Earlier this year, Willie Nelson was 90 years old. Instead of giving him gifts, some of the best songwriters of the last 50 years gathered together to personally wish him a happy birthday. Extended Narrative Brief: Currently accessible on streaming sites, Willie Nelson 90 (Live at the Hollywood Bowl) captures the star-studded birthday bash in Los Angeles that included performances by Bob Weir, Billy Strings, Dave Matthews, Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton, and numerous others
The two nights of the event on April 29 and 30 featured a lineup that is nearly as extensive as the 53-song tracklist. It’s enough to say that stars from many genres of music were drawn to Nelson because of his immense influence. There was no shortage of special guests to celebrate Willie’s 90th birthday, including crooner Tom Jones, hip-hop legend and fellow marijuana enthusiast Snoop Dogg, funk architect and producer extraordinaire Booker T. Jones, and numerous singer-songwriters who grew up on Willie’s music.
With nonstop highlights throughout its three hours and fifteen minutes, the CD begins with Billy Strings’ rendition of “Whiskey River.” Billy and Willie mentioned the song later in the event. The bluegrass firebrand and Willie worked together earlier this year on the single “California Sober,” which is nominated for a Grammy for Best American Roots Song.
Highlights also include a contemporary interpretation of the Willie and Waylon Jennings duet “I Can Get Off On You” by Margo Price and Nathaniel Rateliff. In other spots, Sheryl Cow performs a cover of Willie’s hit song “Crazy,” former Allman Brother Warren Haynes gets the house going with “Midnight Rider,” and the nepotides pay tribute to their dads with a performance of “Good Hearted Woman” by Lukas Nelson and Shooter Jennings.
Along with performing with the tenacity of a man much younger, Willie also passes the mic (and maybe more) with Snoop on “Roll Me Up & Smoke Me When I Die,” sings with Keith Richards on Billy Joe Shaver’s “Live Forever,” and shares the stage with George Strait for Townes Van Zandt’s “Pancho & Lefty.” Fittingly, the all-hands-on-deck “On The Road Again” and a “Happy Birthday” for the man of the hour marked the end of the marathon show.
In addition to the digital streaming version, 2LP vinyl and CD+Blu Ray versions have also been released by Blackbird Presents and Legacy Recordings. Together with 39 audio tracks, two hours of Blu-Ray video, and a multi-page booklet, the CD edition is available. A two-hour snippet of the concert will air on CBS on Sunday, December 17th at 8:30 p.m. ET, or it can be streamed onParamount+.
View and purchase physical copies of Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 (Live at the Hollywood Bowl) here. Shotgun Willie, who is 90 years old, is still going strong and has just announced a new set of tour dates for 2024.
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