Willie Nelson to drop 'American Classic' while on baseball run
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Along with mounting an intensive stadium run alongside Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp next month, Willie Nelson will release this summer "American Classic," his first collection of standards since 1978's "Stardust."
The 12-track album--the performer's first solo effort on the Blue Note label--will hit shelves August 25 and features guest vocalists Diana Krall ("If I Had You") and Norah Jones ("Baby It's Cold Outside"). Nelson's backing band--Mickey Raphael (harmonica), Joe Sample (piano), Christian McBride (bass) and Lewis Nash (drums)--contributed to the set, while Grammy-winning composer Johnny Mandel added the string arrangements.
"Stardust," Nelson's most recent record of pop standards, debuted in 1978 at the top of Billboard's Country Albums chart; the record remains Nelson's most successful release to date with more than five million copies sold, according to a press release.
Nelson, Dylan and Mellencamp will kick off their tour of minor-league baseball stadiums July 2 in Sauget, IL, marking the second time in more than two decades that the trio has appeared together on stage.
Following the 22-date "Baseball Tour," Nelson will head out alone to make up a handful of Southern shows originally slated for February. The Red-Headed Stranger postponed the six performances due to an unspecified illness.
In March, Nelson released "Naked Willie," a 17-track set of recordings from the late 1960s that were stripped down to the way they were originally heard in the studio.
July 2009
1 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest
2 - Sauget, IL - GCS Ballpark
4 - South Bend, IN - Stanley Coveleski Stadium
5 - Rothbury, MI - Rothbury Festival
8 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Slugger Field
10 - Dayton, OH - Fifth Third Field
11 - Eastlake, OH - Classic Park
13 - Washington, PA - Consol Energy Park
14 - Allentown, PA - Coca-Cola Park
15 - New Britain, CT - New Britain Stadium
17 - Essex Junction, VT - Champlain Valley Exposition
18 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
19 - Syracuse, NY - Alliance Bank Stadium
21 - Pawtucket, RI - McCoy Stadium
23 - Lakewood, NJ - FirstEnergy Park
24 - Aberdeen, MD - Ripken Stadium
25 - Norfolk, VA - Harbor Park
28 - Durham, NC - Durham Bulls Athletic Park
29 - Simpsonville, SC - Heritage Park Amphitheatre
30 - Alpharetta, GA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park
31 - Orange Beach, AL - Amphitheatre at the Wharf
August 2009
2 - The Woodlands, TX - The Cynthia-Woods Mitchell Pavilion
4 - Round Rock, TX - Dell Diamond
5 - Corpus Christi, TX - Whataburger Field
7 - Grand Praire, TX - QuikTrip Park
8 - Lubbock, TX - Jones AT&T Stadium
9 - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
11 - Glendale, AZ - Camelback Ranch
12 - Las Vegas, NV - Cashman Field Amphitheatre
14 - Fresno, CA - Chukchansi Park
15 - Stockton, CA - Banner Island Ballpark
16 - Stateline, NV - Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena
September 2009
20 - Springdale, AR - Springdale Convention Center
22 - Ashland, KY - Paramount Arts Center
23 - Toledo, OH - Stranahan Theatre
26 - Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
30 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
October 2009
2 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
20 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
21 - Melbourne, FL - King Center for the Performing Arts
22 - Panama City, FL - Marina Civic Center
23 - Choctaw, MS - Silver Star Resort
24 - Marksville, LA - Paragon Casino Resort
Willie Nelson tickets at Ticketmaster
Willie Nelson ringtones at ThumbplayWillie Nelson extends 'Classic' trek [October 2009]
Willie Nelson, Wynton Marsalis play Ray Charles music [October 2009]
Willie Nelson broadens 'American Classic' support tour [September 2009]
Bob Dylan show canceled due to heatwave [August 2009]
Farm Aid set for St. Louis [July 2009]
