It's been 17 years since Anne Murray called time on her Country Music career. However, to celebrate her 80th birthday, Murray has chosen to open her catalogue of music and release a new album. The release will feature songs from between 1978 and 1995, all of which are unreleased recordings.
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Country music fans will undoubtedly welcome Murray's return to the scene, even if it is just a fleeting release. After all, she's one of the most decorated and loved artists in the genre.
"This was a big surprise to me, and I had totally forgotten that there were songs in the can, as we call it," Murray told an interviewer for NPR's World Cafe. "There you go. There was a very zealous fan who went searching and found them."
With a treasure trove of music that had been placed on the metaphorical shelf and forgotten about, it made sense for Murray to drop the surprise album.
"I said, well, I'm not going to listen to them. If they didn't make the cut the first time, they're not going to make it now," she continued. "You could have knocked me over with a feather."
With such a wide-ranging timeline between the songs, the album provides somewhat of a timeline for Murray's prime years. There will undoubtedly be tie-ins with previous albums, which should encourage fans to work back through her catalogue, especially to gather the full story or theme.
Anne Murray Recalls Listening to the Forgotten Songs Once Again
During the same conversation with NPR, Murray spoke of her happiness to hear some of her long-forgotten music.
"I was hearing my voice at the peak of my career."
However, it's important to note that this isn't just a "music dump." Murray carefully selected 11 tracks to make the cut. "Here You Are" has been noted as a true star of the album.
We're unsure of how many songs the keen fan uncovered. So, there's still a chance another surprise album is on the way. Nevertheless, country fans will just be happy to hear from one of the legends, especially with fresh old-new music that adds another layer to her storied career.
