City of New Orleans (album)

City of New Orleans
City of New Orleans
Studio album by Willie Nelson
Released	1984
Genre	Country
Length	37:06
Label	Columbia
Producer	Chips Moman
Willie Nelson chronology

City of New Orleans is a studio album by the American musician Willie Nelson, released by Columbia Records in 1984.^[1] The title track was written and originally recorded by Steve Goodman; his version was released in 1971. The next year, Arlo Guthrie became the first to have a hit with the song.^[2] Nelson's version topped the U.S. country singles chart. Other covers on the album include "Please Come to Boston" and "Wind Beneath My Wings".

The title track was nominated for a Grammy Award.^[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[4]
The Philadelphia Inquirer	^[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[6]

The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that Nelson's "pushing his all-purpose interpretive powers too far."^[5]

Track listing

"City of New Orleans" (Steve Goodman) - 4:47
"Just Out of Reach" (Virgil "Pappy" Stewart) - 3:37
"Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" (Danny O'Keefe) - 2:52
"Why Are You Pickin' On Me" (Willie Nelson) - 2:26
"She's Out of My Life" (Tom Bahler) - 3:26
"Cry" (Churchill Kohlman) - 3:32
"Please Come to Boston" (Dave Loggins) - 4:17
"It Turns Me Inside Out" (Jan Crutchfield) - 3:27
"Wind Beneath My Wings" (Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar) - 3:46
"Until It's Time for You to Go" (Buffy Sainte-Marie) - 4:06

Production

Recorded at: Moman's Recording Studio.

Personnel

Willie Nelson - vocals, guitar
Reggie Young, J.R. Cobb, Chips Moman - guitar
Mike Leech - bass guitar
Bobby Emmons, Bobby Wood - keyboards
Gene Chrisman - drums
Mickey Raphael - harmonica
Wayne Jackson - trumpet
Donald Sanders - baritone saxophone
Jon Marett - alto saxophone
Toni Wine, Rick Yancey, Andy Black, Sherill Parks, Bobby Wood, J.R. Cobb, Chips Moman - backing vocals
The A Strings - strings

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Canadian Country Albums (RPM)	24
Canadian Albums (RPM)	62
US Billboard 200^[7]	69
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[8]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1984)	Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[9]	32
Chart (1985)	Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[10]	22

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[11]	Gold	50,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[12]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Willistein, Paul (2 Sep 1984). "'Living Legend' Is Returning for Allentown Fair Show Today". The Sunday Call-Chronicle. p. F1.
^ Holden, Stephen (17 Jan 1985). "Critic's Notebook". The New York Times. p. C16.
^ "Willie Nelson". Recording Academy. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
^ "City of New Orleans Review by Jason Ankeny". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
^ ^a ^b Tucker, Ken (29 July 1984). "Willie Nelson, City of New Orleans". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I9.
^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 499.
^ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1984". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1985". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Willie Nelson – City of New Orleans". Music Canada. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^ "American album certifications – Willie Nelson – City of New Orleans". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 29, 2021.

This 1980s country music album-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Willistein, Paul (2 Sep 1984). "'Living Legend' Is Returning for Allentown Fair Show Today". The Sunday Call-Chronicle. p. F1.

[2] Holden, Stephen (17 Jan 1985). "Critic's Notebook". The New York Times. p. C16.

[3] "Willie Nelson". Recording Academy. Retrieved 1 June 2023.

[4] "City of New Orleans Review by Jason Ankeny". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2023.

[PI-5] Tucker, Ken (29 July 1984). "Willie Nelson, City of New Orleans". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I9.

[RS-6] The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 499.

[ac_Billboard200_Willie_Nelson-7] "Willie Nelson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.

[ac_BillboardCountry_Willie_Nelson-8] "Willie Nelson Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.

[9] "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1984". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.

[10] "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1985". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.

[CanadaWillie_NelsonCity_of_New_OrleansalbumCertRef-11] "Canadian album certifications – Willie Nelson – City of New Orleans". Music Canada. Retrieved January 29, 2021.

[United_StatesWillie_NelsonCity_of_New_OrleansalbumCertRef-12] "American album certifications – Willie Nelson – City of New Orleans". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 29, 2021.

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