Willie Nelson: Hill Country Christmas
Willie's Finer Arts recordings are not among his best known, but they are his most intimate; featuring spare arrangements heavy on his nylon string guitar, his sister Bobbie's gospel piano, and that unmistakable sweet, craggy Nelson voice.Hill Country Christmasoffers up some treasures amidst the usual standards, including Willie's definitive take on his homeless holiday classic, "Pretty Paper," and the Latin-tinged "El Niño," which might be destined for classic status on its own. The latter is also reprised as a stirring album-closing instrumental. In an odd move though Nelson joins cowboy legend Gene Autry on a jaunty take of "Here Comes Santa Claus"--literally singing harmony over an old Autry recording of the song.--Michael Ruby