Willie Nelson – City of New Orleans

City of New Orleans

Willie NelsonCity of New Orleans Columbia CK 39145 (1984)


This turd of an album went platinum, which is more an indication of Willie Nelson’s overall name recognition in 1984 than the quality of City of New Orleans in and of itself.  Willie is in easy listening mode, again.  Chips Moman produces, and he ruins yet another recording with oppressively sterile sound.  Listeners won’t doubt for even a second that this album was from the mid-80s.  In truth some of the performances — like the title track — aren’t bad.  But does anyone need to hear Willie do “Wind Beneath My Wings?”  Ever?