Introduction
“The Border” is a track from Willie Nelson’s 152nd studio album, also titled The Border, released on May 31, 2024. The album was produced by Buddy Cannon and features ten newly recorded songs, including compositions by Willie Nelson and collaborations with other notable songwriters (Legacy Recordings) (Country Standard Time).
The title track, “The Border,” is a cover of a song co-written by Rodney Crowell and Allen Shamblin. Originally part of Crowell’s 2019 Texas album, the song portrays the inner life and outer reality of a border guard. Nelson’s rendition brings his unique vocal style and emotive storytelling to the piece, adding depth to its narrative (Country Standard Time).
The Border album continues Nelson’s tradition of celebrating country music’s finest songwriters. It includes four new Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon compositions: “Once Upon a Yesterday,” “What If I’m Out of My Mind,” “Kiss Me When You’re Through,” and “How Much Does It Cost.” Additionally, the album features songs by other distinguished writers, such as Larry Cordle and Erin Enderlin’s “I Wrote This Song For You,” Rodney Crowell and Will Jennings’ “Many a Long and Lonesome Highway,” Shawn Camp and Monty Holmes’ “Made in Texas,” and Mike Reid’s “Nobody Knows Me Like You” (Legacy Recordings) (Country Standard Time).
Musically, the album showcases Nelson’s signature sound, with his lead vocals and guitar playing on his iconic instrument, Trigger. He is accompanied by a talented group of musicians, including Mickey Raphael on harmonica, Bobby Terry on guitars and steel guitar, James Mitchell on electric guitar, Jim “Moose” Brown on keyboards, Fred Eltringham on drums, and Barry Bales on upright bass. Backing vocals are provided by Buddy Cannon and his daughter, Melonie Cannon (Legacy Recordings) (Country Standard Time).
The cover art for The Border depicts the Big Bend border area between Texas and Mexico, reflecting the thematic elements of the title track and the album’s focus on the cultural and emotional landscapes of the border region (Legacy Recordings) (Country Standard Time). This release adds to Willie Nelson’s prolific career, which has spanned over six decades and includes numerous acclaimed albums and collaborations.