Before Willie Nelson became one of America’s most enduring cultural figures, he was a working songwriter in Nashville, quietly shaping the sound of modern country from behind the scenes. Long before Outlaw Country and before his image became iconic, Nelson was steeped in the language of the music itself.
That foundation comes full circle on Country Music, originally released in 2010 and now returning via HighTone Records. Produced by the acclaimed T Bone Burnett, the GRAMMY®-nominated album finds Nelson interpreting a collection of country standards and traditional songs, alongside a revisit to his own early work—material that helped define the genre and resonate deeply with his artistic voice.
Arriving February 27, the reissue is available on vinyl, CD, and hi-res digital formats. The 2-LP set comes housed in a gatefold jacket, with limited-edition pressings including Sky Blue Swirl vinyl (Barnes & Noble exclusive) and Opaque Grass Green (Books-A-Million exclusive).
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A RETURN TO THE SOURCE
Recorded in Nashville’s Sound Emporium, Country Music strips everything back to its essentials. Burnett aimed for a rustic sound with stripped-down arrangements and traditional instrumentation that lets the songs (and Nelson’s phrasing) do the work. The recorded sessions featured Nashville standouts including Buddy Miller (guitar), Ronnie McCoury (mandolin), Russell Pahl (pedal steel), and Stuart Duncan (fiddle).
“They’re all really good songs that I grew up singing,” Nelson said of the tracklist. Speaking to The Boot, he added that the material “speaks to you in a lot of ways and you feel it move you…” Country Music was Nelson’s first fully traditional country album, reflecting his ideal of the genre.
Upon its release on April 20, 2010, Country Music debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and No. 20 on the Billboard 200. It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album at the 2011 GRAMMY Awards.
The album was met with broad critical acclaim, with American Songwriter hailing it “Willie at his finest,” Slant Magazine calling it “an essential addition to Nelson’s rich catalogue,” and the Los Angeles Times describing it as “deeply satisfying.” PopMatters praised the record as “the new millennium’s most effective showcase of the gifts that Nelson’s reputation rests upon.”
LISTENING NOTES
• “Man with the Blues” — Originally released by Nelson in 1959, the song opens the album with a direct link to his earliest recordings, revisited with decades of perspective.
• “House of Gold” — A restrained reading of Hank Williams’ composition which would become a mid-century staple.
• “Dark as a Dungeon” — Merle Travis’ coal-mining ballad delivered with steady pacing and spare instrumentation.
• “Seaman’s Blues” — An Ernest Tubb classic approached with ease and conversational rhythm.
• “Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down” — A traditional spiritual rendered simply, allowing the song’s weight to emerge without ornament.
• “Nobody’s Fault but Mine” — Direct and unadorned, reinforcing the album’s focus on tradition, restraint, and emotional clarity.
THE LEGACY CONTINUES
Now in his 90s, Willie Nelson remains a defining American figure, with a catalog encompassing well over 100 studio and live albums. Long celebrated for his musical impact and cultural influence, Nelson continues to record and release new music.
This release marks the second reissue under the recently relaunched HighTone Records, following the first-ever vinyl release of Tulare Dust: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard. Founded in 1983, HighTone became a home for voices across Americana, blues, country, gospel, rockabilly, and Western swing. Today, Craft Recordings continues that legacy, spotlighting essential releases from HighTone’s storied vaults alongside selections from the catalogs of Rounder, Vanguard, and more.