Maps of Music

Closer to the Bone (2009)

Where the lyrics of Closer to the Bone take you, and where it was really made.

The album was first titled Starlight and Stone, but Kristofferson renamed it because he felt the new title described its meaning better.

Place unknown

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Closer to the Bone: twentieth studio album by Kris Kristofferson
Released in the UK on 28 September 2009 and in the US on 29 September 2009
Issued on the New West record label
Twelve tracks; eleven songs by Kristofferson alone, and "From Here to Forever" co-written with Stephen Bruton and Glen Clark
Personnel: Kristofferson on vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica; Rami Jaffee on keyboards; Stephen Bruton on guitar, mandolin and backing vocals; Don Was on bass guitar; Jim Keltner on drums

Originally titled Starlight and Stone, but Kristofferson changed it to Closer to the Bone
He felt the new title was more descriptive of the album's meaning
Kristofferson called the album reflective and said it is about making sense of life at this end of his career
The album is dedicated to Stephen Bruton
"Good Morning John" was written in the 1970s and is about Johnny Cash
"Sister Sinead" was written as a tribute to Sinéad O'Connor

1	This Old Road	3:58
2	The Final Attraction	2:09
3	Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down	5:28
4	The Silver Tongued Devil and I	2:26
5	For the Good Times	4:41
6	A Moment of Forever	2:37
7	Don’t Let the Bastards (Get You Down)	2:49
8	Why Me?	3:30

American musician, songwriter and actor, born June 22, 1936 in Brownsville, Texas; died September 28, 2024 in Hana, Hawaii, aged 88.
A pioneer of the 1970s outlaw country movement, moving away from the polished Nashville sound toward a rawer, introspective style.
Signed to Monument Records in 1969 after one single for Epic Records; recorded ten albums for Monument.
Songs such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" and "Help Me Make It Through the Night" became hits for other artists.
"Why Me" and "Highwayman" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1973 and 1985.
Member of the supergroup the Highwaymen (with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash) from 1985 to 1995.
Acting career in films including A Star Is Born (1976, Golden Globe for Best Actor), Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Heaven's Gate (1980) and the Blade trilogy.
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004; received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014; three Grammy wins from 13 nominations.
Announced retirement from performing in January 2021; final performance at the Hollywood Bowl on April 29, 2023.

Released in the UK on September 28, 2009
Released in the US on September 29, 2009, one day later
Issued on the New West record label
Kristofferson described the album as a reflective work about making sense of life at this stage of his career
He said the title was changed from Starlight and Stone because the new title better described the meaning of the album
The title refers to his idea that the closer you get to the bone, the closer you get to the truth
Eleven of the twelve songs are credited to Kristofferson alone
"From Here to Forever" is credited to Kristofferson, Stephen Bruton and Glen Clark
Track listing includes "Closer to the Bone", "Hall of Angels", "The Wonder" and "I Hate Your Ugly Face"
Rami Jaffee plays keyboards on the album
Stephen Bruton plays guitar, mandolin and sings backing vocals
Don Was plays bass guitar and Jim Keltner plays drums
The album is dedicated to Stephen Bruton, who also co-wrote one of its songs
"Good Morning John" was written in the 1970s and is about Johnny Cash
"Sister Sinead" was written as a tribute to Sinéad O'Connor
Kristofferson sings lead vocals and plays acoustic guitar and harmonica throughout the record

The title was changed from Starlight and Stone, which Kristofferson replaced because the new name described the album's meaning more closely.
The song "Good Morning John" was written in the 1970s and is about Johnny Cash.
"Sister Sinead" was written by Kristofferson as a tribute to Sinéad O'Connor.
Stephen Bruton, who co-wrote "From Here to Forever" and played guitar on the record, is the person the album is dedicated to.
The release came in September 2009, first in the UK and then the next day in the US on New West Records.