Willie Nelson has released an emotional rendition of The Flaming Lips‘ ‘Do You Realize??’, from his upcoming album ‘Last Leaf On The Tree’. Check it out below.
‘Last Leaf On The Tree’ will be Nelson’s 153rd release (counting solo studio albums, live records, and collaborative LPs), and sees him cover hits by the likes of Warren Zevon, Nina Simone, Keith Richards, Sunny War, Beck and more.
Earlier this year, Nelson shared the lead single and title track – a cover of Tom Waits’ ‘Last Leaf’. The album’s selection of covers was curated by his son Micah, and there are also some originals, one of which Micah guests on.
Now, he’s released his version of The Flaming Lips’ ‘Do You Realize??’, taken from their 2005 album ‘Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots’. Layering a simple piano and harmonica with acoustic guitar and haunting vocals, Nelson offers a more sombre take than the original.
Check out ‘Do You Realize??’ below:
In other news, back in March, Nelson appeared on Beyoncé’s album ‘Cowboy Carter’ as a disc jockey on the fictitious station KNTRY Radio Texas on the track ‘Smoke Hour with Willie Nelson’.
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He also teamed up with Orville Peck for a cover of Ned Sublette’s ‘Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other’ in April – a song Nelson had previously recorded in 2006.
Elsewhere, the 92-year-old is set to release a new cookbook of cannabis-based food recipes later this year. The country musician revealed he had stopped smoking marijuana due to health concerns in 2019, but is said to still vape and eat edibles. Now, he has teamed up with his wife Annie for a collection of “cannabis-infused delicacies”.
Willie & Annie Nelson’s Cannabis Cookbook is due to arrive on November 12 via Gallery Books (pre-order here). The 256-page book combines Nelson’s “gift for storytelling and herbal remedies with his wife Annie’s passion for home-cooked meals”, per an official description.
It adds: “In the Nelson family’s first-ever cookbook, we’re cooking with good vibes only. Drawn from their favourite meals on nationwide tours, at the ranch, at home, and in their favourite cities along the way, these recipes have stories to tell – and what better way to enjoy a good meal than with a high-flying tale and a relaxing buzz?