To commemorate a legendary career with no signs of stopping, South Carolina-born, Georgia bred singer-songwriter Bill Anderson recut some of the songs that made him a Grand Ole Opry elder statesman for new album The Hits Reimagined.
As the recording artist with the soft, conversational delivery that earned the nickname "Whisperin' Bill," Anderson's responsible for 37 high-charting singles since 1958, including seven No. 1's: "Mama Sang a Song," "Still," "I Get The Fever," "My Life (Throw It Away If You Want To)," "World of Make Believe" and the duets "For Loving You" (with Jan Howard) and "Sometimes" (with Mary Lou Turner).
Nowadays, Anderson's just as well known for his songwriting efforts with Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Buddy Cannon, Jon Randall, Dean Dillon and others. Songs written or co-written by Anderson that became hits for others date back to Ray Price's 1958 hit "City Lights." Since then, Anderson's helped pen famous country songs cut by such Nashville stars as Connie Smith ("Once a Day"), Steve Wariner ("Tip of My Fingers"), Paisley and Alison Krauss (CMA Song of the Year "Whiskey Lullaby"), George Strait (Grammy nominee "Give It Away"), Joe Nichols ("Old Things New") and Kenny Chesney ("A Lot of Things Different").
These and other songs spanning love, loss and redemption (and, on the Southern restaurant end, from "Po' Folks" to "Waffle House Christmas") paved Anderson's well-earned path to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the all-genre Songwriter's Hall of Fame.
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"I've heard it said that if you want somebody to lean in and listen to what you have to say, you should whisper. Bill Anderson's been doing that for well over 200 years! In all seriousness, country music wouldn't be the same if Bill Anderson had never picked up a pen and whispered his way into history. I'm so lucky to be friends with this legend. And to have benefited from his art," shared Paisley in a press release.
The Hits Reimagined by Whisperin' Bill Anderson
1. "Bright Lights and Country Music"
2. "Whiskey Lullaby"
3. "Po' Folks"
4. "I'll Wait for You"
5. "City Lights"
6. Still
7. Give It Away
8. The Tips of My Fingers
9. A Lot of Things Different
10. Which Bridge to Cross (Which Bridge to Burn)
11. Bright Lights and Country Music (Instrumental)
12. Whiskey Lullaby (Instrumental)
13. Po' Folks (Instrumental)
14. I'll Wait for You (Instrumental)
15. City Lights (Instrumental)
16. Still (Instrumental)
17. Give It Away (Instrumental)
18. The Tips of My Fingers (Instrumental)
19. A Lot of Things Different (Instrumental)
20. Which Bridge To Cross (Which Bridge To Burn) (Instrumental)
