Curated and executive produced by the late Country Music Hall of Famer’s widow, Wanda Rogers, Life Is Like A Song features eight never-before-heard recordings, spanning 2008-2011. It includes interpretations of Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” and Lionel Richie’s “Goodbye,” as well as the artist’s long-sought-after duet with Dolly Parton, “Tell Me That You Love Me.” A digital deluxe edition includes two bonus tracks: a cover of the Mack Gordon/Henry Warren standard, “At Last” (made famous by Etta James), and the Buddy Hyatt-penned original, “Say Hello to Heaven.”
Pre-order Life Is Like A Song here: https://kennyrogers.lnk.to/LifeIsLikeASongPR
“I think the record is fabulous, and it is going to make Kenny so proud,” said Wanda Rogers. “These songs are such a beautiful reminder of his love ‘for the feelings a song can make’ for a person. He would often say that he wanted his songs to be ‘what every man wants to say, and every woman wants to hear.’ I think there are a lot of those moments on this album. This is a very special record to me and our family because it really tells the story of our life together, and I feel his fans will also relate to it in a big way because it walks the listener through the seasons of life that we all experience in one way or another. There is joy, there is love, there is family, there is uncertainty, there is pain, there is faith… it’s emotional and real. This is the kind of music Kenny loved to make.”
Fans can stream two selections from the album: “Love Is A Drug,” co-written by Rogers’ longtime musical partner and former New Christy Minstrels bandmate, Kim Carnes. The Motown classic “I Wish It Would Rain,” originally made a hit by The Temptations, has new instrumentation by producer Kyle Lehning and musician/producer Viktor Krauss, who together oversaw Rogers’ recording.
“Catchin’ Grasshoppers,” is an ode to Rogers’ twin sons with Wanda Rogers, Justin and Jordan. It was written by Laura McCall Torno and Earl Torno, with production work by Rogers and Randy Dorman (a member of Rogers’ band, Bloodline, since the 1970s).
“Straight Into Love,” a duet with Australian country star Jamie O’Neal, was helmed by award-winning producer Brent Maher, a veteran of Rogers’ productions.
Another duet on the album pairs Rogers with his longtime friend, collaborator, and fellow icon, Dolly Parton. The duo, who began their chart-topping musical partnership with 1983’s “Islands In the Stream,” reunited in the studio in the mid-aughts to record “Tell Me That You Love Me.” Helmed by veteran producer and record exec Tony Brown (George Strait, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire), the song originally appeared on a 2009 compilation. Long out-of-print, a never-before-released, remixed version of the rarity will now be available on digital platforms and vinyl for the very first time, as well as on CD for the first time in this form.
Those sessions with Brown also spawned Rogers’ rendition of “Goodbye,” written by another good friend and frequent collaborator, Lionel Richie. The song has long been a fan favorite after first appearing on the same, aforementioned 2009 anthology. A lyric video for the song was played at Rogers’ memorial in 2022. Watch the “Goodbye” lyric video here: https://youtu.be/LkxHxeZEF0I
Rogers' take on Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” was given a newly recorded music bed, courtesy of Lehning (whose credits for Rogers span more than 40 years) and Krauss. Backed by an acoustic guitar, there is also orchestration.
“Am I Too Late,” written by Larry Keith and Jim Hurt, is one of Rogers’ self-proclaimed favorite songs of all time. Originally cut for Rogers’ 1977 hit album, Daytime Friends, the song is reimagined here as a duet with vocalist Kim Keyes.
The tracks on Life Is Like A Song feature production from Rogers himself, Tony Brown, Viktor Krauss, Kyle Lehning, and Brent Maher, as well as members of Rogers’ longtime band, Bloodline: Randy Dorman, Steve Glassmeyer (on the deluxe edition), Warren Hartman, and Chuck Jacobs. The album was executive produced by Wanda Rogers, Ken Levitan, and Jason Henke.
Track Listing (CD/LP):
1. Love Is A Drug
2. I Wish It Would Rain
3. Am I Too Late (with Kim Keyes)
4. Tell Me That You Love Me (with Dolly Parton)
5. Straight Into Love (with Jamie O'Neal)
6. Wonderful Tonight
7. Catchin’ Grasshoppers
8. That's Love To Me
9. I Will Wait For You
10. Goodbye
(Digital Deluxe):
1. Love Is A Drug
2. I Wish It Would Rain
3. Am I Too Late (with Kim Keyes)
4. Tell Me That You Love Me (with Dolly Parton)
5. Straight Into Love (with Jamie O'Neal)
6. Wonderful Tonight
7. Catchin’ Grasshoppers
8. That's Love To Me
9. I Will Wait For You
10. Goodbye
11. Say Hello To Heaven (Bonus Track)
12. At Last (Bonus Track)
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