Today is Willie Nelson’s 85 birthday

Willie Nelson turns 85 today. Do yourself a favor and get right with his excellent new album Last Man Standing. Willie has released some of the best music of his seven-decade career over the last five years, and the hot streak continues with a vengeance on great new originals like “Don’t Tell Noah,” “Heaven is Closed” and that title track, which hits you with a big hug of remembrance.

Making this release even more special for music journalists is the cool little book that came with the press copy, featuring an insightful new PR bio written by Mikal Gilmore, whose wife Elaine Schock is Willie’s longtime publicist.

Produced by Buddy Cannon and working with a band that includes the likes of longtime harmonica player Mickey Raphael, Alison Krauss on fiddle and Bobby Terry on guitars, Last Man Standing was recorded in both Texas and Nashville.

Lucky for us the one man who represents the best of both those worlds still stands strong at 85.