Bill Anderson's Blog, page 17
October 4, 2022
October 4, 2022
Hi Gang:
If you’ve been a reader of my monthly newsletters for any length of time then you know my next words are going to be, “Welcome to my favorite month of the year!” I say it every October, so why should this year be any different?
And if you’re new to our little chats, you’re probably wondering what’s so special about the tenth month of the year. Well, to begin with, the weather starts to cool, the leaves begin to turn, and for a sports junkie like me there’s no more exciting time than when the baseball playoffs and the new football season collide. It’s probably the only month of the year when I get my money’s worth on my cable bill!
Of course, it’s a great month in country music too. The Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 97th birthday on October 8th, the Hall of Fame inducts its three newest members on October 16th, and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame adds its latest class on the 30th. And I’m looking forward to taking part in each of those events.
I’ll be performing on the Birthday Celebration show at the Opry, I’ll be joining many of my fellow Hall of Fame members in attending the Medallion Ceremony at the Hall, and I’ve been asked to induct my buddy and songwriting partner, Steve Wariner, into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. I’m working on my speech already, trying to figure out how to capture Steve’s creative greatness and share it with the audience in my allotted three minutes of time. It won’t be easy, but it’s an honor to be invited to try.
We’ll be continuing to try and make the world aware of my and Dolly’s record and video this month, too, with a special Opry performance on the 18th. The multi-talented Sierra Hull, who is featured prominently playing mandolin on the bluegrass version of our song, is scheduled for an Opry appearance that night, and she, along with her equally talented dobro-picking husband, Justin Moses, have agreed to hang around and join me on an acoustical version of “Someday It’ll All Make Sense.” I’m really excited about this, and hope you’ll make a note to tune us in.
The only thing better would be if Dolly herself were to show up. Who knows? Maybe someday.
I’m always thinking of ways to try and make our monthly newsletters more interesting for you, and the other day, while thumbing through some old fan club journals from years gone by, it struck me that perhaps I should start including a “This Date In History” section like many newspapers and online publications do. I’d call ours “This Date In Whistory,” and include tid-bits from my career in years gone by. For example:
This Month In Whistory: 42 Years Ago October, 1980. I had just begun a new television adventure and I wrote:
“In all the television I’ve ever done…including my own show for nine years, the talk shows, the variety shows, the game shows…I have never had reaction to match that which I’ve received off ONE LIFE TO LIVE. People who have never heard of Bill Anderson, the country singer, are coming up to me in airports, at hotels, in shopping centers, and just about everywhere else I go saying they saw me on the soap opera…or as most of them put it, ‘on MY soap opera!’ No telling where that will all lead, but ain’t it fun?” And I had October concert dates listed for Owensboro, Kentucky; Dover, Ohio; Wilmington, Ohio; Boca Raton, South Miami, Ft. Myers, Tampa, and Orlando, Florida.
Great memories…and the best part is that we are still making new ones!
Here’s wishing you and yours a great month, and I’ll see you back here around the first of November. Hmmm….that date has a familiar ring to it. I wonder why.
Thanks for everything…
September 1, 2022
Ask Bill – September 1, 2022
1) Did you ever consider setting up shop in Branson, Missouri? A lot of country music performers have over the years, and some have had a long presence there.
Yes I did. When I was the spokesman for the PoFolks restaurant chain back in the 80’s, we seriously considered opening a PoFolks Dinner Theater in Branson. We would have served up country food and country music, which would have been unique to the area at that time. I was excited about the possibilities, but the powers-that-be ultimately decided against it and I stayed rooted in Nashville.
2) I was one of the regulars who came to your TV show tapings at CKLW in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. I wonder if you have access to any of those tapings.
No, but I wish I did. Those black and white shows were recorded in 1966-67, and I’m sure the tapes have all been erased or destroyed by now. We didn’t have adequate ways of preserving them back then, and we certainly didn’t realize the wisdom in not letting them get away. They would be priceless treasures today.
3) Do you know if Mike Johnson still has a band? I have seen them on Country’s Family Reunion and they were the best!
Mike, who was the steel guitar player and band leader on CFR and in my PoFolks Band for sixteen years, is now touring with Reba McEntire, continuing to work as many recording sessions as his schedule will allow, and has a band called 45 RPM that plays great country music at the Station Inn in Nashville whenever they can. It’s not the exact same band as you saw on CFR, but they play the same style music and play it extremely well. If you’re ever in Nashville and find that they are performing while you are here, don’t miss the opportunity to see and hear them. You will not be disappointed.
Our Question Of The Month comes from Britt in Texas: Throughout the years you have been outstanding…touring, making records, hosting game shows, writing songs, playing the Grand Ole Opry etc., and you never missed a beat. What a wonderful life you have lived. I want to know how you want to be remembered?
Wow…thank you. Mac Wiseman had an old song called, “Tis Sweet To Be Remembered,” and I guess just BEING remembered should be at the top of anyone’s wish list. You’re right in that I have been very blessed in this life, but I think I’d rather be remembered for the person I was than for anything I might have accomplished. I’d like for my children to say I was a good father, my employees and co-workers to say that I treated them fairly, and for my friends to say I was a friend in return. Of course, if somebody were to sing one of my songs a hundred years from now and give me credit for writing it, that would be pretty special too.
Quickies: A few years ago you did a song with Tracy Byrd called “You Lied To Me.” Did you write it?? Yes, and Tracy was one of several artists who recorded it. He invited me to sing it alongside him one night on the Opry. Although I never recorded it, I also sang it there one night myself just for fun. And Steve Wariner surprised me the other day when he told me it was the first song he ever sang in public. I had no idea. What performer do you think influenced your music and songwriting the most? No doubt but what it was Hank Williams. What year was the CFR taping done of “Unbroken Circle?” That was the last series we recorded, and it was done in 2018. I have been watching your Family Reunion shows on Tubi. Do you have any more coming up? There won’t be any more new shows as they are no longer in production. I am not familiar with the schedule on Tubi, however, so perhaps they will be airing some of the older ones. I’m glad to know you enjoy watching. Did Country Family Reunion get took off of RFD? It’s not on there anymore, so I guess it got “took off”.
I appreciate all your questions, and invite you to send me any that you might have rolling around in your mind. Send them to askbill@billanderson.com and be watching for yours in an upcoming newsletter. If your question is chosen our Question Of The Month, you will win any item of your choice from our online store completely free of charge…and that includes shipping. I’ll look forward to hearing from you. Thanks and stay curious!
Latest Photos
I had the chance to visit with my grandson, Gabe, on his 18th birthday last month, and you can see here in this picture that we were both all smiles. All he wanted was the latest Lego sets, and as you can tell, he got his wish. He has loved putting together Lego ever since he was a little boy, and he doesn’t show any signs of outgrowing that love whatsoever. All these sets should keep him busy for awhile. In the second picture, I am kneeling on the Opry stage to pose with Joseph Kelley, a longtime fan from Alabama. Joseph had seen me back in 1968 when he was 14-years old, and we’d had a picture taken together. Unfortunately, that picture was destroyed in the film developing process, and this was the first time he had seen me since. I decided we needed to replace his picture, so I paused the Opry show to pose and visit with him. It was a special moment for us both. And speaking of special moments, it’s always special when I get to be alongside two of my best buddies, Buddy Cannon (left) and Bobby Tomberlin. This black and white picture was taken following our recent songwriter’s round at the Bluebird Cafe. It had been a fun night with a packed house and lots of music and tall tales. One or two of the stories were even true!
September 1, 2022
Hi Gang:
Welcome to September and the last of the hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer.
I don’t know about you, but after all the heat and dry conditions we’ve had around Whisperville lately, I’m ready for some soft autumn rains and cooler temperatures. Bring ’em on!
We’re starting off the month excited about the release of the acoustical/bluegrass version of my and Dolly Parton’s duet, “Someday It’ll All Make Sense,” which has just come out. Your comments have been very encouraging so far, and I appreciate knowing that you like it. As I’ve told you before, our vocals are the same as on the country version, but the instrumentation on this cut is mostly unamplified and to me it sounds more intimate. Sierra Hull and her husband, Justin Moses, have provided the perfect touches on the mandolin, guitar, fiddle, and dobro. If you haven’t heard it yet, I hope you’ll check it out on our website (www.billanderson.com) and the other places where you stream and download your music.
Oh, and there is also a lyric video that accompanies this new version. It will be released on my website and YouTube channel at 9 a.m. Central time on Friday September 2nd in conjunction with my appearance on Coffee, Country, & Cody, the morning show on WSM Radio and Circle TV. I hope you’ll join us for that if you can.
Otherwise, things in my world are relatively quiet. You folks down in Texas might have been hearing a song lately that I had a hand in writing called, “Damn Sandwich.” It’s in the Top 20 on the Texas music charts by a girl named Jordan Rainer. I know the title sounds a bit off-the-wall, but don’t judge it until you hear it. I wrote it with Bobby Tomberlin and a young writer named Matt Wynn. I hope you’ll find the humor in it, and hopefully its popularity will spread beyond the Lone Star state.
I was all set to tell you that a Circle Network TV show I recorded a few weeks back with Clint Black was going to air this month, but Clint just called and said it’s now scheduled for November 5th. It’s an hour-long conversation between him and me just talking about all kinds of things, and I think you’ll enjoy it. I’ll remind you again a little closer to the correct air time.
And while I have your attention, don’t forget about our exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame when you’re planning your next trip to Nashville. It is scheduled to run into March of 2023. And our latest CD, “As Far As I Can See,” is available through our online store and at most CrackerBarrel locations across the country.
On the personal side, I will be taking a little vacation time this month, heading to the ocean to stare at the water and watch the dolphins swim by. I will be back in town and back on the Opry September 24th and again on September 27th.
Thanks for continuing to ask about my grandson, Gabe, and for continuing to keep him in your prayers. He turned 18 on August 6th, and has started attending in person classes at school for the first time since the pandemic. It’s his senior year, and we’re all so hopeful that he’ll be healthy enough to enjoy it. Don’t stop remembering him and his fight against cancer. Your prayers have helped to get him this far.
For those of you in the United States, I wish for you a safe and happy Labor Day weekend…our last official taste of summer. After that it’s back to school for almost everybody, back to work, and back to the drudgery of watching football and getting ready for the baseball playoffs. It’s rough, but somebody has to do it! Thanks again for your continued kindness to me, and we’ll see you back here again in October.
August 19, 2022
BILL ANDERSON AND DOLLY PARTON UNLEASH BLUEGRASS VERSION OF “SOMEDAY IT’LL ALL MAKE SENSE”
Following the ‘Good Morning America‘ debut of the official music video and stellar reviews for the emotionally driven ballad, Whisperin’ Bill Anderson and Dolly Parton release a bluegrass version of “Someday It’ll All Make Sense,” available everywhere today.
To stream and download “Someday It’ll All Make Sense (Bluegrass Version)” click HERE.
“The bluegrass/acoustical version was the original way this song was recorded. Sierra Hull played mandolin, her husband, Justin Moses, played fiddle and dobro and the record was co-produced by longtime bluegrass stalwart, Thomm Jutz. Both Dolly and I have a deep appreciation for the simplicity and authenticity of this type of music, and we both wanted this version to be heard,” Anderson shared. “I think the intimacy and warmth of the acoustical approach allow the lyric of the song to stand out even more. And it’s that lyric that seems to be resonating with people.”
The song’s poignant lyrics are brought to life under the masterful direction of Trey Fanjoy (Taylor Swift, Steven Tyler, Paul McCartney, Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Loretta Lynn, Jack White), as the video shows the two country music icons journey down the road to hope. “Someday It’ll All Make Sense” was co-written by Anderson with Bobby Tomberlin and Ryan Larkins and is on Anderson’s most recent release, As Far As I Can See: The Best Of, released June 10 by MCA Records. To stream or download, click HERE.
Someday the picture will come into focusAnd we’ll see it all plain and clear
When we come together in the place He has for us
Where the pain and the hurt disappearSomeday we’ll laugh at these roads that we’ve traveled
I am completely convinced
That hope never dies or goes out of fashion
Someday it’ll all make sense
As Far As I Can See: The Best Of is a collection of 16 songs and shares its name with the current exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bill Anderson: As Far As I Can See. The name comes from the opening line of one of the first songs he ever wrote, “City Lights,” the country classic that was a hit for Ray Price in 1958. In addition to such beloved songs as “City Lights,” “Still,” Po’ Folks,” The Tip Of My Fingers,” and “Sometimes,” the album features a new song with country icon Dolly Parton, “Someday It’ll All Make Sense.” The newly recorded duet is joined by Anderson and Parton’s first-ever collaboration, an incredibly rare demo of “If It Is All The Same To You,” recorded in 1964 and eventually released as a duet with Jan Howard on Anderson’s chart-topping 1969 album of the same name. As Far As I Can See: The Best Of, was released by MCA Nashville/UMe, which has been Anderson’s label home for most of his seven-decade long career. The new project is released in conjunction with the first-time digital release of seven of Anderson’s albums from the 1960s, available HERE.
August 2, 2022
August 2, 2022
Dolly has been unbelievable in her support as well, calling our working together “the most meaningful fun I’ve had in years.” Trust me…that goes both ways! She is the ultimate professional, and by her lending her undeniable talents to this project, she has caused it to receive much wider exposure and acceptance than it could have possibly received otherwise. I told her we need to get matching socks and go on the road! Oh, and have you heard that an acoustical/bluegrass version of the record is coming later this month? The official category in which it will be released is called American Roots, and it features great musical talents like Sierra Hull on mandolin and her husband, Justin Moses, on fiddle and dobro. With their unique touches added to the existing musical bed, it gives the song an “earthiness” (is there such a word?) that Dolly and I both love. The recording and lyric video are scheduled to be released to both the bluegrass and the country/gospel markets on August 19th. Thanks, too, to those of you who have ordered and continue to order the “As Far As I Can See” album from which this song came. In addition to other, more traditional outlets, it’s the first record of mine to ever have been on sale in the racks at CrackerBarrel. I’m told it goes great with ‘taters and cornbread! You can even order up second and third helpings if you’d like! With all the excitement swirling around our new music I haven’t said much about my 61st Anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry which came back in mid-July. I appreciate so many of you remembering it, though, and I continue to be a proud member of this most special country music family. I’ll be onstage there this month on the 2nd, the 12th, the 13th and the 27th.
A great young country singer and songwriter, Bradley Gaskin, has released a song he and Jim “Moose” Brown and I wrote a few years back called, “Sunset And Wine,” and you can listen to it by going to https://songwhip.com/bradleygaskin/sunset-and-wine. It’s definitely “country,” and I hope you’ll like it. I’ve got several other songs I’ve written that have either just been recorded by other artists or getting ready to be. I’ll keep you posted as they become available. And for any of you who may be in or around Nashville later this month, I’ll be doing a songwriters’ evening at the Bluebird Cafe with Bobby Tomberlin and Buddy Cannon on August 24th, and another round with my fellow Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Dorff, at the City Winery on October 4th. If you’re going to be here on either of those dates, mark our shows down on your calendar and come see us. And don’t forget our “As Far As I Can See” exhibit which continues into next year at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
I hope you’ll all staying safe in the heat and away from the renewed Covid outbreaks taking place all around the country. At one point in July, there were five people in my family and business organization testing positive for Covid. Even my doctor contracted it and had to cancel one of my appointments. Fortunately, none of the cases was serious. The heat, however, is extremely serious, and I hope you are continuing to take all the recommended precautions and staying cool. Thankfully, we finally got a little rain to bring down the temperatures a bit in Whisperville. Have a great month of August, and we’ll see you back here in September. Thanks again for continuing to be the best group of fans anybody could be lucky enough to have.
Hi Gang: And thank you, thank you, thank you!! In all my years in the music business, I have never received as much positive reaction to anything I’ve done as I have these past few weeks to the release of both the recording and the video of “Someday It’ll All Make Sense” with Dolly Parton. Your social media posts, your texts, your e-mails, your cards ‘n letters, have been overwhelming, and I just wish I could thank each of you personally. There’s no way to explain how it touches me when you say how the song touches you….illustrating one more time the undeniable power of music.Dolly has been unbelievable in her support as well, calling our working together “the most meaningful fun I’ve had in years.” Trust me…that goes both ways! She is the ultimate professional, and by her lending her undeniable talents to this project, she has caused it to receive much wider exposure and acceptance than it could have possibly received otherwise. I told her we need to get matching socks and go on the road! Oh, and have you heard that an acoustical/bluegrass version of the record is coming later this month? The official category in which it will be released is called American Roots, and it features great musical talents like Sierra Hull on mandolin and her husband, Justin Moses, on fiddle and dobro. With their unique touches added to the existing musical bed, it gives the song an “earthiness” (is there such a word?) that Dolly and I both love. The recording and lyric video are scheduled to be released to both the bluegrass and the country/gospel markets on August 19th. Thanks, too, to those of you who have ordered and continue to order the “As Far As I Can See” album from which this song came. In addition to other, more traditional outlets, it’s the first record of mine to ever have been on sale in the racks at CrackerBarrel. I’m told it goes great with ‘taters and cornbread! You can even order up second and third helpings if you’d like! With all the excitement swirling around our new music I haven’t said much about my 61st Anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry which came back in mid-July. I appreciate so many of you remembering it, though, and I continue to be a proud member of this most special country music family. I’ll be onstage there this month on the 2nd, the 12th, the 13th and the 27th.
A great young country singer and songwriter, Bradley Gaskin, has released a song he and Jim “Moose” Brown and I wrote a few years back called, “Sunset And Wine,” and you can listen to it by going to https://songwhip.com/bradleygaskin/sunset-and-wine. It’s definitely “country,” and I hope you’ll like it. I’ve got several other songs I’ve written that have either just been recorded by other artists or getting ready to be. I’ll keep you posted as they become available. And for any of you who may be in or around Nashville later this month, I’ll be doing a songwriters’ evening at the Bluebird Cafe with Bobby Tomberlin and Buddy Cannon on August 24th, and another round with my fellow Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Dorff, at the City Winery on October 4th. If you’re going to be here on either of those dates, mark our shows down on your calendar and come see us. And don’t forget our “As Far As I Can See” exhibit which continues into next year at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
I hope you’ll all staying safe in the heat and away from the renewed Covid outbreaks taking place all around the country. At one point in July, there were five people in my family and business organization testing positive for Covid. Even my doctor contracted it and had to cancel one of my appointments. Fortunately, none of the cases was serious. The heat, however, is extremely serious, and I hope you are continuing to take all the recommended precautions and staying cool. Thankfully, we finally got a little rain to bring down the temperatures a bit in Whisperville. Have a great month of August, and we’ll see you back here in September. Thanks again for continuing to be the best group of fans anybody could be lucky enough to have.
Ask Bill – August 2, 2022
2) I’ve been wondering what Eddie Stubbs is doing since he retired. Can’t believe he’s doing nothing. I thought maybe you would know. When Eddie took early retirement from his announcing duties at WSM and the Opry, he seemingly put the music business and all its people in his rear view mirror and left us there. I can’t find anybody who knows where he is or what he is doing. I have been told that there are some health issues in both his and his wife’s families in their home state of Maryland, and that he and Debbie have been spending time up there, but that’s only hearsay. I hope he’s doing well and most of all that he’s happy. 3) Is it true that you once parked your bus overnight in an unscrupulous promoter’s driveway pending payment due you and the Po’ Folks Band? Or is this just an old wives’ tale? It is absolutely true. The promoter had left the concert hall and driven home without paying us what we were due for the show. I found his address, and instructed my bus driver to go to his house, pull in the driveway, and block any access coming or going. We stayed there all night. When the sun came up the next morning, the promoter suddenly “found” the money he had “forgotten” to pay us, and we went merrily on our way. Ain’t show business wonderful!!
Our Question Of The Month comes from Gary in Oklahoma: You have worked in almost all areas of the entertainment industry in your distinguished career. If you had been granted one wish to change something in any part of the industry that would have enhanced or made your career more fulfilling what would it have been? First, it’s hard to imagine a career that could have possibly been any more fulfilling than mine has been, but what an interesting question. I guess if I could have changed anything within the industry, though, it would have been to speed up the timetable on a few things. For example, when I first got into the business there were only 80-something radio stations playing country music. Today there are several thousand. It might have been nice to have had that kind of exposure back in my early songwriting and singing days. The CMA Awards did not come into existence until the late sixties. It would have been cool to have had them a few years earlier when my records and songs like “Still” could have contended for the top honors. Same for the Grammy’s which did not even have a country music category until 1964-65. I’m certainly not complaining about anything, but in my next life I might try to be born a little later.
Quickies: Do you have any favorite gospel songs or performers past or present? I couldn’t begin to list all my favorite gospel songs, but some of the early country/gospel performers like Molly O’Day, the Bailes Brothers, the Louvin Brothers, and the Blue Sky Boys were the ones I enjoyed the most growing up. I was wondering if you have any band members that have been with you from the beginning. If not, who has been with you the longest and are they still with you? All of my original Po’ Boys have passed away now…Jimmy Gateley, Weldon Myrick, Jimmy Lance, and Snuffy Miller. Les Singer has been with me since 1981, longer than anyone, and even though his health prevents him from performing these days, I still consider him one of us. Do you get a percentage or any money for your display at the Hall of Fame Museum? No. I get paid by the smiles I see on people’s faces when they exit the display…and when they tell me how much they learned and how much they enjoyed it. That’s all the payment I need. Were you at the Opry in 1984 when Onie Wheeler died on stage? And how is his daughter, Karen Wheeler, doing these days? I know she had cancer a few years ago. No, I was not there, but Onie was always a favorite of mine as is Karen. Unfortunately, Karen has suffered a couple of strokes recently and is not doing all that well. All of us need to keep her in our thoughts and prayers.
Thanks for another great batch of questions this month, and I hope you’ll keep ’em coming. Send them to me in care of askbill@billanderson.com and remember if yours is chosen our Question Of The Month you’ll receive any item of your choosing from our online store. See you back here next month.
Latest Photos
My longtime guitar player and band leader, Les Singer, and his wife, Lizzie, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on July 15th, and the next day hosted a get together of family and friends in their new hometown of Franklin, Kentucky. We ate some good food and laughed at a lot of old road stories. Next to me in the picture, left to right, are Lizzie, Les, and our former steel guitar player, Mike Johnson. Football season is almost upon us, and my alma mater, the University of Georgia Bulldogs are the defending national champions. Jeannie Seely gave me this picture of Uga, the Georgia mascot, and I’m encouraging him to lead the ‘Dawgs to another championship season. I hope he was listening! The bottom picture was taken the day we filmed our video for “Someday It’ll All Make Sense.” L. to R.: Danny Nozell, Dolly’s manager; Dolly; me; Trey Fanjoy, who produced and directed the video; and my manager, Lee Willard. What a special day it was!
July 21, 2022
GOOD MORNING AMERICA PREMIERES BILL ANDERSON AND DOLLY PARTON’S CINEMATIC VIDEO “SOMEDAY IT’LL ALL MAKE SENSE”
Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame members Whisperin’ Bill Anderson and Dolly Parton make their music video debut together with video for emotional “Someday It’ll All Make Sense.” ABC’s ‘Good Morning America‘ premiered the cinematic video online.
“Working with my ol’ buddy Bill Anderson was the most meaningful fun I’ve had in years,” shared Dolly. “I love the song we sang, I love how we sounded together on it and getting to do a video with him was just icing on the cake. I hope the fans enjoy it as much as we enjoyed being together on it.”
The song’s poignant lyrics are brought to life under the masterful direction of Trey Fanjoy(Taylor Swift, Steven Tyler, Paul McCartney, Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Loretta Lynn, Jack White), as the video shows the two country music icons journey down the road to hope. “Someday It’ll All Make Sense” was co-written by Anderson with Bobby Tomberlin and Ryan Larkins and is on Anderson’s most recent release, As Far As I Can See: The Best Of, released June 10 by MCA Records. To stream or download, click HERE.
Someday the picture will come into focus
And we’ll see it all plain and clear
When we come together in the place He has for us
Where the pain and the hurt disappear
Someday we’ll laugh at these roads that we’ve traveled
I am completely convinced
That hope never dies or goes out of fashion
Someday it’ll all make sense
“Hopefully, our song can help bring a bit of levity to a world that seems upside down and sideways so much of the time these days. If it can, music will have once again proven itself to be the optimal healer,” said Anderson.
As Far As I Can See: The Best Of is a collection of 16 songs and shares its name with the current exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bill Anderson: As Far As I Can See. The name comes from the opening line of one of the first songs he ever wrote, “City Lights,” the country classic that was a hit for Ray Price in 1958. In addition to such beloved songs as “City Lights,” “Still,” Po’ Folks,” The Tip Of My Fingers,” and “Sometimes,” the album features a new song with country icon Dolly Parton, “Someday It’ll All Make Sense.” The newly recorded duet is joined by Anderson and Parton’s first-ever collaboration, an incredibly rare demo of “If It Is All The Same To You,” recorded in 1964 and eventually released as a duet with Jan Howard on Anderson’s chart-topping 1969 album of the same name. As Far As I Can See: The Best Of, was released by MCA Nashville/UMe, which has been Anderson’s label home for most of his seven-decade long career. The new project is released in conjunction with the first-time digital release of seven of Anderson’s albums from the 1960s, available HERE.
For more information on Bill Anderson visit BillAnderson.com or follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
July 1, 2022
Latest Photos
In our first picture this month, Dallas Wayne, from Willie’s Roadhouse on Sirius/XM, and I are arm-wrestling over whether he’s going to play MY new record next on his show or play HIS new record. Since I co-wrote and performed on both recordings, I can’t lose either way, and we both needed the exercise. The match ended in a draw. In the middle picture, Jeannie Seely and I are in Minnie Pearl’s former dressing room inside the Opry House telling Minnie stories for an upcoming TV documentary on Minnie’s life and career. You can tell from the smiles on our faces that one of us had just remembered a Minnie funny and was sharing it. The special will air on PBS, I’m told, sometime next year. The third picture is our oldest fan club member, Bertha Thomas from North Carolina, who was celebrating birthday number 105 on the day this picture was taken. She attended her first concert of any kind when she was 99, and it was a show of mine. She and I have been special buddies ever since. Belated Happy Birthday, Bertha, and keep smiling. Smiles look beautiful on you!
