Billie Nelson has sung On the road again for decades. But with his upcoming album Last leaf on the tree, it seems as if he has his eye on the end of the road.

Don’t get me wrong: The Red-haired strangerThe gray-haired icon’s upcoming release is not being heralded as his final album. And given the way Nelson can (and does) produce them – not to mention the amount of material he surely has in the can – it probably won’t be. But boy, it sure looks like it could be, based on covers of Warren Zevon‘S Keep me in your heart, Flaming lips‘ Do you understand that?? and other songs with more than a hint of mortality and finality. On the other hand, Tom is waiting The title track – which you can hear below – is an ode to stubbornness, resilience, perseverance and longevity, so what do I know? Read the official statement below and tell us what you think:

THE EDITED THE PRESS RELEASE: “Last leaf on the tree Is Willie NelsonThe 76th solo studio album and his 153rd album overall, according to Texas monthly‘S All albums by Willie Nelson in the ranking List. It is the first time he has worked with his son Michael Nelson in the producer’s chair, although the two often appear together on stage. Micah has also been part of family-oriented albums such as 2017’s Willie and the boys (together with the older brother Luke Nelson) and 2021 The Willie Nelson family.

The album follows an outstanding year for Willie, in which he released two Grammy including Best Country Albumthe release of three separate studio albums and a book, plus the amazing two-day Long story short: Willie Nelson 90 Event in Hollywood Bowl where more than 40 guest artists celebrated Willie’s 90th birthday. In November, Willie was also inducted into the The Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fameone of the few awards he has not yet received in his legendary career.

Waits first released the first single Last sheet on his 2011 album Bad like mewith The Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards Sing along. Willie covers Richards elsewhere on the album and he uses the Waits songbook for House where nobody lives. But on Last sheetWillie appropriately sings alone, conjuring a bittersweet spirit reminiscent of the title track of Nelson’s 2018 self-titled album Last man standing. Willie, who turned 91 in April, has been open about the finiteness of life in recent years, and Micah has used that as a producer. “There are little side quests,” says Micah, “but that became the common thread – facing death with dignity.”

Micah says he took a “sculpting approach” to producing the album. “It’s an approach I really love and have used a lot over the years – just throwing the clay on the ground and stepping back, then maybe adding a little bit more and then maybe plane down here and building the tracks that way.” Micah handled most of the instrumental work: According to the album credits, he played more than two dozen instruments, from guitars and pianos to “sticks and branches, logs and dead leaves.” He also illustrated the cover and helped animate the Last sheet Video together with his wife, Alexandra Dascalu Nelson.

Micah, 34, also helped find songs by younger generations of songwriters that fit his father’s voice and personality. These include Do you understand that??one of the psychedelic indie bands Flaming lips‘ most famous songs; Lost causean outstanding Beck‘s groundbreaking 2002 album Sea change; And If it wasn’t broken by the celebrated folk-punk artist from Los Angeles Sydney Lyndella Wardalso known as Sunny War“Willie sings If it wasn’t broken is the most beautiful and amazing thing that has ever happened to me as a writer and musician,” says Ward. “I used to play this song on the Venice Beach boardwalk and I never imagined that Willie Nelson would ever hear it. I am grateful and inspired.”

Willie’s long-time harmonica player Mickey Raphael recommended the late Warren Zevon‘S Keep me in your heartwhich fits perfectly with the central theme of the album – as does the meditative mantra Comes,by jazz greats Nina SimoneAlbum from 1967 High Priestess of the Soul. Willie also sings two songs by a long-time friend Neil Young: Are you ready for the country from 1972 harvestand the impressionistic six-minute classic Broken Arrow out of Buffalo SpringfieldAlbum from 1967 Buffalo Springfield againAnd Richards, who was among the guests at Nelson’s 90th birthday party, is familiar with the fascinating Robbed blind from his 2015 album Cross-eyed heart.

Also featured at the Hollywood Bowl shows was Micah’s own interpretation (with legendary producer and musician Daniel Lanois) from The Spiritwhich Willie wrote in 1962 and recorded in 1967. Willie has the song played towards the end of Last leaf on the tree. There is also a new co-production by Willie and Micah, Color of soundand Willie’s interpretation of Micah’s song Wheels from an album released in 2017 under Micah’s musical name Particle child.

Willie mostly records his parts at Pedernales Studios near his home outside of Austin, but this time he traveled to Venice, California, and joined Micah at the Chicken coopa studio that has been central to Micah’s recording career for a decade. Willie plays his trusty acoustic guitar Trigger Guest musicians on the album are Raphael, Lanois on pedal steel and the former No. Doors drummer John Densmore And Senegalese musician Magatte Sau on drums.

Willie Nelson and family will co-headline the final leg of this year’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour with Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and others in the Midwest and Northeast in September. The tour concludes on September 21 with the annual Farm Aid benefit concert in Saratoga Springs, NY, featuring guests such as Neil Young, David Matthews, Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Charley Crockett And Luke Nelson with The traveling McCourys.

Willie Nelson | Last leaf on the tree

1 | Last sheet (written by Tom is waiting and Kathleen Brennan)
2 | If it wasn’t broken (written by Sydney Lyndella Ward)
3 | Lost cause (written by BeckDavid Hansen)
4 | Comes, (written by Nina Simone)
5 | Keep me in your heart (written by Warren Zevon and Jorge Calderon)
6 | Robbed blind (written by Keith Richards)
7 | House where nobody lives (written by Tom is waiting)
8 | Are you ready for the country? (written by Neil Young)
9 | Do you understand that?? (written by Wayne Coyne / Steven Drozd / Michael Ivins / David Fridmann)
10 | Wheels (written by Michael Nelson)
11 | Broken Arrow (written by Neil Young)
12 | Color of sound (written by Willie Nelson and Michael Nelson)
13 | The Spirit (written by Willie Nelson)