Six Hours At Perdernales is one that very unfortunately slipped by a lot of people, as this is truly one of his overlooked gems. Released in 1994, this album was recorded at the Perdenale studios, located on his home compound, and true to the album's title, it was recorded in just six hours, with most of the tracks being nailed on the first or second takes. Along for the ride with Willie on this one is 'special guest' Curtis Potter. However, that designation may be a bit misleading, as this is a full-blown duet disc, with Curtis masterfully pulling down half the vocal duties.

For those unfamiliar with Curtis Potter, he was born in Cross Plains, Texas and raised in Abilene. He started out working for KRBC TV and The Bill Fox Show, and played the Central/West Texas club circuit. >From 1959 to 1972, he was bandleader for Hank Thompson & The Brazos Valley Boys. He later teamed up on an album with Darrell McCall, and two of the album's songs landed on the Top 100 Country Charts. Over the years he's recorded singles and albums for the DOT, Capitol, RCA and Hillside labels, and performs around Texas. His latest recording is a live album recorded in May of  2000 titled, Curtis Potter And The National Swing Band Of Texas Live. Curtis is an outstanding singer, who's voice is very similar, and has been compared many times, to that of Ray Price, and who's musical forte is honky tonk and swing.

With Six Hours At Perdernales Willie and Curtis treat us to an album full of great honky tonk, big band/western swing, and heartbreak ballads, penned by Ray Pennington (who also produced), Jesse Shofner, Mel Holt, Don Silvers, and a few Willie originals, one co-written with Buddy Emmons (who also contributes his impeccable steel playing on the disc).

Six Hours opens with the big band/western swing sound of "Nothing's Changed, Nothing's New," showing that these boys pull out all the stops when it comes to swing, and they give us a full blown, jazzy swing band, complete with steel, lots of fiddles and horns 'o plenty. Willie says it all when he exuberantly sings his terrific self-penned tune, "Turn Me Loose And Let Me Swing":

"Give me a steel guitar, two or three fiddles
And a Texas rhythm section that can swing
(Some horn men that can play most anything)
I like a big dance hall, and lots of happy people
Then turn me loose and let me sing..."

Willie takes a solo turn with "Once You're Past The Blues," his 'behind the beat' singing style perfectly complimenting this slightly jazzy/bluesy swinging mid-tempo number.

The honky tonkers include the western flavored mid-tempo two-stepper, "Chase The Moon," a man's preponderance of the many different sides that make up the woman he loves. They question the reasons for sitting in a bar in the bluesy shuffle, "Are You Sure," while the disintegration of a relationship is examined in classic honky tonk shuffle style with "We're Not Talking Anymore." "The Party's Over" is a classic Willie Nelson slightly off kilter, honky tonker about throwing away a perfectly good love, without even noticing until it was gone. A bit of that classic 'outlaw' honky tonk sound shows up by way of "Stray Cats, Cowboys & Girls Of The Night." 

The ballads are particularly strong. The romantic "In My Own Peculiar Way," gives the reassurance of love, even though it may not always be expressed in quite the way it should be. The gorgeous waltz, "It Won't Be Easy" is an outstanding, classic barroom weeper that aches with the pain of a man begging for one more chance. Countrypolitan even gets a nod, as Curtis gets his solo turn in the spotlight with "The Best Worst Thing." This one's very reminiscent of Ray Price's "For The Good Times" era, torchy, romantic as heck, smooth without being overdone, and gives Curtis the chance to really show the world that magnificent voice of his. "It Should Be Easier Now" is a heartbreaker about letting go of a love lost.

There's something about Six Hours At Perdernales that keeps this one in the CD changer regularly. Willie always make you feel at home with his easy, laid back style. Combined with the voice of one of the best, and sadly, most overlooked singers in country music, Curtis Potter's own easy, laid back style, and deep, warm baritone perfectly compliments Willie. Six Hours is warm, inviting and comforting, like a familiar old friend or something that brings back fond memories. Pop this one in, and you'll find a welcome oasis that's sure to make you forget all your troubles in nothing flat.