Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, is releasing a pair of new Willie Nelson titles to celebrate the artist’s 90th birthday year and his abiding contributions to American popular music and culture. Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 Live At The Hollywood Bowl, produced by Blackbird Presents, will be released Dec. 15 as a 2CD+Blu-Ray deluxe edition, a complete digital edition and as a 2xLP highlights. Willie Nelson Greatest Hits, a freshly compiled career-spanning collection will be released on Nov. 3.
Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 Live At The Hollywood Bowl, is the definitive music release of the star-studded concerts celebrating Willie’s 90th Birthday. The concerts were recorded live on April 29 & 30 at the legendary Hollywood Bowl and feature once-in-a-lifetime performances by Willie Nelson, Allison Russell, Beck, Billy Strings, Bobby Weir, Booker T. Jones, Buddy Cannon, Charley Crockett, Charlie Sexton, Chris Stapleton, Daniel Lanois, Dave Matthews, Dwight Yoakam, Edie Brickell, Emmylou Harris, Gary Clark Jr., George Strait, Jack Johnson, Jamey Johnson, Keith Richards, Kris Kristofferson, Leon Bridges, Lily Meola, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Micah Nelson (Particle Kid), Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Orville Peck, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, Stephen Stills, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, Tom Jones, Tyler Childers, Warren Haynes, Waylon Payne, and Ziggy Marley.
On Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, Legacy will release the 2CD+Blu-ray and digital configurations of Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 Live At The Hollywood Bowl. The deluxe 2CD+Blu-Ray will include 3-hours of video performances from the concert along with 3 video bonus performances, 39 audio tracks and a multi-page booklet. A 2xLP vinyl edition featuring select highlights from the event will also be available on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
“We are thrilled to partner with Legacy Recordings to bring these iconic live shows that celebrated Willie’s 90th to fans around the world”, said Mark Rothbaum and Keith Wortman, Creators / Executive Producers of the Willie 90 shows. “This release captures the magic of these shows and enables audiences all around the world to experience these performances as if they were at the Hollywood Bowl with all of us.”
Willie Nelson Greatest Hits, a freshly compiled career-spanning collection of 25 essential performances, chronicles Willie’s musical journey from early ’60s country-pop singer-songwriter through the ’70s outlaw country revolution to his current iconic status as an ambassador of musical goodwill. Willie Nelson Greatest Hits will be released on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, in conjunction with the livestream of Willie’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
2023 is shaping up as a banner year for Willie, who recorded two new studio albums for Legacy: I Don’t Know a Thing About Love (Willie’s musical tribute to legendary American songwriter Harlan Howard, released in March) and Bluegrass (Willie performing 12 of his favorite self-penned classics with a bluegrass ensemble). Released Sept. 15, Willie’s Bluegrass entered the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart (Sept. 30) at #1, marking his first appearance on the chart in its 21-year history.
In February, Willie took home two Grammys at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards including Best Country Album for A Beautiful Time. Throughout the course of his career Willie Nelson has earned, among innumerable prestigious awards, 12 Grammy Awards including their Lifetime Achievement Award.
On Nov. 3, Willie Nelson will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “This year’s incredible group of Inductees reflects the diverse artists and sounds that define rock & roll,” said John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “We are honored that this November’s Induction Ceremony in New York will coincide with two milestones in music culture; the 90th birthday of Willie Nelson and the 50th Anniversary of the birth of Hip Hop.” The 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place Friday, Nov. 3, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and will stream live on Disney+ at 8pm ET. A network broadcast edit of the event will air on ABC from 8-11pm ET on Jan. 1, 2024.