Tag: Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe Shaver Knows It Is “Hard to Be an Outlaw”

Long in the Tooth

Billy Joe Shaver will release his first studio album in six years on August 5, Long in the Tooth. The album, to be released on Lightning Rod Records, features the 74-year-old Shaver performing a duet with Willie Nelson on “Hard to Be an Outlaw.” Other folks appearing on what Shaver claims is his best album ever includes Leon Russell, Tony Joe White, Joel Guzman, Shawn Camp, and Jedd Hughes. Shaver promises the new album will also include a rap song.

Regarding the duet with Nelson, Shaver explained to Rolling Stone that he and Nelson bounced ideas back and forth over the telephone. Nelson included his solo effort on “Hard to Be an Outlaw” on his own new album Band of Brothers (2014), but below you can check out the Shaver-Nelson version of “Hard to Be an Outlaw,” which, not surprisingly, takes the side of Outlaw country music.


Album cover photo via Shaver’s Facebook page. What do you think of “Hard to Be an Outlaw”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Willie Nelson’s New Video for “The Wall”

    Band of Brothers Nelson

    Willie Nelson will release his first album since his duets CD To All The Girls. . . (2014) with Band of Brothers (2014). Legacy Records will release the new Nelson album that features fourteen tracks. Nine of the songs are new originals by Nelson, making Band of Brothers the first time in more than two decades that Nelson is releasing an album of predominantly new originals.

    The video for one of the new songs, “The Wall,” has been released. The song recounts a number of recognizable events from Nelson’s life.

    The new album will also include a duet with Jamey Johnson on Billy Joe Shaver’s “The Git Go.” Band of Brothers hits stores June 17.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Billy Joe Shaver Knows It Is “Hard to Be an Outlaw”
  • When is Mickey Newbury’s “33rd of August”?
  • That Time Willie Nelson Got a Little Emotional Singing with Leon Russell and Ray Charles
  • Internet Venom, Toby Keith’s Death, . . . and Grace from Willie Nelson
  • Karen O and Willie Nelson Record “Under Pressure” (Pandemic Song of the Day)
  • When the World Seems to be Spinnin’ Hopelessly Out of Control

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Happy Earth Day: The Earth Rolls On

    Billy Joe Shaver The Earth Rolls On Happy Earth Day, which started in 1970 as a day to spread education about and support for our environment. Today, the day is celebrated around the world, reminding us of our common interest in the earth and the environment.

    During the same month as Earth Day in 2001, Shaver released the album, The Earth Rolls On (2001). On first look, the album has nothing to do with Earth Day. Shaver was a collaboration between country legend Billy Joe Shaver and his son Eddy Shaver, who played some mean guitar. My favorite song on the album is the wonderful title track that closes the album, “The Earth Rolls On,” where Billy Joe Shaver sings “The earth rolls on/Even though you’re gone/The earth rolls on, and on, and on. . . .” So the song is really about loss.

    The song carries a heavy weight for Billy Joe Shaver. He wrote the song about losing his wife Brenda, who passed away from a lenghty illness in 1999 (Shaver had divorced her twice but married her three times). His son Eddy, who plays guitar on the album, passed away suddenly from an accidental drug overdose in December 2000. Although that is Eddy’s guitar wailing at the end of “The Earth Rolls On,” one can almost hear in that incredible solo that he foresaw the pain his father felt not only of Brenda’s death but what a father would feel in losing his son.

    So, in addition to the title, “The Earth Rolls On” is a perfect song for Earth Day. It is about how fragile life is and how we have to cherish and take care of what we have while we have it because everything is temporary. May you celebrate the earth and your loved ones today and every day this year.

    What is your favorite song about the earth? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Pop Culture Roundup (Mid-January 2012)

    24 complete series Keifer Sutherland

    In case you were too busy driving around with your dog on your car roof or wondering how to finish that research paper with Wikipedia going dark for a day in protest of a proposed law, here are some of the recent pop culture stories you might have missed.

    Movies

    The Los Angeles Times notes that four recent movies leave the viewer with an open ending. (Watch out for spoilers!)

    Do the proposed new rules for the documentary category of the Academy Awards make sense?

    George Clooney is planning a movie about art historians rescuing art looted by the Nazis.

    Keifer Sutherland reports that shooting for a 24 movie could start in a few months.

    A new documentary looks at the life and career of comedian Bernie Mac.

    Metromix has 21 films to watch for in 2012.

    Another Bruce Almighty sequel is in the works, but this time with Jim Carrey returning.

    James Franco’s new movie about the life of writer Hart Crane is available on demand or through download. (review)

    This year, four film classics return to theaters but this time in 3-D. . .

    The Los Angeles Times takes a look at the character of Sherlock Holmes’s sidekick Watson on the screen through the years.

    NY Times reviews new documentary in the Paradise Lost series about the West Memphis 3, recently cleared of murder.

    Why an empty box was the Star Wars holiday gift sensation in 1977.

    Wes Anderson’s upcoming film is Moonrise Kingdom:

    Music

    Owl and Bear has an interesting list of top 2011 albums.

    The New York Times reviewed Glen Campbell’s “Farewell Tour” performance in NY.

    Bill Moyers explains why Woody Guthrie is relevant now.

    Kelly Willis talks about making an album with her husband Bruce Robison. (No Depression)

    Madlands? Bruce Springsteen’s forthcoming album is angry. (Paste)

    A conversation with Texas legendary troubadour Billy Joe Shaver.

    Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, and Taylor Swift will perform at Grammy Awards on Feb. 12.

    A proposed Indiana law sets performance standards (w/ fines) for the national anthem at public schools and colleges.

    Turnstyled Junkpiled has a “tribute show” collection of videos of artists covering Townes Van Zandt songs.

    John Fogerty made a guest appearance on the new Fox TV show The Finder, also singing the theme song.

    Van Halen     just released its first David Lee Roth video since 1996.

    Television

    The Golden Globes award show was on Sunday, leading to the question: Do the Golden Globes pick better winners than the Oscars?

    The 500th episode of The Simpsons airs Feb. 19.

    The Paley Center for Media celebrates Bill Cosby’s 50 years in show biz.

    AMC is developing a Goodfellas TV series. Yeah, I think this is funny. Clown funny.

    Hostess Twinkies

    Other Pop Culture News

    Alvin! Check out the history of Alvin and the Chimpmunks.

    Barry Larkin on his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

    A new biography of Stephen Hawking celebrates the ideas of the world’s most famous scientist. (review)

    Better start stockpiling those Twinkies and cupcakes. Hostess filed for bankruptcy.

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