Willie Nelson - Asleep at the Wheel....

Album: Willie and the Wheel [Deluxe Edition]
Song: Hesitation Blues
Hipster Rejection Scale: 5 of 10.
Factors: vintage tunes; Letterman loves 'em; polished but authentic.

This is no retro kitsch. For more than 30 years, it was the dream of producer Jerry Wexler to have Willie Nelson cover the masterworks of Western swing, backed by Ray Benson and his gang of modern swingmasters in Asleep at the Wheel. Wexler lived just long enough to see this happen: a collection that defines the best of the genre. Favorites such as "Corrine, Corrina" come across as bouncy and relevant as when Spade Cooley and Bob Wills ruled the airwaves. In the case of Americana hit "Hesitation Blues," there's a sense of joy and casually impeccable musicianship that's rare and refreshing. An instant classic, 30 years in the making. — David Brown.