The Ghost, Pt. 2
consists of odds and ends from
Willie Nelson
's early work from the late '50s and early '60s. While there aren't any lost masterpieces here, the collection does have more to offer than the first installment of
The Ghost
. The recording quality on both collections is so-so, but a recognizable
Nelson
begins to emerge on the second album on songs like
"Half a Man"
and
"The Last Letter."
In some ways, listening to
is like catching
circa 1961 in a Nashville barroom. Most of the material uses a full band with a laid-back
honky tonk
feel. The sound quality reinforces this aspect. While many of the songs included aren't -- structurally speaking -- bad, there's a certain generic quality to them, and there isn't an unearthed
"Crazy."
These collections, and all the ones to follow, would work much better if they were accompanied by notes that gave detailed information about the tracks. When all is said and listened to, however,
is for collectors and probably not something the casual fan would enjoy. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.