You don’t know me : The songs of Cindy Walker

Though Willie Nelson’s thematic albums in recent years have been hit-and-miss, this labor of love is a thorough delight. One Texas legend pays tribute to another and evokes the inspiration of a third, as Nelson puts his stylistic signature on the songbook of Cindy Walker, with arrangements channeling the spirit of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys (whose most familiar songs include many of Walker’s). Nelson’s conversational phrasing refreshes the familiar title track and brings out the soulful depths of heartfelt (and heartsick) balladry such as ½Not That I Care.½ The nimble band features the interplay of Playboys alum Johnny Gimble on fiddle and the legendary Buddy Emmons on steel guitar, under the production of Nashville veteran Fred Foster. Saloon songs such as ½Bubbles in My Beer½ and ½The Warm Red Wine½ meet the mythic West of ½Cherokee Maiden½ and ½Dusty Skies½ and the weathered resilience of ½Don’t Be Ashamed of Your Age½ and ½I Don’t Care,½ as the collection pays testament not only to Walker’s range, but to Nelson’s interpretive mastery.