June 2019 is Nelson family time: just one week after his son Lukas published the album Turn Off The New (Build A Garden), legendary Willie Nelson releases his Ride Me Back Home. I was looking very much forward to listen into the new songs of this living legend. Here is my review.
Willie Nelson – About the Artist
Do I really need to introduce this one? Born 1933 (yes, he is 86 years old!), Willie Nelson was one of the most important faces in the developmetn of country music. Especially in the 1970s, where eight of his album hit the Top 5 album charts (five of them even topped them) between 1975 and 1979, country music was Willie Nelson music. Overall, he produced 98 studio albums and two soundtracks (plus compilations etc.). Even in the modern era, Nelson left a huge impact in the music business. For example, he received a Grammy in 2019 for his album My Way featuring Frank Sinatra hits.
With this biography, it is hard to pick a single song. Maybe, On The Road Again is one of his most famous songs worldwide.
Willie Nelson – Ride Me Back Home – Track by Track
Willie Nelson’s 2019 album holds eleven tracks longing 43 minutes.
1. Ride Me Back Home
The album starts with the title track.
We rode into battle barebacked and saddled
You took the wound in your side
You pulled the sleds and you pulled the wagons
You gave ’em somewhere to hide
Now they don’t need you and there’s no one to feed you
And there’s fences where you used to roam
I wish I could gather up all of your brothers
And you would just ride me back home
Nice storytelling, ain’t it? 🙂
2. Come On Time
Strong rhythms, the characteristic Willie Nelson voice – this track strongly reminds me of On the Road Again – and I just like it. Nice one.
3. My Favorite Picture Of You
Though this track is one of four which have been published before album release, the only video I found is of the Jimmy Fallon show.
My favorite picture of you
Is bent and it’s faded
And it’s pinned to my wall
Oh, and you were so angry
But it’s hard to believe
That we were lovers at all
A love song in this very special Willie Nelson way. Wow, love it!
4. Seven Year Itch
Seven Year Itch is the first track on the album, which has not been pre-released. I loved its rhythm, its mixture of country music and a touch of Swing, from the very beginning. I feel it is a damn cool song. Classic, but still modern somehow.
5. Immigrant Eyes
A very impressive song about a grandfather immigranting to the United States landing in Ellis Island. The song is a cover, original by Guy Clarke, I love the interpretation of Willie Nelson and the amazing lyrics. Here are the final lines. So up-to-date nowadays:
My grandfather’s days were numbered
But I won’t let his memory die
‘Cause he gave me the gift of this country
And the looked in his immigrant eyes
Sometimes when I looked in my grandfather’s immigrant eyes
I saw that day reflected and I couldn’t hold my feelings inside
I saw starting with nothing and working hard all of his life
“So don’t take it for granted,” said grandfather’s immigrant eyes
“Don’t take it for granted,” said grandfather’s immigrant eyes
6. Stay Away From Lonely Places
This very classic country music sound song is a new version of the song, which has been published by Willie Nelson in 1972 already.
Stay away from lonely places
It takes time to learn to live alone
And someone’s outstretched arms are waiting
To stay with you at least till dawn
7. Just The Way You Are
You will likely know this Billy Joel classic, even if it takes some verses to identify it in the Willie Nelson world. It is an amazing song in the original version – but I somehow feel a lot of love and fascination for it in the Willie Nelson version, which I also put into my initial Flyctory.com Country Music Playlist.
8. One More Song To Write
This track is very melodic, but still so catchy. Feels a bit like a farewell song on this album.
9. Nobody’s Listening
This is – again – one of these tracks you just listen to. Willie Nelson takes you into his story of people, which are not heard of. You keep listening to it – and feel some sadness that the song is over after five minutes (even if that is the longest song on this album).
10. It’s Hard To Be Humble (with Lukas & Micah Nelson)
This song, recorded with two of WIllie’s sons, Lukas and Micah, is a cover of a 1980 Mac Davis song. It is lovely songwriting and a nice interpretation of a classic.
11. Maybe I Should’ve Been Listening
Maybe I should’ve been Listening
When you said good-bye
A slow track finishes this album. Nice one!
Willie Nelson – Ride Me Back Home – My View
Wow! I was not too much in Willie Nelson’s music his last 90-something studio albums. But listening to Ride Me Back Home makes me feel somehow guilty for it. He just catches me with every song. The covers are really amazing, the new tracks are good. A touch of classic country music, but so modern. What a nice selection. Good luck with this one, Willie Nelson – and thank you for the music. Top Pick! of course.
Flyctory.com Media Reviews
Here are all CD, book and movie reviews:

Uncle Lucius – Like It’s The Last One Left


Cave To Cosmos – Truth Waits In Deepest Nights EP


Jules Atlas – Postcards From Sophia


Zara Larsson – Honor The Light EP


Bjorko – Heartrot



King & Potter – Habits!


Pridian – Cybergnosis EP



Treaty Oak Revival – Have a Nice Day


Michael Lane – Memories


Untamed – Untamed


Paradogmata – Endetid


Electric Horseman – Lies to Love for



Maelfoy – Failures, Fears and Forgiveness


Frollein Motte – UWE


Palehorse – Hunting Grounds


Cabrakaän – Aztlan


Dolly Parton – Rockstar



Dennis Durant – Fragile



Dogma – Dogma


MKSM – Ready EP


Sonia Liebing – Liebe ist für alle da



Finn & Jonas – Kiosk


Todd Snider – Crank It, We’re Doomed


Chris Stapleton – Higher



D’Virgilio, Morse & Jennings – Sophomore


Alphawezen – Source


Christian Kjellvander – Hold Your Love Still


Bad Rain – Born To Breathe EP



The Struts – Pretty Vicious



The Joni Project – Shades of Blue



Luke – Strange Boy in Town


Myrkvi – Early Warning


Robert Finley – Black Bayou


Simen Mitlid – Fredsvenn


Wayfarer – American Gothic



Doro – Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud



The Gaslight Anthem – History Books


The Shindellas – Shindo


Myle – Songs To Scream In The Car



Chris Shiflett – Lost At Sea


Twinnie – Blue Hour (After Dark)



Angelus Apatrida – Aftermath


Bo Milli – Making Friends



Israel Nash – Ozarker


Sebastian Schaffer – Collections



FRAUPAUL – Was, wenn wir dann durchdrehen… ?! EP



Holly Humberstone – Paint My Bedroom Black


Rick Astley – Are We There Yet?


Beartooth – The Surface


Lisa Brokop – Who’s Gonna Fill Their Heels?



Alexandra Hofmann – Grün



Antje Schomaker – Snacks



Darius Rucker – Carolyn’s Boy


The Steel Woods – On Your Time



Alex Diehl – Das ist keine Übung


Sacropolis – Dormir Au Soleil EP



Atena – Subway Anthem



Collapse Unter The Empire – Recurring


They Called Me Phoebe – Overthinking EP


Dustin Lynch – Killed The Cowboy



Joe Leila – Breathing EP


Soccer Mommy – Karaoke Night EP


Rising Wings – Reach


Brent Cobb – Southern Star


Arny Margret – dinner alone EP


Manntra – War of the Heathens


Thirty Seconds To Mars – It’s The End Of The World But It’s A Beautiful Day


Dan + Shay – Bigger Houses


Arstidir – Blik



Danko Jones – Electric Sounds


The Blackwhitecolorful – Brace for Impact



Bellucci Boi – Lost in Berlin EP


Low Cut Connie – Art Dealers



Allison Russell – The Returner



Durry – Suburban Legend


The Glorious Sons – Glory


Coffey Anderson – Tailgates and Heartbreaks


The Paper Kites – At The Roadhouse



Marduk – Memento Mori



Melanie Wiegmann & Carl Carlton – Glory of Love



Gregor McEwan – Going Solo


Adam Wendler – Living the Dream



Philipp Artmann – Guten Morgen schönes Leben



Alice Cooper – Road


Morgan Wade – Psychopath


Turnpike Troubadours – A Cat In The Rain


Dadi Freyr – I Made An Album


Tim McGraw – Standing Room Only


Paerish – You’re In Both Dreams (And You’re Scared)


Sleazy – Back on Track



TracieLynn – More Than a Bad Habit EP



Bobby Rush – All My Love For You



Madsen – Hollywood



Atreyu – The Moment You Find Your Flame EP


William Fitzsimmons – Covers Vol. II


Daniel Seavey – Dancing In The Dark EP


The Hives – The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons


Mo-Torres – Heute war alles Besser


Ryan Bingham – Watch Out For The Wolf EP



Uncaved – Dogmatorraistes



Ludwig Wright – Turn of Tides or Where the Waves Come From


X-Perience – We Travel The World


Hanna Sikasa – Sequel



Bianca James – Bianca James


Skindred – Smile



Mammoth WVH – Mammoth II


Kool & the Gang – People Just Wanna Have Fun



Sasha – Toto und der Mann im Mond (music album)



Santans – Koi Boi EP



Fury in the Slaughterhouse – Hope


Justine Blazer – Joy!


Joe Lasher – Vol. 1 EP


Somnuri – Desiderium


Cygnotic – Mortal Dreamers


Later Sons – Rise Up



Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway – City of Gold



Lori McKenna – 1988


Kezia Gill – Misfit


Avec – I Feel Alone These Days EP


Michael Bolton – Spark of Light



Tom Astor – Wieder da!



Jim “Kimo” West – Of Wood and Spirit (American Guitar Stories)



Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real – Sticks and Stones


Eyelar – Mistakes & Contradictions EP



Sean Patrick McGraw – Hillbilly Hippie



1476 – In Exile


Annie Taylor – Inner Smile


Sekou – Out of Mind EP


Crown of Things – Louder Love



Sylvia Aimee – Identity EP



Lucinda Williams – Stories From A Rock N Roll Heart


Mental Cruelty – Zwielicht



Pascal Blenke – Gedankenspiele


Emma Steinbakken – Home


Green Labyrinth – Sequences


Lloyd Cole – On Pain



Ayron Jones – Chronicles Of The Kid


Hannah Aldridge – Dream of America


Son Volt – Day of the Doug



Saturnus – The Storm Within



Steve Lukather – Bridges



Deer Tick – Emotional Contracts


waterbaby – Foam EP


freekind. – Since Always and Forever


Kimberly Perry – Bloom EP


Tenhi – Valkama


Extreme – Six


Ray Alder – II


Milky Chance – Living In A Haze


Brittany Warthan – No Vacancy


Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – What If I EP



Omnium Gatherum – Slasher EP



Ron Pope – Inside Voices


Silbermond – Auf Auf



Tanya Tucker – Sweet Western Sound


Flora Falls – Hidden From You EP


Grenzenlos – AntiXtrem



Oryad – Sacred & Profane



Sören Vogelsang – Optimismus Prime


Palila – Mind My Mind


Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton – Death Wish Blues



Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark



Marathonmann – Maniac



Yes – Mirror To The Sky



Moor – Heavy Heart


Rahel – Blessed EP


Daisy Briggs – Nice Knowing You EP



Anna Demetriou – More To This


Parker Millsap – Wilderness Within You


Belinda Carlisle – Kismet EP



Indecent Behavior – Therapy In Melody



Andreas Diehlmann Band – Long Way To Go



Sebel – Der Boxer


Tino Z – Bluesman


Rodney Crowell – The Chicago Sessions


Enforced – War Remains



Philip Bradatsch – Philip Bradatsch



Storm Seeker – Nautic Force



Dave Hause – Drive It Like It’s Stolen



As Everything Unfolds – Ultraviolet



Kati von Schwerin – Welcome Back Home



Esther Rose – Safe To Run



Texas Hippie Coalition – The Name Lives On



Grand Design – Rawk


Dirty Heads – Midnight Control Sessions: Night 2 EP


Emm Gryner – Business & Pleasure


The Wood Brothers – Heart is the Hero


Musa Dagh – No Future


North West – Hamburg



Jennifer K. Austin – Cards EP


Vass / Katsionis – Cynical Silence


Zartbitter – Hier und Jetzt


Tribulation – Hamartia EP


Welshly Arms – Wasted Words & Bad Decisions


Overcoats – Winner


Beyond Frequencies – Me Megalomaniac


The Hold Steady – The Price of Progress


Wolkenfrei – Hotel Tropicana



Lordi – Screem Writers Guild



VIVA – Das ist die Wahrheit



Milow – Great To Know You EP



Black Hawk – Soulkeeper


Pat Burgener – PAT The Album



Katie Melua – Love & Money



Sophie B. Hawkins – Free Myself



Sophia – Niemals Allein



Leony – Somewhere in Between



Night Demon – Outsider



Stephen Jay – understatement



Timesbold – Not Still Here



Ailbhe Reddy – Endless Affair


Bad Bones – Hasta El Final!



Kendall Lujan – Forget Me Knots EP


John Diva & The Rockets of Love – The Big Easy


Ripe – Bright Blues


Ane Brun – Portrayals


The Nude Party – Rides On


Manchester Orchestra – The Valley of Vision EP



Brian Falduto – Gay Country


Mael & Jonas – Rocket Science


Suicide Silence – Remember… You Must Die



Wolfgang Petry – Stark wie wir



Lina – 24/1



Drayton Farley- Twenty on High



AnnenMayKantereit – Es ist Abend und wir sitzen bei mir



Helge Schneider – Torero


Endlevel – Weekend War


Antonia Kubas – Liebe und Musik EP


Steel Panther – On The Prowl


OH FYO! – Level 3: Discovery



Dierks Bentley – Gravel & Gold



Tanzwut – Silberne Hochzeit


Lucero – Should’ve Learned by Now


Drew Sycamore – Superfaith


Those Damn Crows – Inhale/Exhale


Jaimee Harris – Boomerang Town



P!nk – Trustfall



Ron Sexsmith – The Vivian Line



Malte Vief und Malte Viefs Kammer – Kammer III


Tennis – Pollen


You Me At Six – Truth Decay



The Legendary – Warlord



Simone Kopmajer – With Love


Cort Carpenter – All In


Chase Rice – I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell


Ian Fisher – Burnt Tongue


Donots – Heut ist ein guter Tag


Ricochets – Closer to the Light



The Rehats – Heart & Mind


Shania Twain – Queen of Me



Eamonn McCormack – Eamonn McCormack


Robert Forster – The Candle and the Flame


Dark Sarah – Attack of Orym


IUMA – Genug EP


Umme Block – State Of Limbo



Pristine – The Lines We Cross


Vic Allen – Some Place I’d Rather Be



Joe Henry – All The Eye Can See


Siv Jakobsen – Gardening



Laura Cox – Head Above Water


Alexander Liebe – Spielautomat


Keimzeit Akustik Quintett – Schon gar nicht Proust



Sonic Wildhearts – Get It On



Lukas Graham – 4 (The Pink Album)



Richard Lynch – Radio Friend


Black Star Riders – Wrong Side of Paradise


Ski Holiday – Ski Holadiy


Masha The Rich Man – Sheyne Ziere


Circa Waves – Never Going Under



Groenalund – #lovestorm


Joesef – Permanent Damage


Margo Price – Strays


Iggy Pop – Every Loser


Anti-Flag – Lies They Tell Our Children



Gabbie Hanna – This Time Next Year



Adam Warner – What We’re Known For


Madeline Consoer – Little Miss EP


Nicole Scholz – Nur Du


King LX – Broken Crown



Poppy Fardell – Back On My Feet


Shaam Larein – Stick En Kniv I Världen



Nevena – Nevena



Upsahl – Sagittarius EP



Sündflut – Basta! EP



Nina Hagen – Unity


Neufundland – Grind



Isafjord – Hjartsatjaki


Olly Murs – Marry Me



Myle – Sad Boy Summer EP


Amberian Dawn – Take a Chance (A Metal Tribute To ABBA)



Boppin’ B – Saxbomb


David Gramberg – Where Have You Gone EP


Induction – Born from Fire


Tanzos – Win Fight Dream Lose EP


Karo Lynn – A Line in My Skin


Samuel Rösch – Für den Augenblick EP


Bad Temper Joe – Glitter & Blues


Melissa Carper – Ramblin’ Soul


Billy Strings – Me/And/Dad


Hanne Mjoen – Fall in Love/Apart EP


Nickelback – Get Rollin’



Sarah Connor – Not So Silent Night


Jonathan E. Blake – Old Souls



Tina Tandler – Songs for Saxophone


L.S. Dunes – Past Lives


Dave Helgi Johan – Drumheller



Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver (Various Artists)



Rook Road – Rook Road


DJ BoBo – Evolut30n



Seth Avett – Seth Avett Sings Greg Brown


Superläuche – Superläuche



Stephanie Quayle – On The Edge



The Moon City Masters – The Famous Moon City Masters


Tiffany Johnson – Over Emotional EP


Emily Nenni – On The Ranch



Russell Dickerson – Russell Dickerson


Trampled by Turtles – Alpenglow


Fireside – Bin Juice


Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country


Hostage – Memento Mori


The Backseat Lovers – Waiting To Spill



Massive Wagons – Triggered!



Wally – Alles halb so wild


PG Roxette – Pop-Up Dynamo!


Börni – Two Truths



Chez Kane – Powerzone



Arny Margret – they only talk about the weather



Kenny Foster – Somewhere in Middle America



Avantasia – A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society


Debbie Gibson – Winterlicious


Simple Minds – Direction of the Heart



Taylor Swift – Midnights



Alex Williams – Waging Peace


Alter Bridge – Pawns And Kings


Logan Mize – Prairie Tapes, Vol. 1 EP


Orianthi – Rock Candy


Atlas Bird – Atlas Bird



Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen (Various Artists)


Callista Clark – Real To Me: The Way I Feel


Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas


SLIXS – Quer Bach 3


Sleeping Romance – We All Are Shadows


Allee der Diktatoren – Dieses kleine bisschen Wut


Alvvays – Blue Rev


Avery Anna – Mood Swings EP


Magical Heart – Heartsonic


Jim Kroft – The Isolation Diaries Vol. 3 EP


Monster Truck – Warriors



Melissa Naschenweng – Glück


Slipknot – The End, So Far



Ashley McBryde – Lindeville


Arina – A+ (EP)



Richard Marx – Songwriter



Dr. John – Things Happen That Way


Kill Strings – Limbo


Sunny Sweeney – Married Alone


5 Seconds of Summer – 5SOS5



Kelsea Ballerini – Subject To Change



Billy Idol – The Cage EP


Nikki Lane – Denim & Diamonds



Silent Knight – Full Force


Starcrawler – She Said


Eloy de Jong – Lass das Leben Musik sein



LeAnn Rimes – God’s Work


The Afghan Whigs – How Do You Burn?


U96 – 20,000 Meilen unter dem Meer



Kane Brown – Different Man


I Am – Eternal Steel



Charley Crockett – The Man From Waco


Hannah – Kuhrios


Blind Guardian – The God Machine



Roland Kaiser – Perspektiven


Jolina Carl – Hallo, ich bin Jolina Carl


Fire Horse – Out of the Ashes



Jon Pardi – Mr. Saturday Night



Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… and The Dead!


Moncrieff – Warm EP


Lugnet – Tales From The Great Beyond



Louisa Specht – Karussell EP


Bad Baron – Ace of Hearts


Ingrid Andress – Good Person


Bandaid Brigade – Sex is Terrifying



Heather Nova – Other Shores



Drei Meter Feldweg – Durak


Adam Wendler – Motions


David Paich – Forgotten Toys


Mani Orrason – The World Is Big and You Will Never Find Me



Watkins Family Hour – Vol. 2


Luna Klee – Mein Kopf, mein Bauch, mein Herz



Thundermother – Black And Gold


Giovanni Zarrella – Per sempre


Wooden Empire – Ghosts


Jeremy Black – Part of Me EP


Sykamore – Pinto


Vanessa Mai – Metamorphose


Kelsey Waldon – No Regular Dog


Versus Goliath – Liebe & Chaos


HAVET – Mamas Lullaby EP



Wade Bowen – Somewhere Between The Secret and The Truth


Vin Deca – Chineke


Marie Reim – Bist Du dafür bereit?


Manntra – Kreatura


Lauv – All 4 Nothing



Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army



Pete Wolf Band – Crosswalk To Nowhere EP



H.E.A.T. – Force Majeure


Broken Forest – Wild At Heart EP


Zeitflug – Echte Freunde


Amanda Shires – Take It Like A Man



LustfingeR – LustfingeR



Brooke Eden – Choosing You EP



Whiskey Myers – Tornillo


She & Him – Melt Away: A Tribute To Brian Wilson


Dawes – Misadventures Of Doomscroller


She Bites – Super Hero


Heischneida – Heischneida II


Kaylee Rose – Hot Minute EP


Will Linley – Kill All My Feelings EP


Philipp Eisenblätter – Das Jahr, das sich um eins verschiebt


Confirmation – Survive EP


The Local Honeys – The Local Honeys


Bryde – Still



More Than Words – Today (Make Today Be the Best Day of Your Life)



Alan Parsons – From the New World


Markus – Das Leben liebt mich … und ich liebe das Leben


Sophie Fellner – Brown Eyes EP


Berries – How We Function


The Faim – Talk Talk


Blind Channel – Lifestyles of the Sick & Dangerous


Kimberly Kelly – I’ll Tell You What’s Gonna Happen



Journey – Freedom


Traitor – Exiled To The Surface



Jonny Houlihan – Coffee and Jesus


Grey Daze – The Phoenix


Ewan Mainwood – Broken EP



Kylie Morgan – P.S. EP


Breathe Your Last – Apocalypse


Leepa – Brain Freeze EP


RXPTRS – Living Without Death’s Permission


Chris Colter – Nice To Be Back To Be Back Nice


G. Love & Special Sauce – Philadelphia Mississippi



Luke Combs – Growin’ Up


Charly Klauser – Mehr



The Cumberland River Project – A Smell of Gravy


Rachel LaRen – Cowboys Don’t Change EP


April Art – P.O.K.E.R.F.A.C.E.


Hank Williams Jr. – Rich White Honky Blues



Brett Eldredge – Songs About You



Clara Louise – Enough Is Enough



Kasalla – Rudeldiere

