Maps of Music

Sings Kristofferson (1979)

Where the lyrics of Sings Kristofferson take you, and where it was really made.

Willie Nelson's album made only of Kris Kristofferson songs topped Canada's RPM country chart and was certified platinum in the US.

Place unknown

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Sings Kristofferson: studio album by Willie Nelson, released October 1979 on Columbia Records
Made entirely of cover versions of songs by Kris Kristofferson
Works as a tribute album to Kristofferson's songwriting
Nine tracks in total, five on side A and four on side B
Track 1 "Me and Bobby McGee" is credited to Fred Foster and Kristofferson; the other tracks are credited to Kristofferson alone
Track list: "Me and Bobby McGee", "Help Me Make It Through the Night", "The Pilgrim, Chapter 33", "Why Me", "For the Good Times", "You Show Me Yours (And I'll Show You Mine)", "Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends"
Longest track is "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" at 7:01

Recorded by Willie Nelson in 1979
Every song is by Kris Kristofferson, so the album reads as a survey of his writing
Released in the same year Nelson made the album, with Columbia Records as the label
The album became a chart success, reaching the top of the Canadian country chart

Engineers: Bradley Hartman and Harold Lee
Core band: Willie Nelson on lead vocals and guitar, Jody Payne on guitar, Bobbie Nelson on piano
Drums: Rex Ludwick and Paul English
Bass: Bee Spears and Chris Ethridge
Mickey Raphael plays harmonica
Jerry Reed plays electric guitar on "You Show Me Yours"
Grady Martin plays electric guitar on "You Show Me Yours" and "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down"
Albert Lee plays electric guitar on "The Pilgrim, Chapter 33"
Booker T. Jones plays organ on "Why Me"
Kris Kristofferson sings backing vocals

1	Me and Bobby McGee	5:43
2	Help Me Make It Through the Night	4:00
3	The Pilgrim: Chapter 33	3:36
4	Why Me	3:55
5	For the Good Times	5:27
6	You Show Me Yours	3:57
7	Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)	5:53
8	Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down	7:04
9	Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends	2:51

Born Willie Hugh Nelson on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas.
Wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band, Bohemian Polka, as a guitarist at age nine.
Attended Baylor University for two years before dropping out to pursue music.
Moved to Nashville in 1960 and joined Ray Price's band as a bassist.

Songs such as "Crazy" (Patsy Cline), "Funny How Time Slips Away" and "Pretty Paper" became hits for other artists.
Debut album ...And Then I Wrote was released in 1962; joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1965.
Helped lead the outlaw country movement after moving to Austin, Texas in 1972.
Red Headed Stranger (1975) was a critically acclaimed concept album; the single "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" became his first number one hit.
Co-founded Farm Aid in 1985 with Neil Young and John Mellencamp.
Acted in over 30 films, including The Electric Horseman (1979).
Received a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance for "Ride Me Back Home" (2019).
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998.

Track 1 "Me and Bobby McGee" is the only song on the album credited to two writers, Fred Foster and Kristofferson.
"Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" runs 7:01, making it the longest track.
Albert Lee plays electric guitar on "The Pilgrim, Chapter 33".
Booker T. Jones plays organ on "Why Me".
Norman Seeff is credited for photography on the album.