The Willies Explained

The Willies
Type:	Album
Artist:	Bill Frisell
Cover:	The Willies.jpg
Released:	2002
Recorded:	May 2000 and March 2001
Studio:	Flora Avenue Studio, Seattle, WA
Genre:	Folk jazz New acoustic Progressive bluegrass Americana
Length:	66:15
Label:	Elektra Nonesuch
Producer:	Lee Townsend
Prev Title:	With Dave Holland and Elvin Jones
Prev Year:	2001
Next Title:	The Intercontinentals
Next Year:	2003

The Willies is the 15th album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 2002 and features performances by Frisell, Danny Barnes on banjo, pump organ & harmonica and bassist Keith Lowe.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Zac Johnson awarded the album 3.5 stars, stating, "Anyone familiar with the guitarist's style will understand his choices in recording these timeworn love songs and murder ballads, and traditional folk aficionados will be intrigued to hear their old favorites in this new environment. ".^[1] Chris Dahlen of Pitchfork Media commented, "...The Willies is serviceable, but it isn't the shit-kicking great time that it should be. It makes Frisell seem like the guy at the party who's scared to get drunk and break the host's furniture; and we know he has more bluegrass in him thar that."

Track listing

All compositions by Bill Frisell except as indicated.

1. "Sittin’ on Top of the World" (Lonnie Chatmon, Walter Vinson) – 3:59
2. "Cluck Old Hen" (Traditional) – 3:53
3. "Everybody Loves Everybody" – 3:42
4. "I Want to Go Home" – 4:15
5. "Single Girl, Married Girl" (A. P. Carter) – 3:57
6. "Get Along" – 3:23
7. "John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man" (Traditional) – 5:17
8. "Sugar Baby" (Traditional) – 3:51
9. "Blackberry Blossom" (Traditional) – 4:20
10. "If I Could I Surely Would" – 6:46
11. "Cluck Old Hen" (reprise) (Traditional) – 1:50
12. "Cold, Cold Heart" (Hank Williams) – 2:25
13. "I Know You Care" – 3:12
14. "Goodnight Irene" (Lead Belly, John A. Lomax) – 3:55
15. "Big Shoe" – 4:51
16. "The Willies" – 6:24

Personnel

• Bill Frisell – electric and acoustic guitars and loops

“The Willies”:

• Danny Barnes – banjo, guitar, pump organ, bass harmonica
• Keith Lowe – bass

Notes and References

1. Johnson, Z. Allmusic Review accessed June 21, 2011