I'm loving Willie Nelson's Stardust, recommend me something

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I'm really loving this record. I suppose what I like is the richness of the sound, the emotion in his voice, and the classic songs. Anyone have any recommendations for albums with similar qualities? I'm particularly interested in classic country albums that sound great (production and singing), but any genre is fine.

Thanks.

― supercub, Wednesday, 6 April 2005 12:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Get whichever Johnny Mathis X-mas album has him singing the tenor line of the Hallelujah Chorus. All the above criteria apply!

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 12:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Would that be 'Sounds of Christmas?'

I'll check it out.

― supercub, Wednesday, 6 April 2005 12:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, that's the one. Laughing sounds of girls and boys, playing with their Christmas toys!

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 12:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Emmylou Harris' "Wrecking Ball" maybe. Another case of a country act doing a covers album consisting of non country songs done in a country style (although less so than "Stardust")

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 13:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Ella Fitzgeral Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook

― Burr (Burr), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Phases and Stages is a classic Willie record with top-notch production. And this one
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc500/c554/c554640q381.jpg
is sort of like Stardust part II, with old pop standards and what not. Unfortunately it feels forced and falls a bit flat when comparing the two.

― Will(iam), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 14:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Booker T is so good on Stardust.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 15:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not sure if I even understand "Scarlet Ribbons" but that song makes me melt every time I hear it.

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 6 April 2005 15:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Willie's Red-Headed Stranger is brilliant.

― ffirehorse, Wednesday, 6 April 2005 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

There's another Willie standards album, 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' And 'Yesterday's Wine' is a great LP. More recently, there's his all-instrumental set 'Night and Day.'

I also really like Merle Haggard's 'Kern River.' Warm, rich, even a couple of standards -- everything you want.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:41 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not country, but the Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald duets album has great standards done with wit, warmth, and style.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Stardust makes me think of Al Green for some reason.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Speak of the devil, this blurb on Amazon by a well-known ILMer and music writer says it better than I could:

Amazon.com essential recording
Ella Fitzgerald's voice was satin to Louis Armstrong's sandpaper, but when you put them together on a single song, their chemistry was unimpeachable. This disc selects highlights from the three albums they made together at Verve (including their Porgy and Bess), and adds a spiffy live track from the Hollywood Bowl. Though they don't harmonize much (Armstrong's voice wasn't built for harmony), Ella's dignified swing and flashes of teasing wit play off Satchmo's gritty, good-humored roar symbiotically. The material is mostly lightweight Tin Pan Alley stuff (lots of Gershwin, plus the likes of "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"), and they fly it like a kite. --Douglas Wolk

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmmm, should there be some Sinatra recommendations here? 'In the Wee Small Hours' and 'A Swingin' Affair!' are where I'd start.

Tony Bennett's album of Irving Berlin songs, shockingly titled 'Bennett/Berlin,' is also great.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Obviously, "Songs For Swingin' Lovers" and "Sings For Only The Lonely" as well for Sinatra.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Sure, but a good stiff drink or four is recommended before playing 'Only the Lonely.'

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 20:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Willie "Without A Song"

― bahtology, Wednesday, 6 April 2005 22:29 (twenty-one years ago)

The material is mostly lightweight Tin Pan Alley stuff (lots of Gershwin...)

Is Gershwin Tin Pan Alley? I'd certainly quibble with the notion that he's "lightweight".

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Stardust makes me think of Al Green for some reason.

I think that's pretty OTM. Coziness w/o falling into laziness, maybe, plus great organ-led textures, plus amazing, amazing vocalists at the top of their game (I assume you mean classic Al there).

and speaking of which, supercub should try Al Green's Call Me if they don't know it.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Willie's a classic and I've always liked A Little Touch Of Schmilsson In The Night by Harry Nilsson.

For Me And My Gal
This Is All I Ask
Nevertheless
As Time Goes By
It Had To Be You
Lazy Moon
Always
Makin` Whoopie
You Made Me Love You
Lullabye In Ragtime
I Wonder Who`s Kissing Her Now?
What`ll I Do?

He had one of the all-time greatest voices, too. It's a little difficult to imagine him doing Jump Into The Fire after posting this.

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 7 April 2005 01:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh yeah, also check out 'The Genius of Ray Charles' on Atlantic.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 7 April 2005 02:54 (twenty-one years ago)

five years pass...

i think stardust is my favorite record ever! at least that's what I think whenever i put it on.

― tylerw, Wednesday, 17 November 2010 22:15 (fifteen years ago)

Can't believe no one recommended going straight to the source of "Stardust." That song isn't on this, but "Georgia," "Skylark" and others are. Beautiful record.

http://991.com/newgallery/Hoagy-Carmichael-Hoagy-Sings-Carmi-494051.jpg

― Blastfemur (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 17 November 2010 22:44 (fifteen years ago)

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