Heartstrings has some great artists, Bruce Cockburn, Amos Garret, Members of Prairie Oyster, Daisy Debolt, the late Graham Townsend... adding their considerable talents to Willie's. It also shows his scope as a songwriter.
Early albums, like Trying To Start Out Clean, are also of interest. On this album Willie plays guitar and sings. The mandolin is played by Randy Hill and the mouth harp by Chris Whiteley. Nowadays Willie is known for his back-up vocals, mouth harp and mandolin skills in Fred's Band.
Cluin didn't mention this, but Willie finished the set AND drove himself to the hospital after the show in Midland.
I love Willie's shows and, though he adds a great deal to Fred's shows, his talents are wasted there. The super group Blackie And The Rodeo Kings, was formed as a Willie P.Bennett tribute band. Although they play other people's songs (and their own) now, I've never seen them do a show without some Willie songs.