Maps of Music
The Great Divide (2002)
Where the lyrics of The Great Divide take you, and where it was really made.
Critics heard a Willie Nelson record that barely sounded like Willie Nelson, because the adult-contemporary production and choirs buried his plain voice.
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Overview
- The Great Divide: the 50th studio album by American country singer Willie Nelson
- Released in 2002 on Lost Highway Records, dated 12 January 2002
- Built around duets with artists from pop and rock
- Duet partners: Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, Lee Ann Womack, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Brian McKnight, Bonnie Raitt
- Two chart singles: "Mendocino County Line" and "Maria (Shut Up and Kiss Me)"
- Twelve tracks, with a duet partner on several of them
Background
- Three songs co-written by Bernie Taupin, the lyricist known for his work with Elton John: "Mendocino County Line", "Last Stand in Open Country", "This Face"
- Includes a cover of "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", a song Mickey Newbury wrote
- The cover had earlier been a hit for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
Recording
- Produced by Matt Serletic
- Orchestra conducted by Pete Anthony and Matt Serletic, concertmaster Bruce Dukov
- Engineered by Mark Dobson, Steve Marcantonio, Dennis Sands and David Thoener
- Mixed by Derek Carlson, Jay Goin and David Thoener; mastered by Stephen Marcussen
- Nelson plays acoustic guitar and sings; Alison Krauss and Gabe Witcher play fiddle; Mickey Raphael plays harmonica
- Lee Sklar and Neil Stubenhaus on bass; Kenny Aronoff and John Robinson on drums
- Dan Dugmore on steel guitar and Greg Leisz on dobro; Reggie Young on guitars
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org
Tracklist
| 1 | Maria (Shut Up and Kiss Me) | 4:20 |
| 2 | Mendocino County Line | 4:32 |
| 3 | Last Stand in Open Country | 4:47 |
| 4 | Won’t Catch Me Cryin’ | 4:07 |
| 5 | Be There for You | 4:37 |
| 6 | The Great Divide | 4:06 |
| 7 | Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition Was In) | 3:32 |
| 8 | This Face | 4:29 |
| 9 | Don’t Fade Away | 4:18 |
| 10 | Time After Time | 4:05 |
| 11 | Recollection Phoenix | 4:53 |
| 12 | You Remain | 5:54 |
Sources: musicbrainz.org
Artist
Formation
- Born Willie Hugh Nelson on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas.
- Wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band, Bohemian Polka, as a guitarist at age nine.
- Attended Baylor University for two years before dropping out to pursue music.
- Moved to Nashville in 1960 and joined Ray Price's band as a bassist.
Career
- Songs such as "Crazy" (Patsy Cline), "Funny How Time Slips Away" and "Pretty Paper" became hits for other artists.
- Debut album ...And Then I Wrote was released in 1962; joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1965.
- Helped lead the outlaw country movement after moving to Austin, Texas in 1972.
- Red Headed Stranger (1975) was a critically acclaimed concept album; the single "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" became his first number one hit.
- Co-founded Farm Aid in 1985 with Neil Young and John Mellencamp.
- Acted in over 30 films, including The Electric Horseman (1979).
- Received a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance for "Ride Me Back Home" (2019).
- Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Reception
At release
- Rolling Stone's Pat Blashill panned the album for its excessively adult contemporary production
- Blashill wrote that Nelson's plain, powerful lyrics and unvarnished voice were lost under the production and heavenly choirs
- He noted that the best moments were those where Nelson simply did his own thing
- AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it an accomplished, classy album, but not a Willie Nelson album
Records
- Top Country Albums: number 5
- Billboard 200: number 43
- Hot Country Songs: "Mendocino County Line" number 22, "Maria (Shut Up and Kiss Me)" number 41
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- The Great Divide is Nelson's 50th studio album.
- Bernie Taupin, known for his work with Elton John, co-wrote three songs on the album.
- Nelson's cover of "Just Dropped In" follows an earlier hit version by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition.
- Sheryl Crow sings a duet on "Be There for You", which was written by Matt Serletic and Kevin Kadish.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org