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by: Keith Caulfeild
Willie Nelson Says Frank Sinatra Is His Vocal Inspiration
The new album is a tribute to the songwriting duo George and Ira Gershwin. It gives Nelson his third No. 1 on the Traditional Jazz Albums chart, following two collaborations with Wynton Marsalis: Two Men With the Blues (2008) and Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles (with Norah Jones, 2011). While Nelson is most certainly an icon of country music — and has 14 No. 1s on the Top Country Albums chart to prove it — he’s also notched top 10s on the Blues Albums (Milk Cow Blues, No. 2 in 2000), Kid Albums (Rainbow Connection, No. 7 in 2001) and Holiday Albums (Pretty Paper, No. 9 in 1983) charts. He’s even claimed a No. 1 on the Reggae Albums chart (Countryman, in 2009).
The new Gershwin album does not add to Nelson’s voluminous history on the Top Country Albums chart, however, as the set is a decidedly jazz affair. That follows such titles as his top 10 Blues Albums effort Milk Cow Blues (2000) and his two earlier No. 1s on the Traditional Jazz Albums list, all of which skipped the Top Country Albums tally.