Album Review – Willie Nelson’s “I Don’t Know a Thing About Love”
Willie Nelson will turn 90 on April 29th, and has shown no signs of slowing down, either on the road, or in the studio. His last album called A Beautiful Time was released last year on his birthday and went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Country Album, and earned it entirely on the merit of the music. A Beautiful Time didn’t need sentimentality to be appreciated. It was evidentiary of what an astounding creative force Willie Nelson continues to be.
Since beginning his partnership with Sony’s Legacy Recordings now over a decade ago, Willie has taken the approach of releasing original records like A Beautiful Time, and then returning to previous material or paying tribute to past greats in between. I Don’t Know a Thing About Love continues that pattern, this time honoring the “Dean of Nashville Songwriters” and the guy who coined the country music definition “Three chords and the truth”—the immortal Harlan Howard.
What’s different about Willie Nelson paying tribute to a past great of American music is that he’s not doing it from a place of reverence for the past. Many of these guys were his contemporaries. He’s just happened to outlive them all. It was during the CMA Awards week in 1971 when Harlan Howard invited Willie Nelson to one of his famous guitar pulls. Willie was picking on his guitar Trigger, which already had the famous hole in it, and was playing songs from an album he wanted to record called Phases and Stages. Problem was, Willie was sideways with his label RCA and wanted his creative freedom.
Also at the Harlan Howard guitar pull was famous producer Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records. After hearing Willie Nelson’s songs, Wexler asked Willie to sign with the label on the spot. This is what gave Willie Nelson the freedom to record what he wanted and with who he wanted, helping to spark the “Outlaw” revolution in country music. Consider this new album Willie Nelson’s payback to his old friend for the favor.
Most country fans will be familiar with many of the songs from the album: “Tiger By The Tail” was taken to #1 by Buck Owens, “Life Turned Her That Way” was recorded by Mel Tillis, and then cut by Ricky Van Shelton in 1988. But it’s also not all of the most obvious Harlan Howard hits like “Heartaches By The Number” originally recorded by Ray Price, or Patsy Cline’s “I Fall To Pieces.” Instead Willie selected “The Chokin’ Kind” that was a semi-hit for Waylon Jennings in 1967, for example.
I Don’t Know a Thing About Love and now go-to Willie producer Buddy Cannon take a pretty straightforward approach with the material for the album. Utilizing musicians like Jim “Moose” Brown on keys, James Mitchell on guitar, and of course Mickey Raphael on harmonica, they don’t try to reinvent the wheel. They just try to do justice to these Harlan Howard songs. After all, there is already a definitive version of “Streets of Baltimore” out there recorded by Bobby Bare, and Conway Twitty’s version of “I Don’t Know A Thing About Love” (also known as “The Moon Song”) is tough to beat.
What is surprising to most listeners is just how good Willie Nelson sounds on these recordings. At (almost) 90 years old, you expect a little weathering on the vocal tones, and in fact it’s that little bit of character that Willie brings to studio performances that makes an album like A Beautiful Time feel so warm and real. But whether it’s “studio magic,” catching Willie on some good days, or his voice and breathing have markedly improved recently, Nelson sounds great on this record, including in higher registers that you’re not used to hearing him reach for.
I Don’t Know a Thing About Love will not go on to win any Grammy Awards. Or if it does, it will be due to sentimentality. This is just not that kind of album. But along with Willie Nelson still releasing remarkable output, he is still doing what he wants. That’s why he left RCA in the early 70s. That’s why he ended up at a Harlan Howard guitar pull and in front of Jerry Wexler. And that’s why he recorded this album. Willie Nelson doing what he wanted saved country music in the 70s, and he continues that legacy today.
7.8/10
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Purchase I Don’t Know a Thing About Love
April 2, 2023 @ 8:36 am
32 minutes. Damn. Good album though, but too short.
April 2, 2023 @ 8:58 am
I could have used a couple of more songs just to really illustrate the strength of Harlan’s catalog. But I also get it. Like I tried to express in the review, there are two types of Willie Nelson albums these days: ones where he’s really trying to release something with lasting impact that will lend to his already incredible legacy, and ones he wants to do to pay tribute to old friends, or re-record songs he loves to sing to just check them off a list before the inevitable happens. He’s earned that luxury.
April 2, 2023 @ 8:41 am
To the best of my knowledge, this is this first and only album I’ve come across that flashes “Dolby Atmos” and its logo when I stream it. I’m no audiophile. Maybe someone with better knowledge can speak to this 3D technology and if this is the reason for the improved quality we are hearing on this album.
I believe going totally smoke free has helped the quality of Willie’s voice immensely (even live it’s sounding stronger and clearer these days).
I love the album. It’s straight-up country sounding without stepping one foot into the make-believe, fantasy world of Americana.
April 2, 2023 @ 8:42 am
As an 86-year old leftist man who was arrested during the 1950s for my involvement in the communist party, I always appreciated that a fellow “lefty” like Mr. Nelson always “tells it as it is”, even if it often causes “flack” within the mainstream country industry. Like it or not, country music is music for communists, just as much, if not more than it is for those self-described “patriots”. As my late father (who’d be 142 if he was still alive, he was VERY old when I was born as he married late in life LOL): “fuck you Capitalism, and if you’re a capitalist, fuck you too!”
That being said, even I can acknowledge that some of this “politically correct” bull crap needs to come to an end. This coming from a man who has several children and grandchildren, not to mention other extended family members and friends, who identify as a “colour of the rainbow”, as my late mother (who’d be 126 this year) would say, when referring to the LGBTQQIA2S+ community. Cheers and stay safe!
April 2, 2023 @ 8:54 am
?
April 2, 2023 @ 9:03 am
I don’t know if this comment is trolling or just lacking in self-awareness, but this isn’t a political album at all, and comments like these very often train wreck comment sections needlessly and veer the conversation off of music. But if I delete them, people will complain they’re being “censored,” and this comment may even be a litmus test to see what will be allowed through.
Sometimes topics have a political quotient. This one doesn’t at all. It’s really up to all of us to not try to needlessly shoe horn politics into musical discussions, and this goes for CountryKnight and Honky too, who ears I’m sure are burning like someone just let off a dog whistle, and will be here soon enough.
April 2, 2023 @ 3:08 pm
Hey folks, I’m Richard’s son-in-law. Richard, due to his “advanced” age, is often erratic and goes off on tangents about things he’s passionate about, regardless of how ridiculous or “wrong-headed” they might be. I’m not even a country music fan. Willie Nelson? Isn’t he that guy from the (late) James Caan movie ‘Thief’ and hangs out with Dr. Dre? I’m only on here because I have to monitor “Dick”’s search history very closely and saw that he had been on a site called “Saving Country Music”, what?! I just wanted to clear up any “strife” or “trifle” my father-in-law might have caused.
That being said, I was curious and actually checked out this new Nelson album (honestly didn’t realized he still produced music), and I actually enjoyed one or two tracks on the album. Though, I’ve always been more of an “album-oriented rock” guy, April Wine, Trooper, Eddie Money, Boston, etc. anyone?
Cheers,
Richard Jones’ son-in-law
Barndett Jones (it’s a complete coincidence that we have the same surname, no relation)
April 2, 2023 @ 5:43 pm
Trigger calls me out by name.
I have arrived.
April 2, 2023 @ 8:50 pm
Sounds like Richard may have been guilty of a “false start” as they say in the NFL–He was “responding” to the guy who calls everybody a commmunist, even though the guy had not chimed in. Taking him at his word (which is liberal thing to do on the Internet), that he’s near Willie’s age–and his father might’ve voted for Teddy Roosevelt–I’d give him a pass
April 2, 2023 @ 12:26 pm
Without capitalism Willie would never have been a popular musician, the gear he used wouldnt have been made, the record labels he recorded for wouldnt have existed, the concert venues not built, etc etc. We are damn lucky not to have been communist as our life would be a lot duller and less joyful without music like this. Feel free to give all your possessions and albums to the State if you are a true believer though. No, didnt think so. Hypocrite.
April 2, 2023 @ 1:35 pm
You’re confusing capitalism with corporatism
Under proper capitalism, a person who owns a business can provide individual bank statements for the money they made, and how they made it, the equipment they purchased with that money, the building they purchased with their money to put the equipment in, and the paperwork, demonstrating who they pay how much they pay, and for how long
A business owned by an individual can be sold or gifted to another individual, operated and overseen by that owning individual, and so on
With corporatism, not only can ownership of an operating company, not be traced to any one person, nor even one soul, accountable body, but instead to a whole bunch of assorted shareholders, each, trying to get a return on their investment.
Under proper capitalism, individuals or groups of individuals can get together and create things, invent things, construct things, and get a return on the investment with which they did that. And when it is concluded, the business is past, and things move on. If I open the convenience store made my money and chose to retire. I could sell the building to a guy who wanted to open a gun store or a corner diner
With corporatism, the objective is not sustenance, but endless growth, for the sake of said growth. Coca-Cola does not have an end goal, Coca-Cola is trying to get more money, expand into more markets, grow grow grow, grow grow, and growth, for the sake of growth is the same ideology as a cancer cell
There is no singular body with a singular objective making decisions, instead, it is this endless sustain stasis, trying to please a group of persons who provide no meaningful service, except investing money into a system, but didn’t need any money for any other reason other than to reinvest that money to make more money
The basic idea of capitalism is that individuals should be able to independently organize, assemble, and obtain resources with which to provide services, and those services can be provided by any number of individuals, operating under their own experience and ambition, not by government, which provides all services as though they were utilities
If the government ran a corner diner, it would have to run it with the same attention to detail and operation philosophy as a public utility, that is to say a necessary service.
Corporatism operates under the assumption that a company is under no obligation to any government exclusively, nor to any singular person, but the corporation is innocence, its own country, with its own government, and its own structure, that is to say Coca-Cola should be able to negotiate with the government of the United States as Coca-Cola. Jim‘s beer joint on the corner of eighth Street and 2nd St. has no such legal standing, because It is the property of Jim, it is Jim The individual who has the paperwork to interact with the government, and having a restaurant offers Jim, nothing in the eyes of the government. Jim, as a restaurant owner gets nothing in the way of bargaining power by being a restaurant owner, however, Coca-Cola is not only above laws, they have the power to influence laws, Jim, who owns a single restaurant, has no such authority.
With capitalism, if I don’t like what Monsanto is doing, I should be able to plant my own crops, grow them and negotiate with other buyers and sellers as myself an individual, with capitalism, I can make, and build any business of my own choosing so long as I am able to pay the bills
With corporatism, the largest competitor buys out the government specifically to restrict the competition, creating an artificialized monopoly
With corporatism, companies negotiate with government, says if they are equal, with capitalism, business owners are no different than their employees in the eyes of the government
With corporatism, the idea of business ownership is practically meaningless, because the shareholding process has run so deep that no single person can be held accountable for anything
April 2, 2023 @ 2:52 pm
Amen, Brother.
April 2, 2023 @ 5:46 pm
Too obvious of a baiting comment.
Try again, Richard.
April 4, 2023 @ 8:31 am
Richard,
I reckon about the only thing you and I would agree on is Willie Nelson.
In my book, that’s enough. God bless you and your family.
April 4, 2023 @ 5:05 pm
Thanx, I’m sure we would also agree on Roy Acuff.
April 2, 2023 @ 8:50 am
Every album now is too short or too long (according to the comments). 10 tracks at 32 minutes is perfect (IMO) and it may only feel short because it’s that damn good and we don’t want it to end!
April 2, 2023 @ 8:56 am
Willie sounds great on this album.I don’t know if studio “magic” is involved but it sounds natural to me.Obviously the studio environment is more controlled and Willie can go at his own pace to deliver his best vocal performance. Amazing that he can still pull it off so well in his 90th year.
April 2, 2023 @ 8:59 am
I’m a recovering alcohol… I’ve now been sober 21 years, but if Willie makes it to 90, I’m polishing off a 40-ounce bottle of rye, and then another one if I’m still standing!
April 2, 2023 @ 12:54 pm
His birthday is April 29th so maybe hold off on that, I think he would probably tell you your sobriety is more important than celebrating his birthday. I’m assuming you are joking but if not thought you might want a heads up that it was happening very soon.
April 2, 2023 @ 2:26 pm
Be like Willie and eat an edible instead of downing a fifth of rye.
April 2, 2023 @ 12:01 pm
To much BS in the replies this is about music and the man that created it. Want to start a political moment for yourself go to your own social media, I’ve met the man and he will always ride with me.
April 2, 2023 @ 5:44 pm
I would rather have Pride back instead of Nelson.
Can the trade be arranged?
April 2, 2023 @ 7:42 pm
I have to admit, Willie’s voice sounds good here. It was worth doing the record.
I read that “I Don’t Know a Thing About Love” was the first Harlan Howard song that Conway Twitty did–or, more likely, the first that was released as a single. It went to #1 for Conway in 1984. I recall that they were still playing it when I started listening to country radio around 1988.
April 2, 2023 @ 11:05 pm
Listened to Streets Of Baltimore (one of my favorites) and I was impressed by the production.
April 3, 2023 @ 3:00 am
…i “had” to listen to this album in a professional capacity first and foremost and repeatedly ended up snuggly in the comfort zone by doing so. a very enjoyable experience that willie nelson and harlan howard – as well as producer buddy cannon and the musicians chosen – provide. my favourite take is “beautiful annabel lee”.
April 3, 2023 @ 5:54 am
Like you mentioned something is off with his vocals. Dare I say it but some I’m convinced is autotoned a bit.
April 3, 2023 @ 7:39 am
I need to pick this one and his last record up. The wife and I have tickets for Willie’s 90th birthday concert at the Hollywood Bowl!
April 3, 2023 @ 8:18 am
I love his “tribute” albums, I still spin his 2016 Ray Price one all the time and am hoping for the Merle one he’s teased before, and I too came away super impressed with this tight, great sounding set. I’m pretty bummed VMP has the exclusive vinyl release, I’m not paying $42 for a single record that won’t arrive until October…
April 3, 2023 @ 8:55 am
I could spend so much money on VMP and, occasionally, Magnolia Record Club.
Trigger, agreed on the stronger vocals! Beautiful record.
April 3, 2023 @ 9:59 am
Very bizarre comments here.
Willie does sound good though.
April 3, 2023 @ 8:47 pm
It’s a rare band that winds up with one distinct identifying tone, let alone three…. Willies voice, his guitar sound and Mickeys harmonica playing are all instantly recognizable by themselves but add them together and a truly magical thing happens.
Willies voice sounds much stronger here than anything he’s done in recent memory and although I’m sure there was plenty of “studio help”, if the original take isn’t strong, no amount of help will save it. I’ve been in enough professional sessions over the years to believe that Willie didn’t need a lot of help to deliver that performance, and quite frankly, Willie doesn’t owe any of us an apology for anything he may or may not do. We’ve been blessed that he’s shared with us his life and family o er so many albums.
April 5, 2023 @ 9:55 am
All I can say is as an avid Willie fan, and having bought Willie’s album My Way I was disappointed. Willie Nelson is not, and never will be Frank Sinatra. Willie needs to stick to what he writes.