The Willies is the fifteenth album by Bill Frisell

Bill Frisell

William Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...

 to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch

Nonesuch Records

Nonesuch Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:Nonesuch was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman to produce "fine records at the same price as a trade paperback", which would be half the price of a normal LP...

 label. It was released in 2002 and features performances by Frisell, Danny Barnes

Danny Barnes

Danny Barnes is a banjo and guitar player whose music is influenced by country, jazz and punk. Born in Temple, Texas and raised in Belton, Barnes was exposed to music at a young age: he recalls picking up a love of country and bluegrass from his father and grandmother, Delta blues from one brother...

 and Keith Lowe.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Zac Johnson awarded the album 3,5 stars stating "Anyone familiar with the guitarist's style will understand his choices in recording these timeworn love songs and murder ballads, and traditional folk aficionados will be intrigued to hear their old favorites in this new environment. ".

Track listing

1. "Sittin’ on Top of the World" (Chatmon, Vinson
   Walter Vinson
   Walter Vinson was an American Memphis blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a member of the Mississippi Sheiks, worked with Bo Chatmon and his brothers, and co-wrote the blues standard, "Sitting on Top of the World"...
   
   ) - 3:59
2. "Cluck Old Hen
   Cluck Old Hen
   "Cluck Old Hen" is a popular Appalachian American fiddle and banjo tune in the Mixolydian mode. It is played either as an instrumental or with lyrics which vary from one version to another...
   
   " (Traditional) - 3:53
3. "Everybody Loves Everybody" - 3:42
4. "I Want to Go Home" - 4:15
5. "Single Girl, Married Girl" (Carter
   A. P. Carter
   Alvin Pleasant Delaney Carter , best known as A.P. Carter, was an American musician and founding member of The Carter Family, one of the most notable acts in the history of country music.-Life:...
   
   ) - 3:57
6. "Get Along" - 3:23
7. "John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man
   John Hardy (song)
   "John Hardy" is a traditional American folk song based on the life of a railroad worker in West Virginia. The historical John Hardy killed a man during a craps game, was found guilty of murder in the first degree, and was hanged on January 19, 1894....
   
   " (Traditional) - 5:17
8. "Sugar Baby" (Traditional) - 3:51
9. "Blackberry Blossom" (Traditional) - 4:20
10. "If I Could I Surely Would" - 6:46
11. "Cluck Old Hen
    Cluck Old Hen
    "Cluck Old Hen" is a popular Appalachian American fiddle and banjo tune in the Mixolydian mode. It is played either as an instrumental or with lyrics which vary from one version to another...
    
    " (reprise) (Traditional) - 1:50
12. "Cold, Cold Heart
    Cold, Cold Heart
    "Cold, Cold Heart" is a country music and popular music song, written by Hank Williams. This blues ballad is both a classic of honky tonk and an entry in the Great American Songbook....
    
    " (Williams) - 2:25
13. "I Know You Care" - 3:12
14. "Goodnight Irene" (Leadbelly
    Leadbelly
    Huddie William Ledbetter was an iconic American folk and blues musician, notable for his strong vocals, his virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the songbook of folk standards he introduced....
    
    , Lomax) - 3:55
15. "Big Shoe" - 4:51
16. "The Willies" - 6:24

All compositions by Bill Frisell except as indicated

• Recorded in May 2000 & March 2001 in Seattle at Flora Avenue Studio

Personnel

• Bill Frisell
  Bill Frisell
  William Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...
  
   - electric and acoustic guitars and loops
• Danny Barnes
  Danny Barnes
  Danny Barnes is a banjo and guitar player whose music is influenced by country, jazz and punk. Born in Temple, Texas and raised in Belton, Barnes was exposed to music at a young age: he recalls picking up a love of country and bluegrass from his father and grandmother, Delta blues from one brother...
  
   - banjo, guitar, pump organ, bass harmonica
• Keith Lowe - bass