THE LITTLE WILLIES are Lee Alexander, Jim Campilongo, Norah Jones, Richard Julian and Dan Rieser. On their self-titled debut CD they cover a range of songs by Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Townes Van Zandt and Fred Rose, as well as bandmember originals.
One of the freshest country albums of the year comes not out of Nashville, but rather New York, from a sporadic band with the unlikely (and somewhat suggestive) moniker of the Little Willies. At times, the fivesome (named in homage to Willie Nelson) hearkens to the great historic western-swing bands--crack, loose-limbed musicians fronted by a hypnotically sublime girl singer. If that sleepy female voice (and her distinctive piano) sounds astonishingly like Norah Jones, that's because it is Jones, exploring the country side of the blues. The group--rounded out by Lee Alexander (bass), Jim Campilongo (electric guitar), Richard Julian (guitar, vocals), and Dan Rieser (drums)--formed in 2003 to play the Living Room on New York's Lower East Side and just do the classic American music they grew up enjoying. That's why their low-key labor of love, recorded without commercial expectations and promoted under the radar, includes both originals (including the achingly sweet "Easy as the Rain") and covers of Hank Williams's "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive"; Nelson's "I Gotta Get Drunk" and "Nightlife"; Kris Kristofferson's "Best of All Possible Worlds"; Townes Van Zandt's "No Place to Fall"; and Leiber & Stoller's "Love Me" (made great by Elvis Presley). Throughout, the record maintains the slightly inebriated, bar-band feel of a live club performance, especially on "Lou Reed," a very funny saga of a cow-tipping incident possibly involving the dark rocker. This is an extraordinary record, not only for its musicianship, but for the infectious joy and exuberance of performers who remember just how fun it is to play music from the inside out. --Alanna Nash
Got the Willies?
New York City The Peter Malick Group featuring Norah Jones
Jim Campilongo and the 10 Gallon Cats Jim Campilongo
Slow New York Richard Julian
Come Away with Me Norah Jones
Table for One Jim Campilongo
Feels Like Home Norah Jones
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Jones and co. "re-imagine" country classics:
I wish I could give this three and a half stars, because I just don't think it is a four star album. With that said, this is still a favorite in my collection! If you haven't gathered, the little willies are a "super group" of sorts who on this album are bringing us some of the favorite country songs we've grown up with in a new light. This album has a little bit of everything, western swing flavor on "Best of all possible Worlds", "I gotta get drunk" and of course "Roly Poly". Songs "Love Me" and "Night... more info
Great additon to Norah Jones Collection:
This was a little unknown album with Norah Jones. It was a great album. The handling of the item was quick and service was outstanding. Highly recommend.
A gem I stumbled upon...:
Not every track on this album "wows" me, but by and large it is a terrific album. If you like good song writing, this is must have. I think that I like Nora Jones best in this setting - collaborating with other artists. The lead guitar, the melodies and lyrics, and the tone of most of these songs are pure pleasure to listen to.
Merle Haggard Once Did a Tribute Album to Bob Wills...:
I felt compelled out of necessity to add my comment that this album's kick-off track - "Roly Poly" - is, without a doubt, a tip of the hat to the great Bob Wills, the subject of Merle Haggard's 1970 release, A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World. "Roly Poly" is track #9 on Merle's album, by the way. It is also worth noting that this style of music is known as Texas swing, not country & western. Norah Jones fans may or may not enjoy this record - it depends how open they are to other... more info
