THE HONEYS MAKE WILLIE & TRIGGER SOUND THAT MUCH SWEETER ON TO ALL THE GIRLS

To All The Girls ...
2013

For his second release of 2013, all the honeys make Willie Nelson and Trigger sound that much sweeter on To All The Girls ... a collection of country, crooners and gospel with a nod to his 1984 hit with Julio Iglesias.

Like his earlier effort this year, Let's Face The Music And Dance, the now 80-year-old Willie stays mostly mellow on this 18-song set of variety show duets that occasionally edges towards over-orchestrated.

His partners range from Rosanne Cash to Alison Krauss to Emmylou Harris, as well as less famous singers such as Melonie Cannon, Lily Meola and Tina Rose.

Some of the songs - Dolly Parton on From Here To The Moon And Back and Sheryl Crow on Far Away Places - are most notable for their understated co-starring performances.

The brightest highlights come from Miranda Lambert on She Was No Good For Me, Wynonna Judd on Bloody Mary Morning, Loretta Lynn on Somewhere Between, Mavis Staples on Grandma's Hands, and Shelby Lynne on Till The End Of The World.

Earlier this year, Lambert also claimed one of the top spot collaborations on the title track of John Fogerty's Wrote A Song For Everyone revisit to some of his most treasured works.

On To All The Girls ..., Nelson and his daughter Paula combine for a quietly haunting version of Fogerty's Have You Ever Seen The Rain.

Others appearing on the set include The Secret Sisters, Carrie Underwood, Norah Jones and Brandi Carlile.

Given the endearing campiness of the original and Nelson's universal belovedness, this record is begging for a return by Iglesias and an all-star choir update of their hit by the all girls called To All The Willies We Loved Before.