Hear A Previously Unreleased Recording Of George Jones’ “Tender Years

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A New George Jones Album, The Lost Nashville Sessions, Set For Release On November 15

A new, previously unheard version of the George Jones classic, “Tender Years,” has been released for the world to enjoy.

Jones passed away in 2013 at the age of 81. But the country music legend left behind an entire archive of unreleased music waiting to be discovered.

Some of those songs appear on the upcoming albumThe Lost Nashville Sessions. Set for release on November 15, the album includes 16 songs Jones originally recorded for radio in the 1970s.

Country Rewind Records

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The Lost Nashville Sessions recordings were originally made for artist promotion. Artists usually finished these recordings in one or two takes. After the recordings aired on the radio, the stations typically got rid of them.

But Thomas Gramuglia, the president and executive producer of Country Rewind Records, found Jones’ original masters. Alongside co-executive producer Rex Allen Jr. and producer Paul Martin, Gramuglia worked to restore and enhance Jones’ old recordings for modern listeners.

A press release about the album states:

“The record features sixteen tracks, blending beloved hits with hidden gems from George Jones’ catalog. Fans will recognize classics like ‘The Race Is On,’ ‘The Grand Tour,’ ‘White Lightnin,” and ‘Tender Years.’ This collection also shines a spotlight on rare recordings of songs such as ‘Old Brush Arbors,’ ‘She’s Mine,’ ‘Four-O-Thirty-Three,’ and more, offering listeners a fresh perspective on Jones’ legendary career.“

The Song “Tender Years” Drops Ahead Of The Album’s Release

Ahead of the album’s debut, the team behind The Lost Nashville Sessions decided to share one of the album’s tracks. Cowboys & Indians had the opportunity to premiere the song, “Tender Years.”

“Tender Years” takes its place as the second single released from Jones’ The Lost Nashville Sessions. “The Honky Tonk Downstairs” was the first, released in mid-October.

Jones’ devoted fans will surely recognize “Tender Years.” He co-wrote the track with Darrell Edwards and released it as a single in 1961. It became his second #1 hit on the Billboard Hot C&W Sides chart. The song remained at #1 for a total of seven non-consecutive weeks.

But the recording featured on The Lost Nashville Sessions remained hidden…until now.

Like all of the album’s tracks, “Tender Years” was updated to “twenty-first-century standards, preserving Jones’ iconic sound while adding subtle instrumentation and background vocals to elevate the listening experience.”

Jones’ widow, Nancy Jones, said:

“Music really is the gift that keeps on giving. Even after all this time, we’re still able to bring new music from George to his fans. This collection includes sixteen tracks, with some fan favorites presented in fresh, unheard versions. I’m thrilled to share these special recordings with everyone who has loved his music.”

You can listen to the previously unreleased recording of George Jones’ “Tender Years” in the clip below. You can also pre-order his new album, The Lost Nashville Sessions, here.