Sign up for newsletter
 

Nelson goes home

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 – Willie Nelson is going home. Sony Legacy announced today that Nelson is rejoining the label for at least five new albums starting this spring and the release of archival material.

From 1975-1993, Nelson cut top-selling singles and albums for Columbia Records, beginning with 1975's smash "Red Headed Stranger."

Forthcoming Nelson titles under the Legacy imprint will include newly recorded songs and performances as well as archival releases, personally curated by Nelson, drawn from all phases of his career including his recordings for RCA Records and others.

Nelson will work with label archivists to select recordings, including previously released and previously unreleased tracks, for release in newly compiled collections and as bonus material on new editions of existing titles. The newly curated Nelson titles "will provide fresh perspective and context to the artist's profoundly influential and successful career," according to a press release.

"I'm really happy to be back home with Sony Music. We have been partners for many years; all the way back to Pamper Music and Tree Music. We share a great history, and I'm looking forward to many more years together," said Nelson.

"We couldn't be more excited to have the opportunity to work with Willie on this landmark partnership," said Adam Block, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Legacy Recordings. "There's a natural and organic relationship between new recording projects and catalog activity that promises to ensure the lasting importance of Willie and his music."

More news for Willie Nelson

CD reviews for Willie Nelson

Let's Face the Music and Dance CD review - Let's Face the Music and Dance
Willie Nelson celebrated his 80th birthday in April by releasing this collection of classics. There is 1 Nelson original here, an acoustic version of the relatively obscure track Is the Better Part Over from Nelson's 1989 album "A Horse Called Music," but for the most part, Nelson puts his unique stamp on pop, jazz and country standards. The '50s pop/rock era is represented by an effective rendition of The Platters' hit Twilight Time and a rocking version of Carl »»»
Freedom CD review - Freedom
Willie Nelson's new disc is an interesting mixture of songs and contains some most unlikely collaborations. Did you ever envision Kris Kristofferson and Snoop Dogg doing a duet or Willie doing a song by either Coldplay or Pearl Jam? Give Nelson credit for being able to recognize a good song or an unlikely partner and have it work out. The unlikely pair of Kristofferson and Dogg team up on Willie's so poetic Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die . Listen to the brilliant interpretation of »»»
Remember Me Vol. 1 CD review - Remember Me Vol. 1
Willie Nelson is acclaimed as both a songwriter and a guitar player, but he has also rightfully earned a stellar reputation as an interpreter of classic songs. On "Remember Me Vol. 1," Nelson takes another successful stab at covering standards, this time from the rich annals of country music history. There's no focus on a particular time period here, rather the 14 songs cover the vast musical territory between Tex Williams' Smoke That Cigarette from 1947, all the way »»»
Editorial: Walking the talk – When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: Size doesn't matter to Winslow-King – Luke Winslow-King may have a fine new CD out ("The Coming Tide") on a long respected indie country/roots label (Bloodshot), but that didn't mean the throngs were going to fill the club. In fact, in a second night of shows in the Boston area, Winslow-King drew a handful of people. Well, make that literally two handfuls of people. As in 10 people.... »»»
Concert Review: McGraw has plenty of fight left – Despite the fact that Tim McGraw is five years sober, fit as a triathlete and touring behind a number one album, he is still in an unenviable position. As he approaches 50, McGraw has to stay a step ahead of the current crop of young country hunks with TV shows, cross format radio airplay and wider appeal. But as he proved at First Niagara's... »»»
Subscribe to Country News Digest Country News Digest      Follow Country Standard Time on twitter CST      Visit Country Standard Time on Facebook CST

Elsewhere in the news

Currently at the CST blogs

It's about time for Willis, Robison Some folks listening to Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison's new duet album, "Cheaters Game," may well exclaim, 'Well, it's about time!' after finally hearing these two talented country singer/songwriters recording music as a pair for the first time. Willis has built quite a following for her independently-minded feminine perspective, while Robison has written hits for the Dixie Chicks (Travelin' Soldier) and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (Angry All the Time), as well as penning the ultimate Willie Nelson tribute, What Would Willie Do? and recording it as a solo act. ... »»»
Steve Forbert remains Alive on Arrival Last fall, singer/songwriter Steve Forbert dropped the 14th studio album of his 35-year career, the impeccable "Over With You." Critics recognized the album as a return to the form Forbert displayed on his earliest works - 1978's stripped back and personal "Alive on Arrival" and 1979's more lushly produced and commercially accessible "Jackrabbit Slim" - but the fact is that Forbert has never strayed far from their basic folk/rock tenets.... »»»
Decades later, Miller, Lauderdale finally join forces Over the course of the past 20 years or so, Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller have both experienced a certain rise in their respective rootsy country profiles. Miller has become one of Nashville's hottest speed dial numbers, as an artist, a guitarist-for-hire (a role he has performed for Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris and Robert Plant, among others) and an intuitive producer (he's currently working with Executive Music Producer T Bone Burnett to provide the soundtrack for ABC's "Nashville" television series).... »»»
Wilderness CD review - Wilderness
"Wilderness" is another twisted menagerie of The Handsome Family songs. Once again, husband Brett Sparks sings their songs, sometimes in a bellowing gravedigger voice, after adding music to wife Rennie's lyrics. This time out, each and every tune is named after an animal, insect or other such nature creature. However, Rennie studies animals the way Flannery O'Connor wrote about humans, which is with the weirdness and character flaws in primary focus. »»»
Love Is Everything CD review - Love Is Everything
George Strait may have reached his seventh decade, but he shows zero signs of slowing down. In fact, Strait seems to be getting even more consistent as he gets older. Strait doesn't stray all that far from the formula that has resulted in superstar status. First and foremost, that means his sonorous voice is mixed far above the music, a very good thing. »»»
Dark Dirty Mile CD review - Dark Dirty Mile
Jason Boland and the Stragglers have released a new country album that sounds old. This isn't to imply that the sound is aged in a negative way; they have a classic country maturity that isn't heard too much these days with the exception of Jamey Johnson. For those not familiar with the music of Boland, the first track is a great way to decide whether this is your kind of country music. The title track is a mid tempo country song reminiscent of the late Waylon Jennings.  »»»