Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, today released the third track from Willie Nelson’s anticipated new studio album Last Leaf on the Tree. His 76th solo studio album and 153rd album overall, the album was produced by his son Micah and finds Nelson covering an eclectic collection of songs by rock legends, idiosyncratic singer songwriters, alt-rock heroes, and indie folk artists, as well as a new recording of Willie’s 1967 song, “The Ghost,” and a new composition by Willie and Micah Nelson.
The album’s third spotlight track – Willie’s rendition of Beck’s “Lost Cause” – is available on all DSPs today (Friday, October 25). Listen HERE
Taken from the Grammy-winning musician’s 2002 album Sea Change, the song was one of several Beck tunes they considered. “This one’s really like a country song in a way,” Micah says. “It’s this relationship gone south, and just reconciling with all that. It’s a very clear narrative country song, but it’s kind of psychedelic, too.” Upon hearing this new cover of his song, Beck remarked that “Willie’s songs have been my companions for most of my life. I’ve been lucky to get to hang out and sing with him on several occasions over the years,” adding, “There’s no one like him in music and it’s the greatest honor to have him record this song.”
The album has already garnered fantastic reviews. Uncut states that the “legend revels in his seniority on superb covers album,” writing that the “covers fit him like a glove. Tom Waits’ ‘Last Leaf’ becomes both poignant and defiant,” referring to the album’s first single. Meanwhile
Texas Monthly’s headline shouts praise when referring the album’s second single: “Willie Nelson’s Take On The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize???” Is A Masterpiece.”
On November 1, Willie Nelson’s Last Leaf on the Tree will be available digitally, on CD and amber swirl double LP vinyl. All versions are available for pre-order HERE.
Read Peter Blackstock’s in-depth essay on the making of The Last Leaf on the Tree HERE
In addition to producing, Micah Nelson played many of the instruments, designed the album cover, and helped create animation for the video of the album’s first single, a cover of Tom Waits’ “Last Leaf” alongside his wife, Alexandra Dascalu Nelson. Willie plays his trusty guitar Trigger throughout and the two are joined by a host of celebrated musicians plus guest spots from legendary producer and musician Daniel Lanois, John Densmore of The Doors, Senegalese musician Magatte Sow on percussion and harmonica master Mickey Raphael, who has played alongside Willie for more than 50 years.
Willie just finished a series of live dates in Texas, including guest performances at the Austin City Limits Festival with Chris Stapleton and Orville Peck. And then this past week, he headlined the 50th anniversary celebration of the Austin City Limits TV show fifty years to the day after performing on the inaugural episode. On November 12, Willie and his wife, Annie Nelson, will release a cookbook: Willie and Annie Nelson’s Cannabis Cookbook: Mouthwatering Recipes and the High-Flying Stories Behind Them. In this groundbreaking cookbook, Willie and Annie share their favorite recipes infused with cannabis. Drawn from meals enjoyed on nationwide tours, at their ranch, at home, and in their favorite cities, the recipes in this cookbook are accompanied by Willie’s personal food-related stories. More info HERE
Meanwhile, Particle Kid, a.k.a., Micah Nelson, is bringing his experimental, psychedelic, future-folk music on an OctoberQuest. Headlining dates on the West Coast, the shows feature songs from his six-album catalog, specially created visual presentation to accompany the performance, and exclusive merch (Nelson designed different poster art for each show).
Here are the remaining dates:
October 26 – Santa Cruz, CA – Moe’s Alley
October 27 – Albany, CA – Ivy Room
October 28 – San Francisco, CA – Kilowatt Bar
October 29 – Sacramento, CA – The Starlet Room
October 31 – Ferndale, CA – Ferndale Music Company & The Old Steeple
Willie Nelson – Last Leaf on the Tree
1. Last Leaf (written by Tom Waits & Kathleen Brennan)
2. If It Wasn’t Broken (written by Sydney Lyndella Ward)
3. Lost Cause (written by Beck David Hansen)
4. Come Ye (written by Nina Simone)
5. Keep Me In Your Heart (written by Warren Zevon & Jorge Calderon)
6. Robbed Blind (written by Keith Richards)
7. House Where Nobody Lives (written by Tom Waits)
8. Are You Ready For The Country? (written by Neil Young)
9. Do You Realize?? (written by Wayne Coyne/Steven Drozd/Michael Ivins/David Fridmann)
10. Wheels (written by Micah Nelson)
11. Broken Arrow (written by Neil Young)
12. Color Of Sound (written by Willie Nelson & Micah Nelson)
13. The Ghost (written by Willie Nelson)
About Willie Nelson & Legacy Recordings
In February 2012, Willie Nelson entered into an historic new record deal with Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, marking a label homecoming for Nelson, who, from 1975-1993, had cut a phenomenal string of top-selling singles and albums for Columbia Records, beginning with 1975’s seminal smash Red Headed Stranger. New titles by the artist under the Legacy imprint include newly recorded songs and performances as well as archival releases, personally curated by the artist, drawn from all phases of his career including his recordings for RCA Records and others. Since signing with Legacy, Willie Nelson has released 22 albums in just over 12 years and won 4 Grammy Awards.
About Micah Nelson
Composer/multi-media artist Micah Nelson has a remarkable output that spans the creative spectrum. Producing art under the moniker Particle Kid, Micah finds no boundaries in his creativity. Particle Kid has released six albums of his original music, including his most recent release Time Capsule, a 26-song musical journey through time, space, and consciousness. His previous albums – self-titled debut Particle Kid, Everything Is Bullshit, Particle War, Window Rock, Live! Underground – are just part of the catalog of work Nelson has amassed with other artists and musicians. He was chosen by Neil Young to become a member of his band Crazy Horse in 2023, and Nelson was also featured in Young’s full-length film Paradox. On tour year round, Particle Kid has headlined shows around the world as well as opened for many other artists including The Flaming Lips, Tinariwen, Meat Puppets, Claypool Lennon Delirium, and been part of the line up for Luck Reunion, BottleRock Festival, UTOPiAfest, and the Outlaw Music Festival.
