City of New Orleans (album) explained

City of New Orleans
Type:	Album
Artist:	Willie Nelson
Cover:	Willie-Nelson-City-of-New-Orleans.jpg
Released:	1984
Genre:	Country
Length:	37:06
Label:	Columbia
Producer:	Chips Moman
Prev Title:	Angel Eyes
Prev Year:	1984
Next Title:	Music from Songwriter
Next Year:	1984

City of New Orleans is a studio album by the American musician Willie Nelson, released by Columbia Records in 1984.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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

Production

• Recorded at: Moman's Recording Studio.

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

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Canadian Country Albums (RPM)	24
Canadian Albums (RPM)	62

Year-end charts

Chart (1984)	Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[4]	32
Chart (1985)	Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[5]	22

Notes and References

1. News: Willistein . Paul . 'Living Legend' Is Returning for Allentown Fair Show Today . The Sunday Call-Chronicle . 2 Sep 1984 . F1.
2. News: Holden . Stephen . Critic's Notebook . The New York Times . 17 Jan 1985 . C16.
3. Web site: Willie Nelson . Recording Academy . 1 June 2023.
4. Top Country Albums – Year-End 1984. Billboard. January 29, 2021.
5. Top Country Albums – Year-End 1985. Billboard. January 29, 2021.