Willie Nelson Collaborates With Steve Bailey On New Performance of "Angels Flying Too Close to The Ground"
Just released is a newly recorded version of "Angels Flying Too Close to The Ground" with Steve Bailey, pioneering jazz bassist who has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Kitaro, Victor Wooten, Jethro Tull, Jon Anderson/YES and more, and is also the chair of the Bass Department at Berklee College of Music. Written by Nelson, the original version of "Angels Flying Too Close to The Ground" debuted on his 1980 album Honeysuckle Rose and reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. A regular hit on Nelson's set list, the song has been covered by Bob Dylan, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Raul Malo, The Smoking Popes, and Alison Krauss. This new recording is an intimate performance of just Nelson on vocals and Bailey on bass and is featured on Bailey's full length album Carolina."
Nelson told Bailey, "Steve, I have never sang or recorded with just a bass before, but I am known for trying anything once. Lets do it!"
Carolina, also features another Nelson - Lukas in a collaboration with the bassist for a cover of Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance."