Willie Nelson and Trigger, in an uncredited photo shared on his Facebook page on March 14, 2024
Willie Nelson has released a new studio album, The Border, said to be the 152nd of his incredible career. The collection of 10 newly recorded performances arrived May 31, 2024, via his longtime label, Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. It’s available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here. Listen to many of the tracks below.
Cowritten by Rodney Crowell and Allen Shamblin for Crowell’s 2019 Texas album (a thematic tribute to the Lone Star State which featured Nelson as a guest artist), “The Border” describes the inner life and outer reality of a border guard (“I work on the border, I see what I see”).
The Border includes four new Nelson/Buddy Cannon compositions—”Once Upon a Yesterday,” “What If I’m Out of My Mind,” “Kiss Me When You’re Through” and “How Much Does It Cost”—and “Hank’s Guitar,” a new song co-written by Buddy Cannon and Bobby Tomberlin.
In keeping with his longstanding tradition of shining a light on country music’s finest songwriters, Nelson, who turned 91 on April 29, rounds out the album with his versions of compositions by Larry Cordle & Erin Enderlin (“I Wrote This Song for You”), Rodney Crowell & Will Jennings (“Many a Long and Lonesome Highway”), Shawn Camp & Monty Holmes (“Made in Texas”) and Mike Reid (“Nobody Knows Me Like You”).
Produced by longtime musical collaborator Buddy Cannon, The Border showcases Nelson (lead vocals, Trigger) accompanied by Mickey Raphael (harmonica), Bobby Terry (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar), James Mitchell (electric guitar), Jim “Moose” Brown (Wurlitzer, B-3 organ, piano, synthesizer), Fred Eltringham (drums, percussion) and Barry Bales (upright bass); backing vocals are by Buddy Cannon, and Melonie Cannon. The Border features cover art depicting the Big Bend border area between Texas and Mexico.
Listen to the playful “Made in Texas”
Willie Nelson & Family will be on the road from June through September co-headlining the Outlaw Music Festival Tour 2024 that features an all-star lineup of Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, John Mellencamp, Billy Strings and more. Tickets are available here and at StubHub.
Willie Nelson The Border Track Listing
1. The Border
2. Once Upon a Yesterday
3. What If I’m Out of My Mind
4. When I Wrote This Song for You
5. Kiss Me When You’re Through
6. Many a Long and Lonesome Highway
7. Hank’s Guitar
8. Made in Texas
9. Nobody Knows Me Like You
10. How Much Does It Cost
Related: Our Album Rewind of Nelson’s album with Merle Haggard, Pancho & Lefty
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1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationGo Willie…I must admit. I hated “To all the girls I’ve loved before”, but I have grown to love this man and his outlook on life. I love the fact that he collaborates with some of the finest players out there and supports many good causes. Shine on, Willie!!!