Buck and Lily back together, 45 years later.
Today, Amy Irving announced a new album called “Always Will Be,” which is an album of covers that are her interpretations of 10 Willie Nelson songs. They were all suggested by Willie and he is also featured on guitar on “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” which was of course performed in the 1980 film they co-starred in, Honeysuckle Rose.
The movie featured Willie as country star Buck Bonham, and Amy Irving as Lily Ramsey, who hit the road together and end up having an affair, though Bonham has a wife and son back home.
“Amy Irving’s sophomore album, ‘Always Will Be’, is officially on the way, arriving April 25. This project, in collaboration with her band, the Goolis Orchestra, is incredibly close to Amy’s heart, featuring 10 reimagined classics from her dear friend Willie Nelson’s catalog and collaborations with some truly amazing artists, including Willie himself, Amy Helm, Louis Cato, Steve Earle, Chris Pierce, and Lizzie No.
And there’s more… the first single, “Always Will Be” (featuring the soulful Amy Helm), is out today! This bittersweet track is a heartfelt tribute to Amy’s late best friend, Judy Nelson.
‘Judy Nelson was a great love in my life. A blessed friendship, I miss her every day. I sing this song for her, and I know she’s dancing.'”
In a new interview with Variety, Irving says she and Willie have stayed friends for decades, and talk almost daily. He was also featured on a song on her debut album Born in a Trunk two years ago, and subsequently sent her ideas for other songs she could sing:
“We stayed friends all these decades. We’ve been in each other’s life all this time. He’s one of my favorite people, one of my best friends. We are pretty much in communication now daily. Willie sent me a bunch of songs that he thought I should sing, and I chose the 10 that I wanted to sing.
I kind of wanted a trajectory: You first meet someone, you go through life together, you lose them — I just thought I could tell that story with his songs.”
She also told Variety that music is her current focus, and she plans to continue singing and performing for the foreseeable future. Irving’s son Gabriel Barreto produced the album, and she says that most of the songs she chose were “very personal,” notably the cover of “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” which Willie wrote for her character in the movie.
It’s a neat concept, and obviously has the red headed stranger stamp of approval, so if you’re interested in hearing these revamped versions of Willie Nelson classics, the album will be out everywhere on April 25th.
Always Will Be Tracklist:
It’s a Dream Come True (feat. Lizzie No)
Yesterday’s Wine (feat. Goolis)
I Guess I’ve Come to Live Here In Your Eyes (feat. Chris Pierce)
I’d Have To Be Crazy
If You Want Me to Love You I Will
I Wish I Didn’t Love You So (feat. Steve Earle)
Getting Over You (feat. Goolis)
Everywhere I Go (feat. Louis Cato)
Always Will Be (feat. Amy Helm)
Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground (feat. Willie Nelson)
“Always Will Be (feat. Amy Helm)”
