The Little Willies: For The Good Times [EMI]

The Little Willies (stop sniggering – you’re oh so childish) are jazz-pop singer-songwriter Norah Jones’s country music side project. For The Good Times (STOP sniggering) is their second album of country covers casually knocked out between her millions-selling, Grammy Awards-winning solo efforts.

Fairly faithful renditions of songs from namesake Willie Nelson (Permanently Lonely), Johnny Cash (Wide Open Road) and Loretta Lynn (the wonderful Fist City – “lay off my man if you don’t want to go to Fist City”) flow by with nary a care in the world despite their troubled subject matter. The opening line of Lovesick Blues – a hit for Hank Williams — sums it all up: “I’ve got a feeling called the blues since my baby said goodbye”.

A languid reinterpretation of Dolly Parton’s Jolene rounds out affairs about affairs.

Hearing musicians pay homage to songs they obviously love is always enjoyable with the unfussy production on For The Good Times allowing that love to shine.

It’s endearing stuff, even for non-country music fans.

★★★★★

earworms: Fist City, Wide Open Road, If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Time