City of New Orleans (album)

City of New Orleans is a studio album by the American musician Willie Nelson, released by Columbia Records in 1984. The title track was written and originally recorded by Steve Goodman; his version was released in 1971. The next year, Arlo Guthrie became the first to have a hit with the song. Nelson's version topped the U.S. country singles chart. Other covers on the album include "Please Come to Boston" and "Wind Beneath My Wings".

The title track was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Critical reception

The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that Nelson's "pushing his all-purpose interpretive powers too far."

Track listing

1. "City of New Orleans" (Steve Goodman) - 4:47
2. "Just Out of Reach" (Virgil "Pappy" Stewart) - 3:37
3. "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" (Danny O'Keefe) - 2:52
4. "Why Are You Pickin' On Me" (Willie Nelson) - 2:26
5. "She's Out of My Life" (Tom Bahler) - 3:26
6. "Cry" (Churchill Kohlman) - 3:32
7. "Please Come to Boston" (Dave Loggins) - 4:17
8. "It Turns Me Inside Out" (Jan Crutchfield) - 3:27
9. "Wind Beneath My Wings" (Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar) - 3:46
10. "Until It's Time for You to Go" (Buffy Sainte-Marie) - 4:06

Personnel

• Willie Nelson - vocals, guitar
• Reggie Young, J.R. Cobb, Chips Moman - guitar
• Mike Leech - bass guitar
• Bobby Emmons, Bobby Wood - keyboards
• Gene Chrisman - drums
• Mickey Raphael - harmonica
• Wayne Jackson - trumpet
• Donald Sanders - baritone saxophone
• Jon Marett - alto saxophone
• Toni Wine, Rick Yancey, Andy Black, Sherill Parks, Bobby Wood, J.R. Cobb, Chips Moman - backing vocals
• The A Strings - strings

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References