There has never been any doubt that Willie Nelson is a prolific songwriter and consummate performer. The sheer volume of his work, and the consistent quality of his performances, not to mention the astounding number of Top Ten hits he’s had over the years, are testament to that. Just to underscore these facts, Nelson has released two separate, and very different albums within the last few months.

“Lost Highway” is a compilation of songs that have been released on the Lost Highway record label over the past few years, with some unreleased bonus cuts added to make it all the more tempting. The album features guest appearances by Rob Thomas, Lee Ann Womack, Ray Price, Toby Keith, Shania Twain, Lucinda Williams and more. It’s a wonderful collection of songs, classics and new, with some fabulous performances that include his take on the reggae classic “Harder They Come” with reggae giant Toots Hibbert, and the uber-classic “Crazy” featuring Diana Krall and her husband Elvis Costello.

But what makes this album a definite keeper is the previously unreleased bonus cuts. Two in particular stand out, both apparently inspired by the Oscar-winning film “Brokeback Mountain.” One, previously available only on iTunes, is titled “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other” and and sets the stage for the second, one of the funniest songs I’ve ever heard from Nelson, titled “Ain’t Goin’ Down On Brokeback Mountain.”

The second album is titled “American Classic” and is the first album of jazz standards Nelson has released since his classic “Stardust.” Featuring guest appearances by Diana Krall and Norah Jones, the album is another wonderful collection of songs we’ve all heard many times by a host of artists through the years such as “The Nearness of You,” “Fly Me To The Moon,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” and “On The Street Where You Live.” His unmistakable voice combines with the fabulous arrangements as only Willie Nelson could, and it comes off with great style and grace to make yet another album that is destined to be loved and cherished by millions as an “American Classic.”

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