If I Was a River is the album that longtime Willie Nile fans have waited for. Though Nile spent his career playing guitar-based rock ’n’ roll, he’s a peerless singer/songwriter whose gentlest songs deserve these piano versions, mildly sweetened by guitarist Steuart Smith (Eagles, Rosanne Cash), multi-instrumentalist David Mansfield (Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash), and Nile’s writing partner Frankie Lee on backing vocals. Poignant songs such as the title track, “Lost,” “Song of a Soldier," and “I Can’t Do Crazy (Anymore)” are delivered from the Steinway grand piano that Nile played at the Record Plant the night of John Lennon’s final session there. Ghosts abound.