Willie Nelson Announces Frank Sinatra Tribute Album “My Way”
As first reported by Saving Country Music weeks ago, Willie Nelson‘s next record will be a tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. Now we have confirmation and details of the new record to be called My Way that is set to be released on September 14th via Sony’s Legacy Recordings.
Named for Frank Sinatra’s 1969 signature song, My Way will feature 11 tunes made famous by Frank, and done anew by Willie with lush string and horn arrangements where appropriate, as well as contributions from signature musicians in Willie’s cadre such as harmonica player Mickey Raphael. As with all of Willie’s recent records, My Way is produced by Buddy Cannon, with Matt Rollings also helping.
Though one of the most recognizable country performers in history, Willie Nelson’s long-standing love for jazz and pop standards makes My Way not an entirely unexpected endeavor, and if anything perhaps a little overdue. In the midst of the Outlaw movement, Willie Nelson released the record Stardust of old standards that went on to become the first triple-platinum record in country music history. Willie regularly features music from folks like Django Reinhardt in his repertoire, and for years has cited Sinatra as an influence.
“I learned a lot about phrasing listening to Frank,” Willie says. “He didn’t worry about behind the beat or in front of the beat, or whatever – he could sing it either way, and that’s the feel you have to have.” Willie calls Sinatra a “close friend,” and the two played shows together in Las Vegas, and even once recorded a PSA for NASA together. Willie first heard Sinatra on Hit Parade when he was 10-years-old while growing up in Abbott, TX.
Ahead of the release, Willie Nelson has made available the timely single “Summer Wind” (hear below). It is originally a German standard called “Der Sommerwind” that was translated into English by Johnny Mercer. It originally appeared on Sinatra’s 1966 record Stranger in the Night.
TRACK LIST:
- “Fly Me to the Moon”
- “Summer Wind”
- “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)”
- “A Foggy Day”
- “It Was a Very Good Year”
- “Blue Moon”
- “I’ll Be Around”
- “Night and Day”
- “What Is This Thing Called Love” (with Norah Jones)
- “Young at Heart”
- “My Way”
July 19, 2018 @ 7:12 pm
interseting track list
July 20, 2018 @ 12:26 am
Hmmm … never been a big fan of the Sinatra sound. I think this’ll be one I have to listen to before committing to buy.
Interestingly, western swing band leader and trumpet man Dave Alexander has just released a Sinatra tribute too – can’t get into that at all!!
July 20, 2018 @ 5:33 am
I never understood the allure of Frank Sinatra. As far as crooners go, Robert Goulet was a much better and more versatile singer. A Goulet coughing fit is better than anything Frank Sinatra ever turned out.
July 20, 2018 @ 5:47 am
You’re kidding right?…………….says the Italian from Chicago.
July 20, 2018 @ 5:55 am
I have a friend whose father makes money in retirement by playing Sinatra at weddings. Have you ever listened to Goulet? Apart from the difference in talent, Goulet seemed to be a good, amiable guy and was able to laugh at himself and his persona. Sinatra was mostly a degenerate A-hole who dragged decent people, like Dean Martin, down with him.
July 20, 2018 @ 6:23 am
In the airport at Charlotte years Goulet came up to me and asked how I kept a toothpick in my mouth saying he had often wondered that- I think he was drunk, but he was polite and smaller than me which surprised me- never was a Sinatra fan and won’t be even with Willie’s tribute. I think Elvis’s rendition of My Way was better than Sinatra’s too.
August 8, 2018 @ 7:52 am
We must live in two completely different worlds if you somehow think that Elvis sang “My Way” better than Frank. No disrespect to Elvis but he sounds horrendous doing that song, completely bloated and over the top, when a song like that needs to be delivered with a light touch or it risks making a parody of the singer- which sadly in the case of Elvis it became, as we all know what his unfortunate fate turned out to be.
It seems to me that folks in general are simply unaware of how great and talented Sinatra was; most only know him from recordings he did late into his career, like “My Way”, “New York, New York” and “Fly Me to the Moon” unaware that his career had spanned since the 40’s and had his best and most fruitful era from 1953-59, when he recorded magic under the orchestral guidance of Nelson Riddle, Billy May et al. If people actually bothered to listen to that they would realize why he was “The Voice” so to speak- sure some singers may have had a better instrument than Sinatra- but none had the capacity to phrase and sing in the conversational way he did. His breath control was immaculate as was his capacity to tell a story with a song. I mean, when two of the most successful singers in the history of country music- George Strait and Willie Nelson- consider him to have been either the best singer of all time or their favorite, there’s obviously more to him than meets the eye.
And seriously since when is a singers personal life a metric to bring down his artistry?
July 20, 2018 @ 7:29 am
lol. You’re like the dude at the party who says the Left Banke were better than the Beatles, too.
July 20, 2018 @ 7:42 am
Just walk away Renee…
F The Beatles
July 20, 2018 @ 8:01 am
I don’t like it and i don’t respect it
That’s a good song, though 🙂
July 20, 2018 @ 10:27 am
That is a damn good song. I hadn’t heard it or thought about it in years.
July 21, 2018 @ 6:10 am
Sinatra always put his voice at the service of the song and not the other way around, like 99% of all the singers, including Goulet! Never mind the character of FS, the artist counts, not the man. He was only true when he sang.
July 23, 2018 @ 6:40 pm
RD–
You’re the only one that you are screwing
when you put down what you don’t understand.
July 25, 2018 @ 8:09 am
OK. I’ll let you have that Goulet was better…
But are you kidding me? Sinatra had everything! the range, the control, the dexterity, the tone, he could act, he could dance. He wasn’t fit to carry Sammy’s dance shoes OR his trumpet case but he is one of the most important and talented acts of his era, and THE THIRD most significant artist overall in terms of American music history.
1 is Elvis no contest.
2 is the Beatles
3 is Sinatra
4 is Johnny Cash
5 is Duke Ellington
and regarding the Beatles.
There is NOT ONE Beatles song that you can listen to and honestly say “that song sucks.”
Sure, they aren’t everyone’s root beer float BUT they are ALL, TO A SONG well written, well arranged, and well performed.
Easily the greatest rock band and Pink Floyd is number two, although my personal favorite “rock” band is GNR and as far as the Rock’N’Roll goes I much prefer Herman’s Hermits
July 20, 2018 @ 6:15 am
If anybody can lay claim to doing it My Way it is Willie.
July 20, 2018 @ 6:52 am
Certainly Willie is someone to entrust that song to, not only after Sinatra, but also after Elvis.
July 20, 2018 @ 7:09 am
Here’s a link to the Willie and Frank PSA for NASA to save you all some time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek1X9V05eK4
July 20, 2018 @ 8:03 am
Willie to me has always been a jazz singer with the way he phrases. He will do these songs justice. I find that with the Sinatra stuff the covers are often times better than the originals.
July 20, 2018 @ 8:28 am
I’m a big fan of both Sinatra and Willie, bit I’m not sure I’m interested in hearing Willie sing Frank at this point in his career. Maybe 20-30 years ago though. But Willie can do whatever he wants.
July 20, 2018 @ 9:00 am
Love the Nelson Eddie and Quincy Jones swing tunes of Sinatra’s!
I’ve Got the World on a String? The epitome of cool!
Both Frank and Willie made/make the most of their reduced vocal power in later years. Should be a good comparison of 2 masters of their respective genres. I’m glad Frank had Willie as one of his Duets!
July 20, 2018 @ 10:25 am
Nice! I just read the chapter in “It’s A Long Story” where Willie talks about his fascination with Sinatra as a kid. I can’t wait to hear his interpretations of these tracks.
July 20, 2018 @ 10:39 am
Frank Sinatra is pretty badass, I don’t know what the hell is wrong with some of you guys. Women drop their panties when you play Sinatra on a date.
I think it will be odd hearing Willie’s voice to Sinatra’s songs. As I matter of fact, I never really cared for Willie’s voice. He sounds too squirrelly for me but he is hell of song writer so I guess it makes up for it.
That music video posted is not pleasant to my ears.
July 20, 2018 @ 10:59 am
“Frank Sinatra is pretty badass, I don’t know what the hell is wrong with some of you guys. Women drop their panties when you play Sinatra on a date.”
You must be dating The Long Island Medium or Blanche from Golden Girls.
July 20, 2018 @ 2:03 pm
You’re an ageist.
July 20, 2018 @ 6:21 pm
Actually RD some of “us guys” are just mature adults. Women of all ages love Frank. I never minded Bob Goulet but he was never in Franks league. Just like most will never be in Willie’s league. I’m 57 and never had a woman say to me “got any Robert Goulet?” Mature women love Frank.
July 20, 2018 @ 1:39 pm
it’s hard to do these tunes that have been done so many times by various singers and instrumentalists;
some of them have probably been recorded thousands of times.
But Willie is up to it, that is a great rendition of summer wind.
you can see youtube videos of Willie from the sixties singing very much in a jazz style, playing with the phrasing and melody, and doing it very well.
Remarkable man.
July 21, 2018 @ 9:17 am
Willie the best seen him 115 times smoked weed with Willie his autograph is that on my head. If any one would like to see a pic? Prverbs3512 sav@gmail.com.
July 23, 2018 @ 7:40 am
Based on the one song, I’ll enjoy Willie’s covers more than the originals.
July 24, 2018 @ 4:29 pm
Willie Nelson is an American Treasure. It’s so neat to hear that he and Frank Sinatra were close friends, being from two different worlds like that.
Wish the list included “Strangers…….” and “The Best is Yet to Come”
“Mature women love Frank” Thanks, JB. Feeling old all of a sudden…….ha, ha 🙂 But I’m also a “Swifty” ….Feeling younger again…….:) .
“My Way” is just one of the best songs ever recorded.
I’ve thought of Sinatra as “The Master” at singing, interpreting a song. George Strait, “The Master” for that, of course, in Country Music. I don’t think either will ever be surpassed, and everyone else can only be compared. The best is to hope someone can come close.