Willie Nelson
started calling his backing band
the Family
way back in 1973, right around the time he split from
RCA
, grew out his hair, and headed back to Texas.
The Family
also are featured on
Willie Nelson Family
, but this 2021 album is designed to feature his kin, including his sister
Bobbie
, his sons
Lukas
and
Micah
--the linchpins of
Promise of the Real
, sometimes backing band of
Neil Young
-- and daughters
Paula
Amy
. Everybody has played on one of
Willie
's records at one point or another --
has been by his side for years -- but the mingling of voices is notable, especially when one of his children takes the lead. At this stage,
is sounding a bit craggy, so having softer, supple voices offering support sounds warm and sweet. The Nelsons focus on country gospel material for their joint effort, but they bend the rules a bit, opening the album with
's outlaw classic "Heaven and Hell" and offering a dreamy version of
George Harrison
's "All Things Must Pass" as the record's centerpiece. Around these two pieces of secular spirituality lie a bunch of country gospel standards, all given nice relaxed readings that showcase
Nelson
's fleet guitar,
's piano, and harmonica from
Mickey Raphael
. If this didn't mark the last recordings of
's longtime righthand man
Paul English
-- the drummer who was immortalized in "Me and Paul" -- this wouldn't necessarily seem like a noteworthy album: it's too relaxed, too casual to be considered major. Its low-key nature is also the appeal of
-- it's the sound of an informal jam session by one of the best musical families in America, so it's easy to enjoy even if it feels decidedly minor. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine