In November, the Library of Congress honored Willie Nelson with its Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Now, the Red-Headed Stranger is paying tribute to the iconic Gershwin brothers with Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin.
“To get a Gershwin award for anything is great but to get one for songwriting is especially great because Ira and George Gershwin were just fantastic writers,” the “Crazy” composer says. “They wrote some of the greatest songs ever. The Gershwin songs have been here for many many years. When I was just a small guy, I remember hearing all these great Gershwin songs and they’ll be around forever because great music like that just does not go away.”
Willie welcomes a couple special guests on the 11-track collection. Sheryl Crow adds her vocals to “Embraceable You,” while Cyndi Lauper reprises the song she sang with the country icon at the tribute in the nation’s capital, “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.”
Here’s the track listing for Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin, due February 26:
“But Not for Me”
“Somebody Loves Me”
“Someone to Watch Over Me”
“Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” (featuring Cyndi Lauper)
“It Ain’t Necessarily So”
“I Got Rhythm”
“Love Is Here to Stay”
“They All Laughed”
“Embraceable You” (featuring Sheryl Crow)
“They Can’t Take That Away from Me”
“Summertime”
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