''The Willies'' is the 15th album by

Bill Frisell William Richard Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is an American jazz guitarist, composer and arranger. Frisell first came to prominence at ECM Records in the 1980s, as both a session player and a leader. He went on to work in a variety of contexts ...

to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 2002 and features performances by Frisell, Danny Barnes on banjo, pump organ & harmonica and bassist Keith Lowe.

Reception

The

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

review by Zac Johnson awarded the album 3.5 stars, stating, "Anyone familiar with the guitarist's style will understand his choices in recording these timeworn love songs and murder ballads, and traditional folk aficionados will be intrigued to hear their old favorites in this new environment. ".Johnson, Z
Allmusic Review
accessed June 21, 2011 Chris Dahlen of ''

Pitchfork Media ''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog. Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...

'' commented, "...''The Willies'' is serviceable, but it isn't the shit-kicking great time that it should be. It makes Frisell seem like the guy at the party who's scared to get drunk and break the host's furniture; and we know he has more bluegrass in him thar that."

Track listing

All compositions by Bill Frisell except as indicated. # "Sittin’ on Top of the World" (Lonnie Chatmon,

Walter Vinson Walter Vinson (February 2, 1901 – April 22, 1975) was an American Memphis blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a member of the Mississippi Sheiks, worked with Bo Chatmon and his brothers, and co-wrote the blues standard "Sitting o ...

) – 3:59 # "

Cluck Old Hen "Cluck Old Hen" is a popular Appalachian fiddle and banjo tune in the mixolydian or dorian mode (as in the score below which is in A dorian). It is played either as an instrumental or with lyrics, which vary from one version to another. One of t ...

" (Traditional) – 3:53 # "Everybody Loves Everybody" – 3:42 # "I Want to Go Home" – 4:15 # "Single Girl, Married Girl" ( A. P. Carter) – 3:57 # "Get Along" – 3:23 # " John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man" (Traditional) – 5:17 # "Sugar Baby" (Traditional) – 3:51 # "Blackberry Blossom" (Traditional) – 4:20 # "If I Could I Surely Would" – 6:46 # "

" (reprise) (Traditional) – 1:50 # "

Cold, Cold Heart "Cold, Cold Heart" is a country music and pop song written and first recorded by Hank Williams. This blues ballad is both a classic of honky-tonk and an entry in the ''Great American Songbook''. Hank Williams version Williams adapted the melod ...

" (

Hank Williams Hank Williams (born Hiram Williams; September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he reco ...

) – 2:25 # "I Know You Care" – 3:12 # "

Goodnight Irene "Goodnight, Irene" or "Irene, Goodnight," is a 20th-century American folk standard, written in time, first recorded by American blues musician Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter in 1933. A version recorded by the Weavers was a #1 hit in 1950. The ...

" (

Lead Belly Huddie William Ledbetter (; January 20, 1888 – December 6, 1949), better known by the stage name Lead Belly, was an American folk music, folk and blues singer notable for his strong vocals, Virtuoso, virtuosity on the twelve-string guita ...

John A. Lomax John Avery Lomax (September 23, 1867 – January 26, 1948) was an American teacher, a pioneering musicologist, and a folklorist who did much for the preservation of American folk music. He was the father of Alan Lomax, John Lomax Jr. and Bess ...

) – 3:55 # "Big Shoe" – 4:51 # "The Willies" – 6:24

Personnel

– electric and acoustic guitars and loops “The Willies”: * Danny Barnes – banjo, guitar, pump organ, bass harmonica *Keith Lowe – bass

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Willies 2002 albums Bill Frisell albums Nonesuch Records albums