Just Across The River, the new album from multiple Grammy award-winner Jimmy Webb, one of the most celebrated composers and songwriters in American music history, is set for release June 28 through E1 Music / RSK Entertainment. The album features interpretations of the classic songs that made him a vital cultural icon including By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Wichita Lineman,Galveston, The Highwayman, Oklahoma Nights and more. The album features guest appearances from Webb’s friends, fans and recording partners including Jackson Browne, Glen Campbell, Vince Gill, Billy Joel, Mark Knopfler, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther and Lucinda Williams.
Just Across The River came together at the behest of producer and longtime Webb collaborator Fred Mollin, who wished to honor Webb’s storied career and his celebrated contributions to the Americana roots tradition (Webb is a native son of Oklahoma). Says Mollin of the album: This record is a homecoming for Jimmy. His songs are true classics and they could provide the soundtrack to your life.
Webb adds: From the very first song, first take, first note this record seemed blessed. I hope everyone else feels what we did as we listened to the first rough mixes. And then as each piece fell into place, a fully realized, conceptual work of art emerged.
Just Across The River was recorded primarily live over the course of two days at Sound Emporium in Nashville, TN. Joining Webb live in the studio were John Hobbs (piano, Wurlitzer, organ), Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin), John Willis (acoustic guitars, electric guitars, banjo), Larry Paxton (bass), Greg Morrow and Eddie Bayers (drums), Stuart Duncan (fiddle, mandolin), Jeff Taylor (accordion), Pat Buchanan (electric guitars) and Paul Franklin (steel guitar, dobro). Mark Knopfler provided lead electric guitar on By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Johnny A. contributed electric guitar on Galveston and Jerry Douglas added dobro on Wichita Lineman.
He has been blessed with the emotions and artistic talent of the great lyricists —Frank Sinatra
When I was starting out as a songwriter, I looked to Jimmy Webb as one of the most innovative and musically proficient songwriters of our generation —Billy Joel
The only artist to ever receive Grammy awards for music, lyrics and orchestration, Jimmy Webb wrote five top ten hits within a 20-month period in the 1960s, which propelled him from humble beginnings in Oklahoma to international fame. Webb is a member of the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and, according to BMI, his By The Time I Get To Phoenix, has been the third most performed song in the last 50 years, with Up, Up and Away on the same list in the top thirty. Webb has provided classics for Glen Campbell (By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Wichita Lineman and Galveston), Richard Harris (MacArthur Park), the Fifth Dimension (Up, Up and Away, This Is Your Life), Art Garfunkel (All I Know), Linda Ronstadt (Easy For You To Say) and Joe Cocker (The Moon’s A Harsh Mistress). Webb’s songs continue to grace a multitude of major recording artists’ albums, from Tony Bennett and Rosemary Clooney, to Urge Overkill, Reba McEntire, Celtic Woman and James Taylor.
FULL TRACK LISTING
1. Oklahoma Nights featuring Vince Gill
2. Wichita Lineman featuring Billy Joel
3. If You See Me Getting Smaller featuring Willie Nelson
4. Galveston featuring Lucinda Williams
5. P.F. Sloan featuring Jackson Browne
6. By The Time I Get To Phoenix featuring Glen Campbell
7. Cowboy Hall Of Fame
8. Where Words End featuring Michael McDonald
9. Highwayman featuring Mark Knopfler
10. I Was Too Busy Loving You featuring J.D. Souther
11. It Won’t Bring Her Back
12. Do What You Gotta Do
13. All I Know featuring Linda Ronstadt
Buy your copy here
Buy your copy here
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