Willie Nelson pays homage to Ray Price in “I’ll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)”
There’s a lot more going on in the newly released music video for Willie Nelson’s “I’ll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)” than is immediately apparent. Even on the surface, though, it’s pretty cool to peak behind the curtain while a country legend lays down tracks for his version of another country legend’s best songs. (That band he’s playing with is The Time Jumpers, a well-respected Western swing ensemble out of Nashville, in case you don’t know.)
However, what’s really cool about the video is that the whole set-up is an homage to Ray Price, Nelson’s longtime friend and former tour buddy. Shortly before his 2013 death, and well aware that his time was ticking down, an 87-year-old Price booked time in the Nashville’s historic Ocean Way Studios to record his final album, Beauty Is… Fred Foster was sitting at the soundboard, and Bergen White was conducting the music. And that’s exactly the scenario that Willie Nelson re-created for the recording of For The Good Times: A Tribute To Ray Price, where this song can be found starting tomorrow.
However, with all due respect to Mr. Nelson and all of the honorable Time Jumpers, their excellent cover of the song simply can’t live up to the original, recorded by Price back in 1954.
Willie Nelson—For The Good Times: A Tribute To Ray Price
1. Heartaches By The Number
2. I’ll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)
3. Faded Love
4. It Always Will Be
5. City Lights
6. Don’t You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me
7. Make The World Go Away
8. I’m Still Not Over You
9. Night Life
10. Crazy Arms
11. Invitation To The Blues
12. For The Good Times