Tanya Tucker While I’m Livin’
by MIRIAM LUCERO with TANYA TUCKER photography by DERREK KUPISH PRODUCTIONS
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ountry legend and original female outlaw Tanya Tucker re- turns after 17 years. Tucker’s new album, While I’m Livin’, is set for release on August 23 via Fantasy Records. Pro- duced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings, the album marks Tucker’s first for the label and her first new material
since 2002’s Tanya. Watch/share the video for the album’s debut song “The Wheels of Laredo,” directed by Myriam Santos and pre-order While I’m Livin’.
“Brandi is truly out of this world. She’s talented, smart, funny, never ever slows down and has a heart of gold,” says Tucker of the collabo- ration. “I just love her. She was like my shadow when we were in the studio. Every time I turned around, she was there. And Shooter, I’ve known him since he was a baby. He’s the one who brought us all togeth- er. So I’m ready to get this music out there because it’s different than anything I’ve ever done.”
While I’m Livin’ is largely comprised of songs written by Carlile, the twins Tim and Phil Hanseroth and Tucker. “It’s a musical biography of sorts,” said Carlile, “about Tanya’s real life and the places she’s seen, and it’s narrated by the greatest country and western singer this side of Johnny Cash.”
“The Day My Heart Goes Still” is a reflection of Tucker’s enduring love for her late father, while “Mustang Ridge” recalls her hardscrabble childhood in central Texas. While I’m Livin’ also contains some well-cho- sen covers including “High Ridin’ Heroes,” a 1987 song Shooter select- ed that featured David Lynn Jones and his dad, Waylon Jennings, “The House That Built Me,” a track made famous by Miranda Lambert and “Hard Luck” the 1979 chestnut by country-rockers, Josefus.
18 AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2019 I HORSE & AG MAGAZINE
In many ways, the album’s cornerstone is “Bring My Flowers Now,” the only tune that was co-written by Tucker, Carlile and the twins. The album closer, told through Carlile’s solo piano and Tucker’s plaintive vocal, speaks to the importance of showing appreciation to those we love, before it’s too late. Carlile explains, “We have so few opportunities to thank the legends that have influenced the generations of Country music singers and writers. With Tanya we have quite an opportunity because she’s young. I’m drawn to Tanya Tucker because she’s been to hell and to heaven, not to mention every square inch of Texas. She’s lived, she’s living, she’s got something to say and I’m listening.”
Tanya Tucker, you have a new album While I’m Livin’ being re- leased Aug 23, 2019. The lyrics hit your heart right away. Would you share with our readers, everyone involved with this album? How are you feeling about this album?
This record takes the cake for how we recorded it, how the songs were written and how all of us came together to get it done. I’ve never done anything like this – from how it all sounds sonically to the recording process. Brandi Carlile is the wonder woman behind this project and Shooter Jennings corralled us all together. It’s my first album of new music in 17 years and I’m really proud of it.
In “Bring My Flowers Now”, and The Wheels of Laredo”, you’re an amazing storyteller, both songs brought tears in my eyes. In your own words, what messages are you sending out to your listeners?
While I’m Livin’ is a damn good title. And of course, it’s a line from “Bring My Flowers Now.” I had that song in my head since the 80s when I mentioned the phrase to Loretta Lynn. Bring my flowers now while
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