Willie Nelson Announces New Album “Last Man Standing.” Releases Title Track
Willie Nelson is one of the very last men standing in country music if there ever was one. He played in the band of Bob Wills as a teenager, performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage during the Countrypolitan era, wrote songs for Patsy Cline and Faron Young, spearheaded the Outlaw movement, became a massive crossover star and movie actor in the 80’s, and has watched as so many of his predecessors, contemporaries, and even a few of his understudies pass on while he not only endures, but continues to perform, write, and record.
Willie Nelson’s latest recorded effort Last Man Standing will hit shelves on Friday, April 27th via Sony Entertainment’s Legacy Recordings imprint—a couple of days before Willie’s 85th birthday. It will be the 11th official release for the label, and will feature 11 brand new songs written by Willie Nelson, along with help from producer Buddy Cannon, who has worked with Willie on most of his recent projects. The two wrote the songs together starting with text messages back and forth of lyrics and melodies until the song developed. A similar organic approach was used in the recording.
โWillieโs a jazz singer and jazz player,” says Buddy Cannon. “Heโs an improvisational musician. Itโs different every time. Get a good take and go with it.”
Willie Nelson continues to receive lots of attention and support not just as one of the last living legends left standing in country music, but as one of the greatest living elder statesmen of America. Nelson’s last record of original material God’s Problem Child went #1 upon its release in April 2017, and was considered by many critics as one of his best efforts in years.
Ahead of the new record, Willie Nelson has released the title track (listen below).
Last Man Standing Track List:
1. Last Man Standing
2. Donโt Tell Noah
3. Bad Breath
4. Me And You
5. Something You Get Through
6. Ready To Roar
7. Heaven Is Closed
8. I Ainโt Got Nothinโ
9. She Made My Day
10. Iโll Try To Do Better Next Time
11. Very Far To Crawl
Bob W
February 16, 2018 @ 12:07 pm
that is a great track , this is what country music is all about , i will be playing it on my Programme as soon as it is out
hoptowntiger94
February 16, 2018 @ 12:18 pm
Hopefully, Last Man Standing is more like Band of Brothers (a gem) and less like Godโs Problem Child. Minus a few songs, the glossy production on GPC felt more Adult Contemporary than country. And I feel he mostly ignored the project (except Still Not Dead) in his concerts last year.
Any new music from Willie is great news!
scott
February 19, 2018 @ 7:57 am
While it sounds like I enjoyed GPC more than you, absolutely agree with you on Band of Brothers.
Mule
February 20, 2018 @ 8:06 am
Anytime you get Willie, Tony Joe White, Jamey Johnson, and Leon Russell – posthumous or otherwise – on a bluesy straight-up Classic-styled TJW track (the title track off GPC) itโs a good day.
Texican
February 16, 2018 @ 12:28 pm
I’ve got tickets to see him and Robert Earl Keen at Whitewater Ampitheater in New Braunfels on 4/20, if you know what I’m toking about…
Luckyoldsun
February 18, 2018 @ 1:24 am
I wouldn’t count on it. He cancelled all his February tour dates.
Texican
February 18, 2018 @ 8:23 am
February is not April. And I only count on my fingers.
DJ
February 16, 2018 @ 1:25 pm
The world will miss him when he’s gone. The epitome of wandering minstrel.
Megan
February 16, 2018 @ 1:30 pm
What a song…that was better than anything on his last album.
Benny Lee
February 16, 2018 @ 1:37 pm
His voice sounded better, too. Trigger (the guitar) sounded good, too. Looking forward to this album.
eckiezZ
February 16, 2018 @ 4:32 pm
Willie!
Sounding ready to rumble!
Love it.
The feisty’ness that was missing on the Problem Child LP is back.
Overly reverent Willie is all good and well but the man can still deliver a footstomper with the best of ’em.
JonBoy C
February 16, 2018 @ 4:44 pm
His voice sounds alot stronger in this song
Corncaster
February 16, 2018 @ 4:46 pm
OT
Wlliam Shatner, savior of country music:
https://pagesix.com/2018/02/16/william-shatner-signs-with-country-music-label/
Benny Lee
February 17, 2018 @ 3:17 pm
Oh boy…
JonBoy C
February 16, 2018 @ 4:48 pm
He really is one of the last mHis voice sound a lot stronger in this song than it did on most of God’s Problem Child. Will definitely be buying it when it comes out
Just out of curiousity Is Bobbie still touring with him? Cause I saw them in concert in 2016 and she had to be helped walking on and off stage and I think she’s two years older than Willie
JonBoy C
February 16, 2018 @ 4:51 pm
*He really is one of the last men standing of that era
Accidentally hit post before finishing
hoptowntiger94
February 17, 2018 @ 9:53 am
We saw Bobbie with Willie 3X last year, she’s always the last one to leave after playing Willie off the stage. Shows with longer setlists, she gets a featured instrumental – Down Yonder. Always a highlight.
Marc
February 16, 2018 @ 7:48 pm
Not sure when this video was done but his voice and guitar playing are great on this song. I hope he has recovered from his illness that caused his concert cancellations. I wouldn’t mind less shows with more rest in between.
Sam Cody
February 16, 2018 @ 7:49 pm
“The two wrote the songs together starting with text messages back and forth…” Could have done without that little gem of a detail…but I’m an old fart and a jackass! ๐
Cody
February 16, 2018 @ 8:49 pm
“Bad breath is better than no breath at all!” He mentioned that idea for a song in the interview portion of his and Merle’s “Live at Arlyn Studios” special – glad to see it cut!
Biscuit
February 16, 2018 @ 9:04 pm
Looking forward to this. GPC was a great album and this first single on this one sounds good. Buddy Cannon is the ideal producer for Willie.
Ulysses McCaskill
February 17, 2018 @ 3:07 am
I woke up still not dead again today, so I made me another album.
God bless Willie Nelson, an American treasure and icon.
Corncaster
February 17, 2018 @ 3:30 am
If there’s a Rushmore for country music, Willie should be on it.
Kent
February 17, 2018 @ 7:09 am
Oh damn I love him so much. This song alone makes it worth buying the whole album. And to my shame I must admit I didn’t know he played with Bob Wills…
“..It’s the home of Willie Nelson, the home of western swing, he’ll be the first to tell you, Bob Wills is still the king…”
CountryKnight
February 17, 2018 @ 8:08 am
Can we have the show back as well?
Mark
February 18, 2018 @ 11:29 am
good tune.
Kev
February 19, 2018 @ 1:49 am
Nice piece! Always look forward to new Willie Nelson music!
Interesting to read that Willie played in the Bob Wills band. I’ve never seen this mentioned anywhere else: can anyone let me know when this was?