Willie Nelson To Release New Original Album “A Beautiful Time”
Willie Nelson may be turning 89 on April 29th. But as we’ve seen over the last few years, he’s not slowing down any time soon. On April 29th, he will also be releasing his latest record called A Beautiful Time, and with a pretty beautiful album cover of Willie Nelson walking down the main drag of his own Western town called Luck on his ranch just outside of Austin—a brilliant sunset dazzling the sky just behind a hill.
Willie released two albums last year: The Willie Nelson Family comprised of many Gospel standards and other greats from the American songbook, accompanied by members of his family and family band, as well as That’s Life, which was a tribute to Frank Sinatra, and is currently in the running for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album via The Grammy Awards.
But A Beautiful Time will be more of an original album from Willie, with five new songs penned by Nelson with his producer Buddy Cannon, as well as original songs written by others to complete the track list, and a few recognizable covers, most notably “With A Little Help From My Friends” from The Beatles, and Leonard Cohen’s “Tower of Song.”
Songwriter Shawn Camp also contributes a couple of tracks, and Jim “Moose” Brown, Scotty Emerick, and Don Sampson also appear in the songwriting credits for the 14 songs of the Legacy Recordings release. The band for the record includes guitarists Bob Terry and James Mitchell, Jim “Moose” Brown on keyboards, bassist Barry Bales, and drummer Fred Eltringham.
Ahead of the album, Willie Nelson has released the previously unheard song “I’ll Love You Till The Day I Die,” written by Chris Stapleton and Rodney Crowell (listen below).
Though every release from Willie Nelson is cherished these days since we still get to share the sweet Earth with him, sometimes the focus of this late career albums has been more retrospective. A Beautiful Time will be one of the more original collections, and so worth paying extra attention to.
A Beautiful Time is now available for pre-order.
A Beautiful Time Track List:
1. I’ll Love You Till The Day I Die (Rodney Crowell and Chris Stapleton)
2. My Heart Was A Dancer (Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
3. Energy Follows Thought (Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
4. Dreamin’ Again (Jack Wesley Routh and Douglas Graham)
5. I Don’t Go To Funerals (Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
6. A Beautiful Time (Shawn Camp)
7. We’re Not Happy (Till You’re Not Happy) (Shawn Camp and Charles R. Humphrey III)
8. Dusty Bottles (Jim “Moose” Brown, Scotty Emerick and Don Sampson)
9. Me And My Partner (Ken Lambert)
10. Tower Of Song (Leonard Cohen)
11. Live Every Day (Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
12. Don’t Touch Me There (Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
13. With A Little Help From My Friends (John Lennon and Paul McCartney)
14. Leave You With A Smile (Buddy Cannon, Bobby Terry and Matt Rossi)
February 10, 2022 @ 8:32 pm
I’m really excited about this album. I love the new song.
When we saw Willie back to back Outlaw Fests in September (Va Beach, Raleigh) for the first time in ages there were some notable changes to his shows.
1. He sits now (we covered this).
2. Gone was the Texas flag backdrop that falls during the opening chords of Whiskey River. It was replaced with the flag of the United States. This is either a call for unity or his disgust with the recent policies/laws passed in Texas – immigration, abortion, whatever Ted Cruz is doing.
3. Gone are the silly songs poking fun at death – “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” “Still Not Dead” “Last Man Standing” …. I don’t know if the pandemic has changed his nonchalant view of death or being 89 makes it not humorous anymore. He did put “It’s Hard to Be Humble” in the middle of his religious encore set, so all is not lost (note: scanning setlist.com I see “Roll Me Up” was played a couple times after these September dates. Specifically, in Charlotte when Willie had to play a longer set due to the Sturgill Simpson cancellation).
I’m hoping Outlaw Fest dates get announces soon too. We plan on hitting the road at least twice again this year to see him.
February 11, 2022 @ 11:52 am
No Texas flag. Disappointing. Nothing beats the Lone Star State.
February 11, 2022 @ 9:47 pm
He is still has humor. Read his latest book.
February 10, 2022 @ 8:55 pm
Any time someone covers a Leonard Cohen song that’s not “Hallelujah”, I’m on board.
As usual with Willie, it’s a first-day purchase.
February 12, 2022 @ 5:42 am
i’m with you Adam, i don’t think my ears can survive one more “hallelujah”
February 10, 2022 @ 9:06 pm
Hopefully the wonderful Toby Keith will be on this one with Willie too
February 11, 2022 @ 10:33 am
I don’t know about Toby, but Scotty Emerick is here and he wrote “Ill Never Smoke Weed With Willie Again” with Toby and they performed that with Willie.
I think Scott probaby wants to do some projects without Toby.
February 10, 2022 @ 10:46 pm
This has the flavor of “ I still can’t believe your gone “ neat first single
February 11, 2022 @ 4:56 am
Fantastic! Another Willie album to add to my music library! I’ve been a Willie Nelson fan since The Red Headed Stranger album. After that record, I went out and bought all the Willie Nelson records I could find. Looking forward to this release, especially based on Trigger’s review and song list. Cheers & Twangs!
February 11, 2022 @ 6:38 am
Who is playing steel guitar?
February 11, 2022 @ 12:06 pm
That’s a great question. And it’s beautiful. Pedal Steel isn’t a staple of Willie’s. I messaged Paula. If she gets back with an answer I’ll post it.
February 11, 2022 @ 5:37 pm
I believe Bob Terry is playing steel here, but Mike Johnson also plays steel on the album on select tracks, though I don’t believe on this one.
February 11, 2022 @ 6:42 am
The world is gonna miss him- when he’s gone.
That video is awesome…. what a life he’s lived and is livin…
February 11, 2022 @ 7:55 am
Another Beautiful song with our friend , Willie !!
February 11, 2022 @ 9:11 am
Judging by the album cover and some of the song titles…makes you wonder if he believes this is his swan song for recording.
February 11, 2022 @ 10:23 am
Way to go Willie, stick hitting it out of the park! With Dolly having a new album, Willie, and Tami Neilson and William Lee Golden and the Goldens, 2022 is going to be a great year for country music!!!
February 11, 2022 @ 6:07 pm
I’ll be sad when Willie passes. It won’t be just him: it will be like an entire age coming to an end.
February 11, 2022 @ 7:32 pm
Great. This man is a legend in our time. He deserves the best of everything. Bringing that new album and you will see how you are appreciated.
February 11, 2022 @ 10:00 pm
I am really looking forward to the arrival of this album. I absolutely love ‘I’ll Love You Til The Day I Die’. I know this album is going to be outstanding. Country fans, start contacting program directors and telling them you want songs from this album added to their rotation. We are impacting country radio. Here’s some good news: I contacted my local country radio station (KFXI – Marlow, Oklahoma – 100,000 watts) and talked to the dj about the new Tracy Lawrence song ‘Don’t Drink Whiskey’ and He told me that listeners have been requesting the song like crazy. It’s getting played on mainstream country radio! Keep on keepin’ on country fans. In the end, we will win!
February 12, 2022 @ 10:18 am
Willie Nelson is truly amazing and an inspiration. Long may he keep going.
February 12, 2022 @ 11:03 am
Looking forward to this record. It looks like Willie just canceled a number of upcoming dates (including Brown County Music Center, which was sold out) with no rescheduling…any idea as to what’s going on? Thanks, and God Bless Willie Nelson!
February 14, 2022 @ 4:44 pm
Willie has canceled all indoor concerts for 2022. He will only play outdoor venues.
https://amp.pjstar.com/amp/6786416001
https://amp.pjstar.com/amp/6786416001
February 14, 2022 @ 4:46 pm
I meant to included 2 resources…
https://www.week.com/2022/02/14/willie-nelson-no-longer-coming-peoria-420/
February 14, 2022 @ 5:28 pm
Smart move for Willie. At 88-years-old and with a history of breathing problems, Covid could be a death sentence for him, and study after study says outdoor settings are significantly safer, and almost impossible to spread Covid in.