lovely Me And Paul, was 87. Miss him.

Willie Nelson - Me And Paul

Crossed My Mind

The holy triumvirate of Ely, Gilmore and Hancock proves that the oft-ridiculed singing saw can easily replace country's much more obvious pedal steel, which can indeed be heard on Willie's just-as-melancholic original. Steve Wesson's the player of the thing, and he's a master.

Flatlanders - One Day At A Time
Willie Nelson - One Day At A Time

Double Sad

"A true song as real as my tears..." Lovely sentimental chestnut this, from the solid Shotgun Willie album. Bonus: a surprising one-off cover by his Bobness, recorded live in Mainz this summer.

Wilie Nelson - Sad Songs And Waltzes
Bob Dylan - Sad Songs And Waltzes (live Mainz '15)

Still Fairly Sound

"We received our education in the cities of the nation..." Willie's original - about his wild adventures on the road with drummer Paul English - sounds mighty fine, but there's no denying that Sir Doug really really nails it. Way to go, guys.

Willie Nelson - Me And Paul
Doug Sahm - Me And Paul

Well Hello There

Dig the late Rainer Ptacek (you do remember him, don't you?) taking on a Willie Nelson classic with only a dobro for company. "My, it's been a long long time..."

Rainer - Funny How Time Slips Away