Willie Nelson - Heroes (2012)

Heroes is the eagerly-awaited album of new songs and re-imagined classics performed by Willie Nelson, America's legendary outlaw country music avatar. Heroes is essential Willie Nelson, a seamless collection of top-flight pop-country songs. It includes a cover of Coldplay’s “The Scientist” which recently debuted to great acclaim as the soundtrack to an animated short film commercial during the US Super Bowl. There are also covers from the 30s and 40s and new songs by Willie, his sons, Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson, and "Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die", a new track featuring special guests Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson. All songs are performed with the easy-going homespun warmth and honesty that have become Willie’s trademarks.
The album opens with Willie and Merle Haggard joining forces on a powerful new rendition of Wayne ("The Letter," "Always On My Mind") Carson's "A Horse Called Music" (the title song from Willie's 1989 album). Other brand-new Willie Nelson compositions making their debut on Heroes are "Hero," featuring guest appearances by Jamey Johnson and Billy Joe Shaver, and "Come On Back Jesus" featuring Nelson’s sons Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson. The collection includes a sublime interpretation of Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe," performed with son Lukas, Lukas also performs with his dad on several of the album's other tracks including a droll soulful take on the Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan composition, "Come On Up To The House," sung with Sheryl Crow. Lukas has penned three songs for the album; "No Place To Fly," "Every Time He Drinks He Thinks of Her," and "The Sound of Your Memory" (cowritten with Elizabeth Rainey).
Willie revisits the roots of classic country with three pre-rock gems: the 1930's ballad "My Window Faces The South," Fred Rose's immortal "Home In San Antone" from 1943, and 1949's "Cold War With You," a still timely take on the battle of the sexes with guest artist Ray Price. (Price made Willie's composition, "Night Life," a smash in 1960 and Willie served as a member of Ray's band, the Cherokee Cowboys).

TRACKLIST
01. A Horse Called Music 04:37
02. Roll Me Up 03:25
03. That's All There Is To This Song 03:20
04. No Place To Fly 05:07
05. Every Time He Drinks He Thinks of Her 02:48
06. Come On Up To The House 05:16
07. Hero 04:38
08. My Window Faces The South 02:33
09. The Sound Of Your Memory 06:10
10. Cold War With You 04:40
11. Just Breathe 04:20
12. Home In San Antone 04:09
13. Come On Back Jesus 03:24
14. The Scientist 05:30

BAND
Willie Nelson – guitar, vocals
Lukas Nelson – vocals, guitar, electric guitar
Micah Nelson – vocals
Billy Joe Shaver – vocals
Ray Price – vocals
Snoop Dogg – vocals
Kris Kristofferson – vocals
Merle Haggard – vocals
Jamey Johnson – vocals
Sheryl Crow – vocals
Buddy Cannon – bass guitar and acoustic guitar, background vocals on "Heroes"
Melonie Cannon – background vocals on "Heroes"
Mickey Raphael – harmonica
Butch Carr – synthesizer
Steve Brewster – drums
Jim Brown – piano, Wurlitzer, B-3 organ
Tony Creasman – drums
Kevin Grantt – bass
Mike Johnson – steel guitar
Lance Miller – background vocals on "Heroes"
Paul Shaffer – B-3 organ
Bobby Terry – electric guitar, acoustic guitar