Willie Nelson - Countryman (2005)

After nearly a decade of gestation, Willie Nelson's long-lost first reggae set is at last complete. The seed of this project took root in late 1995, sprung from the mind of famed producer Don Was. Countryman is Willie's impassioned tribute to the upstroke sound of Jamaica, an Ire voyage to the land of dub and dreadlocks. Willie takes a handful of his own classics and filters them through a reggae prism, peppering them with his nylon acoustic guitar, pedal steel, dobro, harmonica and the familiar comforts of country, while bringing drums and bass to the forefront, yard style. Willie also tackles a couple of reggae classics from the acclaimed Jamaican film soundtrack The Harder They Come, including the title track and 'Sitting in Limbo'. Reggae star Toots Hibbert also guests on the Johnny Cash cover 'I'm A Worried Man'. In short, after a decade long journey, Willie's Jamaican vision at last sees the bright light of day. If last year's collaboration with Toots Hibbert on Toot's True Love album ('Still Is Still Movin' To Me') is any indication, we are in for a treat. Lost Highway. 2005.