Thom Jurek of Allmusic rated the album 4 stars out of 5, saying that "Johnson doesn't attempt to draw attention to himself, but instead, presents a series of excellent performances of Cochran's songs with himself as an anchor."[ 1] American Songwriter 's Stephen Deusner rated it 3½ stars, saying that Johnson and the others involved "treat these songs gingerly, even going so far as to gently re-create the countrypolitan arrangements of the originals. If that makes the album sound overly familiar at times, it also means Johnson never strains to update these songs or argue for their relevance." He criticized the album's length, and thought that it could have used younger artists for variety. Along with strong critical acclaim, the album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Album .[ 2]
Title Writer(s) Guest vocals 1. "Make the World Go Away " Hank Cochran Alison Krauss 3:04 2. "I Fall to Pieces " Cochran, Harlan Howard Merle Haggard 4:42 3. "A Way to Survive" Cochran, Moneen Carpenter Vince Gill and Leon Russell 3:02 4. "Don't Touch Me " Cochran Emmylou Harris 3:17 5. "You Wouldn't Know Love" Cochran, Dave Kirby Ray Price 2:43 6. "I Don't Do Windows" Cochran Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel 3:23 7. "She'll Be Back" Cochran, Dale Dodson, Red Lane Elvis Costello 2:45 8. "Would These Arms Be in Your Way " Cochran, Vern Gosdin , Lane 3:38 9. "The Eagle " Cochran, Lane, Mack Vickery George Strait 3:10 10. "A-11" Cochran Ronnie Dunn 2:20 11. "I'd Fight the World" Cochran, Joe Alison Bobby Bare 3:25 12. "Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me " Cochran Willie Nelson 5:08 13. "This Ain't My First Rodeo " Cochran, Gosdin, Max D. Barnes Lee Ann Womack 3:21 14. "Love Makes a Fool of Us All" Cochran, Glenn Martin Kris Kristofferson 3:14 15. "Everything but You" Cochran, Willie Nelson Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Leon Russell 3:34 16. "Living for a Song" Cochran, Bo Roberts, David James Holster Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson 3:12 Total length: 53:58
Musicians
Bobby Bare – vocals on "I'd Fight the World"Ray Benson – electric guitar and vocals on "I Don't Do Windows"Zeneba Bowers – violin
Jim "Moose" Brown – acoustic guitar , piano
Buddy Cannon – upright bass , background vocalsMelonie Cannon – background vocalsJim Chapman – background vocals
Hank Cochran – vocals on "Living for a Song"Elvis Costello – vocals on "She'll Be Back"Chad Cromwell – drums Dennis Crouch – upright bassJanet Darnell – violin
David Davidson – violin
Floyd Domino – pianoRonnie Dunn – vocals on "A-11"Larry Franklin – fiddle Steve Gibson – electric guitar
Vince Gill – vocals on "A Way to Survive" and "Everything but You"Kevin "Swine" Grantt – upright bass
Jim Grosjean – viola
Merle Haggard – vocals on "I Fall to Pieces" and "Living for a Song"Emmylou Harris – vocals on "Don't Touch Me"Stephen Hill – background vocals
John Hobbs – string arrangements
Jamey Johnson – acoustic guitar, lead vocals, background vocalsShelby Kennedy – background vocals
Alison Krauss – vocals on "Make the World Go Away"Kris Kristofferson – vocals on "Love Makes a Fool of Us All" and "Living for a Song"Red Lane – gut string guitar on "Would These Arms Be in Your Way""Cowboy" Eddie Long – steel guitar
Kenny Malone – percussion Liana Manis – background vocals
Brent Mason – electric guitar, tic tac bassDavid Miller – bass guitar
Willie Nelson – acoustic guitar and vocals on "Do You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me)", "Everything but You", and "Living for a Song"Stefan Petrescu – violin
Ray Price – vocals on "You Wouldn't Know Love"Carole Rabinowitz – cello
Mickey Raphael – harmonica Sarighandi D. Reist – cello
Eddie Rivers – steel guitarJason Roberts – fiddle
Leon Russell – vocals on "A Way to Survive" and "Everything but You"John Wesley Ryles – background vocalsDavid Sanger – drums
Hank Singer – fiddle
Pamela Sixfin – violin
Joe Spivey – fiddle
George Strait – vocals on "The Eagle"Bobby Terry – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Wei Tsun Chang – violin
Robby Turner – dobro , steel guitarDan Tyminski – acoustic guitarTommy White – steel guitar
Kris Wilkinson – string contractor, viola
Lonnie Wilson – drumsKaren Winkleman – violin
Lee Ann Womack – vocals on "This Ain't My First Rodeo"Bobby Wood – Fender Rhodes , synthesizer , Wurlitzer
Glenn Worf – upright bass
Production
Shelly Anderson – mastering assistant
Daniel Baciagalupi – mastering assistant
Venus Barr – production assistant
Drew Bollman – engineer
Paul Bowman – assistant engineer
Sorrel Brigman – assistant engineer
Buddy Cannon – producer
T.W. Cargile – engineer, mixing
Butch Carr – engineer
Tony Castle – engineer
Steve Chadie – engineer
Dale Dodson – producer
Leland Elliott – assistant engineer
Shannon Finnegan – production coordinator
Angella Grossi – production assistant
Will Harrison – assistant engineer
Jonathan Harter – assistant engineer
Jon Hersey – assistant engineer
Rob Katz – assistant engineer, engineer
Charlie Kramsky – assistant engineer
Andrew Mendelson – mastering
Seth Morton – assistant engineer
Willie Nelson – drum triggers
Chris Owens – assistant engineer
Matt Rausch – assistant engineer
David Robinson – assistant engineer
Jacob Sciba – assistant engineer
Sam Seifert – engineer
Brian Wright – executive producer
Nathan Yarborough – assistant engineer
^ a b "Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran - Jamey Johnson - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic" . AllMusic . Retrieved October 24, 2018 .^ a b "Jamey Johnson: Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran" . American Songwriter. November 7, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2018 .^ "Jamey Johnson Album, 'Hank Cochran: Living for a Song' Due October 16" . The Boot . 31 July 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2018 .^ "Jamey Johnson Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard ^ "Jamey Johnson Chart History (Top Country Albums)" . Billboard ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2012" . Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2020 .^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2013" . Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2020 .
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