New John Anderson Music Coming After Health Scare

photo: Alysse Gafkjen

At 65-years-old and coming off serious health issues, John Anderson is feeling a little reflective these days. The caramel-voiced country crooner who we could talk about having a strong candidacy for the Country Music Hall of Fame in the coming years is being coy about what exactly the health scare was, but you can tell by the new pictures of the Florida native, he’s lost some weight.

“We went in the studio, and I remember saying, ‘I’m going to do this like it might be my last,’” Anderson says, “It still could be, but now the chances of that are getting slimmer and slimmer every day. I’m doing better so I’m not hardly thinking that way anymore. There’s a few things that I came out of this whole deal better with. Part of it is my love for music and part of it is my appreciation for my family. But the biggest part is knowing that I might die here any minute, for who knows what reason, but I know that the good Lord already came down and touched me. There’s not a doubt in my mind.”

These thoughts are very much embedded in John Anderson’s new song “Years” (listen below), which is the title track off his upcoming record due out on Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound label on April 10th. According to Anderson and Auerbach, the collaboration came about when the Black Keys frontman approach Anderson simply as a fan. They got to talking, and next thing they knew were booking a songwriting session of which “Years” was the result of.

Now they have an entire record on the way, with Dan Auerbach acting as producer, and co-writing all the songs with Anderson. Other songwriters who appear on the record include Paul Overstreet, Pat McLaughlin, fellow Easy Eye Sound signee Dee White, Joe Allen, Bobby Wood, Larry Cordle, and David Ferguson, who also co-produces the effort. Blake Shelton also appears on the track “Tuesday I’ll Be Gone.”

“I booked the session and here I’ve got a room full of musicians, and I really didn’t know if he was going to be able to hear in the headphones,” says Dan Auerbach. “But we got him behind the microphone, he started singing and it was pure magic. John will sing it as many times as you want. He wants it to be great, but the thing is, once he starts singing, it’s almost right there, right from the first lick. I feel incredibly lucky that I even had to the opportunity to make a record with John Anderson, let alone have all this meaning to it.”

Anderson did announce on August 2nd, 2017 that he was dealing with some “serious medical issues” and had to cancel an upcoming appearance, but again, left it vague what the issue was at that time. However he did return to the stage a short time after. Whatever he was dealing with, he’s back now, and ready to tell his story in song.

Years is set to be released April 10th.

Track List:

1. I’m Still Hangin’ On (John Anderson, Dan Auerbach, Paul Overstreet)
2. Celebrate (John Anderson, Dan Auerbach)
3. Years (John Anderson, Dan Auerbach, Pat McLaughlin, David Ferguson)
4. Tuesday I’ll Be Gone ft. Blake Shelton (John Anderson, Dan Auerbach, David Ferguson)
5. What’s a Man Got To Do (John Anderson, Dan Auerbach, Dee White, David Ferguson)
6. Wild and Free (John Anderson, Dan Auerbach, Joe Allen)
7. Slow Down (John Anderson, Dan Auerbach, Bobby Wood)
8. All We’re Really Looking For (John Anderson, Dan Auerbach, Larry Cordle)
9. Chasing Down a Dream (John Anderson, Dan Auerbach, David Ferguson)
10. You’re Nearly Nothing (John Anderson, Dan Auerbach)

 

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