Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Ray Price - Last Of The Breed

The Dad’s Army of kick-ass country music

It’s not often that Nelson and Haggard are considered young pups in a line-up, but on this lowkey stroll through 22 vintage tunes they’re sharing studio space with a true veteran. Price cut his first records in the late 40s, while Nelson didn’t make his debut until ’56, and Haggard not until ’62.

Last Of The Breed sees the laconic trio of elder statesmen mining the archives to give a fresh lick of paint to songs they’ve known and loved for years, be it pre-war moseys by Gene Autry, 60s-era Bakersfield honky tonk, or relative newies from Kris Kristofferson. Indeed, KK’s guest vocal on his own Why Me Lord? is in some ways akin to a infant school ankle-biter getting down with the teachers. 

Recorded over just two days, the singers had no real gameplan for the album. A few numbers were suggested on the spot and recorded in just one take, such is the wealth of knowledge (and lyrical memory) of the protagonists. It sounds like they had a hoot, especially on the western swing of Please Don’t Leave Me Any More and the steeldriven strut of Pick Me Up On Your Way Down. Ego-free and effortlessly cool.

Lost Highway | 0602517240179

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
<< Back to Issue 337