Out Now: Stream ‘First Rose of Spring,’ the 70th(!) Studio Album from Willie Nelson

How many albums have you released in your life? There’s a very good chance you haven’t released as many as Willie Nelson, who notches his SEVENTIETH studio album with First Rose of Spring, which is now available.

Originally scheduled for release on April 24, to coincide with the country/folk legend‘s 87th birthday, First Rose of Spring was pushed back to July 3, presumably due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But it’s here now, and the album is a joy from start to finish. First Rose of Spring features two new original songs from Nelson and collaborator Buddy Cannon, in addition to tributes to various pop/country songwriters over the years.

“Our Song,” for example, was written by Chris Stapleton:

There’s also a music video for “We Are the Cowboys,” a song originally by Billy Joe Shaver in 1981, and later recorded on Honky Tonk Heroes, by a collective of Shaver, Willie, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson in 1999. The video was directed by Micah Nelson, son of Willie Nelson, and premiered in time for Father’s Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDtPHMIMLdQ

Here’s the album’s track listing:

1. “First Rose Of Spring” (Randy Houser, Allen Shamblin & Mark Beeson)
2. “Blue Star” (Willie Nelson & Buddy Cannon)
3. “I’ll Break Out Again Tonight” (Sanger “Whitey”Shafer & Doodle Owens)
4. “Don’t Let The Old Man In” (Toby Keith)
5. “Just Bummin’ Around’ (Pete Graves)
6. “Our Song” (Chris Stapleton)
7. “We Are The Cowboys” (Billy Joe Shaver)
8. “Stealing Home “(Marla Cannon-Goodman, Casey Beathard & Don Sampson)
9. “I’m The Only Hell My Mama Ever Raise”d (Wayne Kemp, Bobby Borchers & Mack Vickery)
10. “Love Just Laughed” (Willie Nelson & Buddy Cannon)
11. “Yesterday When I Was Young” (Hier Encore) (Charles Aznavour & Herbert Kretzmer)

Stream First Rose of Spring below, via Spotify:

And with 4th of July weekend rapidly approaching, a reminder that Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic is streaming online on Saturday, Independence Day, as a virtual festival that is well worth your time:

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We're bringing the 4th of July Picnic back this year…in a new way. We can't be together in person but we can still be together apart. This Picnic will be presented virtually. We'll be bringing it straight to you, with some of our favorite returning acts and a few new ones, too. Join us from home on the 4th on www.williepicnic.com and www.luck.stream for a new Picnic experience. Tickets go on sale on June 29. Hope to see ya there. #4thofjuly #picnic

A post shared by Willie Nelson (@willienelsonofficial) on Jun 26, 2020 at 11:20am PDT