Old Friends/Funny How Time Slips Away
At the height of his fame, the venerable country outlaw sought to share the spotlight with "old friends" on the downward slope of their own careers. This CD reissue pairs two such LPs: 1982'sOld Friendswith Roger Miller and 1985'sFunny How Time Slips Awaywith Faron Young. Both albums are enjoyably good-natured, but hardly essential. On the former, Nelson and Miller revisit 10 Miller compositions but sing together on just 3. The title song (with a third legend,Ray Price, helping out) was a minor hit, but the album's gems are the spare closing tracks, "When Two Worlds Collide" and "I'll Pick Up My Heart (And Go Home)." Here, Willie's mournful vocal keeps company only withJohnny Gimble's fiddle and Jimmy Day's steel.Funny How Time Slips Awayincludes 12 duets between Nelson and Young, highlighted by "Hello Walls," a 1961 chart-topper for Young that was Nelson's big break as a Nashville songwriter.--Anders Smith-Lindall