City of New Orleans (album)

City of New Orleans
Studio album by Willie Nelson
Released	1984
Genre	Country
Length	37:06
Label	Columbia
Producer	Chips Moman
Willie Nelson chronology
Angel Eyes (1984) City of New Orleans (1984) Music from Songwriter (1984)

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

1. "City of New Orleans" (Steve Goodman) - 4:47
2. "Just Out of Reach" (Virgil "Pappy" Stewart) - 3:37
3. "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" (Danny O'Keefe) - 2:52
4. "Why Are You Pickin' On Me" (Willie Nelson) - 2:26
5. "She's Out of My Life" (Tom Bahler) - 3:26
6. "Cry" (Churchill Kohlman) - 3:32
7. "Please Come to Boston" (Dave Loggins) - 4:17
8. "It Turns Me Inside Out" (Jan Crutchfield) - 3:27
9. "Wind Beneath My Wings" (Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar) - 3:46
10. "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

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.
5. Tucker, Ken (29 July 1984). "Willie Nelson, City of New Orleans". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I9.
6. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 499.
7. "Willie Nelson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
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.
11. "Canadian album certifications – Willie Nelson – City of New Orleans". Music Canada. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
12. "American album certifications – Willie Nelson – City of New Orleans". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 29, 2021.