“THE EAGLE” (Hank Cochran / Red Lane / Mack Vickery)
performed by George Strait & Jamey Johnson
“I was introduced to Hank by my friend Dean Dillon,” says George Strait. “They wrote one of the most clever songs which I was lucky enough to get to record called ‘The Chair.’ I wish I had known Hank better, but unfortunately our paths only crossed a few times. Those times, however, were very special.
“I remember him coming to my office in Nashville one time with Dean. I was in the process of recording a Christmas album and they had just written ‘For Christ’s Sake, It’s Christmas.’ They played it live for me there and it just blew me away. I recorded it that day. ‘The Eagle’ was a song I wasn’t that familiar with, but what a message it sends, especially in this day and time. I had thought about Jamey and me doing ‘The Chair’ together, but after he played me ‘The Eagle,’ it was so obvious. I’m very proud of Jamey for doing this and am so glad I was able to be included.”
Jamey Johnson has teamed up with some of the biggest names in country music for his new album which doubles as a tribute to legendary singer/songwriter Hank Cochran. Livin’ For a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran is set for an October 16 release but will first be available on vinyl beginning September 25.
Track listing:
“Make the World Go Away” – Jamey Johnson and Alison Krauss
“I Fall to Pieces” – Jamey Johnson and Merle Haggard
“A Way to Survive” – Jamey Johnson, Vince Gill and Leon Russell
“Don’t Touch Me” – Jamey Johnson and Emmylou Harris
“You Wouldn’t Know Love” – Jamey Johnson and Ray Price
“I Don’t Do Windows” – Jamey Johnson and Asleep at the Wheel
“She’ll Be Back” – Jamey Johnson and Elvis Costello
“Would These Arms Be in Your Way” – Jamey Johnson
* “The Eagle” – Jamey Johnson and George Strait *
“A-11” – Jamey Johnson and Ronnie Dunn
“I’d Fight the World” – Jamey Johnson and Bobby Bare
“Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me” – Jamey Johnson and Willie Nelson
“This Ain’t My First Rodeo” – Jamey Johnson and Lee Ann Womack
“Love Makes a Fool of Us All” – Jamey Johnson and Kris Kristofferson
“Everything But You” – Jamey Johnson, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson and Leon Russell
“Livin’ for a Song” – Jamey Johnson, Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson
Jamey Johnson’s debut single with Mercury Records, “In Color” has just begun climbing the charts, but Jamey is no stranger to chart success. Jamey wrote George Strait’s award winning # 1 hit “Give It Away.” Jamey says he has a huge amount of respect for Strait and is fortunate he is able to share that with him. He recounts a recent discussion he had with George Strait about one of his idols, Bob Wills, who George never got to meet. “I said, ‘Imagine if you got to meet Bob Wills and he turned around and cut one of your songs. And it went number one. And you won an ACM award and then a CMA award. And then you got a record deal because of it. And everybody respected you because of what Bob Wills had done for you. How much more do I respect you than you even respected Bob Wills?’ And he just kind of said, ‘Wow.’ I’ve been wanting to say that to him for so long. You put everything into perspective. And a man can’t have much more appreciation for another man than I’ve got for George Strait.” (x)
Honoree George Strait and Jamey Johnson appear onstage during the 44th annual Academy Of Country Music Awards’ Artist of the Decade
“Give It Away” | George Strait, 2006
Jamey Johnson wrote this. It’s about two people breaking up. He says, “What are we gonna do with the chairs and table?” She says, “Fuck it! Give it away.” Jamey is the first to come along in a long spell with the ability to write that way. - Merle Haggard
Jamey Johnson is completing a duets tribute album to songwriter Hank Cochran that will team him vocally with Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Bobby Bare, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, George Strait, Leon Russell, Vince Gill, Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard.
