Rodney Crowell

For the past 41 years, Rodney Crowell’s holiday traditions have included reading Clement C. Moore’s iconic 19th century poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (or “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”), to his children and grandchildren on Christmas Eve. This year the singer-songwriter adds a soundtrack to that tradition in the form of his first-ever holiday-themed LP, Christmas Everywhere, out November 2nd on New West Records.

Esteemed musician, songwriter and author Rodney Crowell has teamed up with New West Records to release Tarpaper Sky, his new self-produced album. It comes fast on the heels of Old Yellow Moon, Crowell’s critically lauded collaboration with Emmylou Harris, which won a 2013 Grammy® Award and was named 2013 Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association. Crowell has pushed the boundaries of country, folk and roots music since long before the term Americana was coined as a genre, making a name for himself and gaining respect as both a songwriter and as an artist.

Americana has had a banner few years, to put it mildly, and the roots of its current incarnation can be traced back to Rodney Crowell. The Texas-born songwriter has collaborated with everyone from Emmylou Harris to Waylon Jennings, all while maintaining a solo career that's netted him two Grammys and an induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. It's fitting, then, that Crowell's album "Close Ties" unfolds like a history lesson, both of his personal mythology and the music that shaped it. Produced by Jordan Lehning and Kim Buie, the 10-song collection considers Crowell's influences while looking to the future, each song delivered with Crowell's slight growl and poet's eye for detail. Also, the album features guest appearances from Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow and John Paul White.

Americana has had a banner few years, to put it mildly, and the roots of its current incarnation can be traced back to Rodney Crowell. The Texas-born songwriter has collaborated with everyone from Emmylou Harris to Waylon Jennings, all while maintaining a solo career that's netted him two Grammys and an induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. It's fitting, then, that Crowell's album "Close Ties" unfolds like a history lesson, both of his personal mythology and the music that shaped it. Produced by Jordan Lehning and Kim Buie, the 10-song collection considers Crowell's influences while looking to the future, each song delivered with Crowell's slight growl and poet's eye for detail. Also, the album features guest appearances from Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow and John Paul White.

2013 collaboration between two of Country Music's most respected artists. "Old Yellow Moon" features four songs written by Crowell as well as interpretations of songs such as Hank DeVito's 'Hanging Up My Heart,' Roger Miller's 'Invitation to the Blues,' and Allen Reynolds' 'Dreaming My Dreams,' among others. Produced by Brian Ahern (Johnny Cash, George Jones, Roy Orbison),Old Yellow Moon is the first official collaboration from the duo since Crowell joined Harris' Hot Band as guitarist and harmony singer in 1975. In addition to Harris and Crowell, the album features world-renowned musicians including Stuart Duncan, Vince Gill, and Bill Payne, as well as members of the original Hot Band.

Produced by Grammy Award winner Joe Henry (Billy Bragg, Elvis Costello, Aimee Mann), "The Traveling Kind" comprises 11 duet tracks, including six new songs written by Harris and Crowell with co-writing by Mary Carr, Cory Chisel, Will Jennings, and Larry Klein. Also featured are new renditions of previous Crowell cuts including "No Memories Hanging Around" as well as new interpretations of Lucinda Williams' "I Just Wanted to See You So Bad" and Amy Allison's "Her Hair Was Red". This album is Country & Bluegrass, 2016 Grammy Nominees.

First multi-label Rodney Crowell collection the most comprehensive career overview to date. Features his US Country Top 40 hits, including five consecutive US #1s from his breakthrough album Diamonds & Dirt Its Such A Small World, Shes Crazy For Leavin, I Couldnt Leave You If I Tried, After All This Time and Above and Beyond. 23 tracks and over 77 minutes of music the essence of an outstanding career.

Take a look at the cover of Rodney Crowell's brilliant new album, The Chicago Sessions, and you might recognize a familiar callback to the legendary songwriter's 1978 debut. "In a lot of ways, this album feels like that very first record to me," Crowell reflects. "When my daughter Chelsea suggested we lay the artwork out similarly, the connection made perfect sense. There's something very simple, very innocent about it. It's just me and the band in a room together, loose and live and having fun." Produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, The Chicago Sessions is indeed a throwback to Crowell's early days of making records, but it's no nostalgia trip. The songs here are vital and timely, touching on everything from love and mortality to race and religion, and the performances are nothing short of intoxicating, fueled by raw guitars, honky-tonk piano, and tight, punchy drums. Tweedy wields a light touch as a producer, his influence subtle yet unmistakable, and engineer Tom Schick's mixes are dynamic and alive, alternately lush and spacious in all the right places with a spotlight fixed firmly on Crowell's warm, weathered vocals throughout. Put it all together and you've got a masterful, cross-generational collaboration that manages to feel both fresh and familiar all at once, an incisive, engaging collection that balances careful craftsmanship with joyful liberation at every turn.

Take a look at the cover of Rodney Crowell’s brilliant new album, The Chicago Sessions, and you might recognize a familiar callback to the legendary songwriter’s 1978 debut. “In a lot of ways, this album feels like that very first record to me,” Crowell reflects.