Further details about the forthcoming Kris tribute CD were announced in a letter from Kris' publicist, Tamara Saviano. The CD will hit stores June 27 and - in addition to 17 tracks by artists ranging from Russell Crowe to Willie Nelson to Gretchen Wilson - includes a previously unreleased 1970-era demo of Kris singing Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends. Saviano said the tribute came about after realizing that so many people are unaware of Kris' songwriting legend and see him only as an actor.
"Kris is a man I’ve come to know and love," Saviano wrote in the letter. "This is our collective love letter to him—a gift for his 70th birthday and a token of our admiration and respect for his musical legacy. Kris’s songs will live forever, and I am proud and happy to add this record to the national archive."
Click here to read the full letter. It also includes the full track listing:
1. The Pilgrim: Chapter 33 – Emmylou Harris & Friends (Sam Bush, Jon Randall, Byron House, Randy Scruggs) (3:51)
2. Maybe You Heard – Todd Snider (3:28)
3. The Circle – Marta Gómez (4:20)
4. Lovin’ Him Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again) – Rosanne Cash (3:37)
5. Come Sundown – Rodney Crowell (3:15)
6. For The Good Times – Lloyd Cole & Jill Sobule (3:25)
7. Jesus Was A Capricorn – Marshall Chapman (3:51)
8. The Silver Tongued Devil – Shooter Jennings (5:08)
9. Sunday Morning Coming Down – Gretchen Wilson (6:01)
10. Sandinista – Patty Griffin & Charanga Cakewalk (4:13)
11. Darby’s Castle – Russell Crowe and The Ordinary Fear of God (3:57)
12. Me And Bobby McGee – Brian McKnight (4:59)
13. Smile At Me Again (instrumental) – Randy Scruggs (2:43)
14. The Captive – Jessi Colter w/special guest Vance Haines (3:53)
15. Help Me Make It Through The Night – Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis (3:03)
16. Why Me – Shawn Camp (3:34)
17. The Legend – Willie Nelson (6:25)
Coda: Please Don’t Tell Me How The Story Ends – Kris Kristofferson (demo recording, circa 1970) (3:15)
