New West Records & Pedernales Records will release Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver on November 11th, 2022. The 12-song set was co-produced by Charlie Sexton & Freddy Fletcher and features renditions of Shaver songs lovingly recorded by Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Ryan Bingham and Nikki Lane, Steve Earle, Edie Brickell, Rodney Crowell, Margo Price, Allison Russell, and Amanda Shires.
The Texas singer-songwriter who died on October 28th, 2020 was an integral member of the Outlaw Country movement. A favorite among music legends, Johnny Cash once called Shaver “my favorite songwriter,” while Willie Nelson declared, “Billy Joe is definitely the best writer in Texas.” Upon the announcement of Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver, Nelson said, “He was just real; there wasn’t one phony drop of blood in him.” AllMusic called Shaver’s songs “among the greatest in the whole history of the (country) genre” while the Washington Post said, “When the country outlaws were collecting their holy writings, Billy Joe Shaver was carving out Exodus.”
CMT shared George Strait’s rendition of “Willy The Wandering Gypsy and Me” this week and the song is available digitally today. Strait said, "It was an honor to be a part of this tribute to one of Texas’s best. He got down deep into the very soul of country. RIP Billy Joe. See you down the road amigo."
SHARE GEORGE STRAIT’S “WILLY THE WANDERING GYPSY AND ME”
Variety previously shared Willie Nelson & Lucinda Williams’ rendition of Shaver’s signature tune, “Live Forever” alongside a feature with co-producers Charlie Sexton & Freddy Fletcher. Rolling Stone previously shared Miranda Lambert’s rendition of “I’m Just An Old Chunk Of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be A Diamond Someday)” as well.
From his album liner notes, co-producer Freddy Fletcher wrote of Shaver, “His influence on the greatest of artists is what inspired this project. The album is a testament to his words and their deep impact on wonderful songwriters and performers. He’s a hero to so many, and we are honored to pay homage to his legacy.”
On the topic of songwriting, Billy Joe Shaver once said “when you write songs, and you write good songs, people will always remember you. Words will always outlive us. And if your name is attached to those words, you’re gonna live forever.”
Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver will be available across digital retailers, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 500 “Old Chunk of Coal” Color Vinyl Edition will be available via Vinyl, Me Please, a limited to 300 Purple, Blue & Green Marble Vinyl Edition will be available via the Magnolia Record Club, and a limited to 300 Gold & Green Color Vinyl Edition will be available via Heady Wax Fiends. A limited to 500 “Denim” Vinyl Edition is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.
