Willie Nelson [ tickets ]'s "You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker" is a heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest songwriters in country music history.

If you don't know Cindy Walker, this CD will certainly make you want to make her acquaintance. Nelson does a terrific job interpreting 13 of the Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter's best tunes.

Nelson is a tireless musician and he's no stranger to themed concept albums, including last year's fine reggae collection "Countryman." "You Don't Know Me," however, is more than just another project for this 72-year-old cowboy. You can tell by listening to this album, which drips with sincerity, that this one is very important to him.

Nelson probably feels a very sizable bond with Walker--and for good reasons. Walker grew up in the town of Mexia, TX, which is just some 50 miles from Nelson's hometown of Abbott. Walker had many of her tunes recorded by the great Bob Wills, who was one of Nelson's biggest influences. He also, of course, appreciates good songwriting--and that's exactly what you get with Cindy Walker.

Utilizing old-school country arrangements that would make Wills proud, Nelson doesn't update the songs as much as he simply dusts them off so that their original greatness can shine brightly.

The album opens with an effervescent version of "Bubbles in My Beer" and then moves to the teary "Not That I Care." The singer then croons convincingly through the love song "Take Me in Your Arms and Hold Me" and follows with a gorgeous take on "You Don't Know Me," a tune that was originally made famous by Ray Charles. Nelson also excels on upbeat toe-tappers like the fiddle-rich "Don't Be Ashamed of Your Age."

In all, this album should further reinforce Nelson's stature as one of the finest interpreters of song in modern music history. Equally significant, it should also spur many listeners to get to know Cindy Walker.