Live Forever: A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver

Some songwriters sing from a place of optimism, as if they think bad times will never come to their door. There was a sunny side to many of Billy Joe Shavers best songs, but he never let the listener forget that he knew hard times and knew them well; he understood what it was like to be the tramp on your street or an old five and dimer, and the smile that came through in his work was one of gratitude and hope, not blind faith. There was an honesty and unforced poetic sensibility in Shavers songs that set him apart from his gifted peers in the Texas singer and songwriter community, and he had the admiration and respect of plenty of artists of note. Several of them pay homage to Shaver on Live Forever: A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver, with 11 acts putting their stamp on a dozen of his classic tunes. Willie Nelson, one of Shavers biggest boosters, gets two tracks here, "Georgia on a Fast Train" and "Live Forever," the latter with Lucinda Williams singing backup, and Willies trademark casually beatific tone matches Shavers lyrical voice as well as anyone could hope. Most of the vocalists here come from the traditionalist end of the country spectrum, both old and new; George Strait brings a strength and authority to "Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me" that adds to the emotional strength of the tale, and Rodney Crowells take on "Old Five and Dimers" blends the sweet and the smokey like a good barbecue sauce. Miranda Lambert draws a palpable joy from "Im an Old Chunk of Coal" thats winning, Amanda Shires finds room for the sacred and the practical in "Honky Tonk Heroes," and Allison Russell urges the eerie darkness of "Tramp On Your Street" to the surface to powerful effect. And while Steve Earle isnt the only outlaw on board, he sings "Aint No God in Mexico" with a swagger that rivals Waylon Jennings version. Charlie Sexton coordinated this set with one of Shavers long-time associates, Freddy Fletcher, and Sexton also produced or plays on most of the tracks, giving the music a natural feel that suits the songs, as well as a sense that helps the music cohere like a proper album and not a random series of individual tracks. Billy Joe Shaver was one of the finest and most distinctive songwriters country music produced in the second half of the 20th century, and its pretty hard not to sound good singing one of his tunes, but Live Forever is the work of people who love his music and make the effort to bring out the best side of the songs. And they do just that, making this an excellent tribute to a major talent, and a fine introduction to his writing for those who havent heard him. ~ Mark Deming