Willie Nelson is keeping Merle Haggard’s music alive in the best way he knows how, by singing it himself. The country icon just announced a brand-new record called Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, dropping November 7th.
The first taste of it is already here: Willie’s spin on Merle’s 1969 classic “Workin’ Man Blues.” If you haven’t heard it yet, it is exactly what you’d hope for: laid-back, gritty, and pure Willie.
The album’s basically a love letter to Merle. Willie picked 11 of his favorites, everything from barroom anthems like “Swinging Doors” and “Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down” to stone-cold classics like “Mama Tried,” “Okie From Muskogee,” and “If We Make It Through December.” He even throws in honky-tonk staples like “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink.”
Of course, Willie and Merle weren’t just labelmates, they were great friends who recorded three albums together, including the legendary Pancho and Lefty. So this new project feels less like a tribute and more like Willie tipping his hat to an old buddy.
There’s also some extra heart behind this one. These are the last studio sessions that include Willie’s sister, Bobbie Nelson, and his longtime drummer Paul English, both of whom passed away recently. The whole thing was tracked at his Austin studio with harmonica ace Mickey Raphael helping out on production.
Bottom line? Willie’s still working, still singing, and still keeping his friends’ music alive. And we get to enjoy it come November.
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