Dream Chaser (album)
| Dream Chaser | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 29, 2026 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 30:50 | |||
| Label | Legacy | |||
| Producer | Buddy Cannon | |||
| Willie Nelson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Dream Chaser is the 79th solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. It was released on May 29, 2026, through Legacy Recordings.
The album was released a month after Nelson's 93rd birthday.[1]
Background
Nelson announced the album on March 18, 2026, alongside the release of the album's first single, the title track.[2][3]
The title track was described as Nelson "reflecting on the rapid passage of time" by Eddie Fu of Consequence.[4]
Dream Chaser features the first time Nelson and Bob Dylan co-wrote a song together since Across the Borderline in 1993, as the pair, alongside producer Buddy Cannon, co-wrote the song "I Can't Read Your Mind".[2][5]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Arts Desk |   [6] |
| Far Out | [7] |
| Hot Press | 7/10[8] |
| Mojo | [9] |
| Paste | B-[10] |
| Uncut | 9/10[11] |
Tim Cumming at The Arts Desk described Dream Chaser as "flawless and hugely enjoyable", giving particular focus to the quality of Nelson's songwriting which he found "as astute, funny and affecting as ever".[6] Ed Power at Hot Press found the album to employ Nelson's "familiar palette" in service of "a grippingly bittersweet survey of life, aging - and whatever comes next".[8]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dream Chaser" |
| 3:14 |
| 2. | "Fly Away" |
| 2:42 |
| 3. | "We'd Make a Good Movie" |
| 3:32 |
| 4. | "I Can't Read Your Mind" |
| 3:29 |
| 5. | "Whiskey Wants Me To" |
| 2:15 |
| 6. | "Wonder What I'm Gonna Do" |
| 3:53 |
| 7. | "After All" |
| 2:58 |
| 8. | "Love Overdue" |
| 3:00 |
| 9. | "I Don't Think I've Cried Today" |
| 3:24 |
| 10. | "Developing My Pictures" | Earl Montgomery | 2:23 |
| Total length: | 30:50 | ||
Personnel
Credits are adapted from Tidal.[12]
- Willie Nelson – lead vocals, guitar
- Michael Rojas – Hammond organ, piano, vibraphone, Wurlitzer piano
- Fred Eltringham – drums, percussion
- Bobby Terry – acoustic guitar
- James Mitchell – electric guitar
- Mickey Raphael – harmonica
- Tommy White – steel guitar
- Ben Isaacs – upright bass
- Buddy Cannon – production
- Tony Castle – engineering, mixing
- Grant Wilson – engineering assistance
- Michelle Freetly – engineering assistance
- Andrew Mendelson – mastering
- Adam Battershell – mastering assistance
- Andrew Darby – mastering assistance
- Luke Armentrout – mastering assistance
- Thomas Oakes – mastering assistance
Charts
| Chart (2026) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[13] | 68 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[14] | 159 |
| Croatian International Albums (HDU)[15] | 13 |
| Norwegian Albums (IFPI Norge)[16] | 76 |
| Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[17] | 39 |
| Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[18] | 19 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] | 39 |
| UK Albums Sales (OCC)[20] | 46 |
| UK Americana Albums (Official Charts)[21] | 13 |
| UK Country Albums (Official Charts)[22] | 5 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[23] | 35 |
References
- ↑ Young, Casey (March 18, 2026). "Willie Nelson Announces 79th Solo Studio Album, 'Dream Chaser'". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Greene, Andy (March 18, 2026). "Willie Nelson's Upcoming Album 'Dream Chaser' Includes a New Song He Wrote With Bob Dylan". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
- ↑ Piner, Chris (March 18, 2026). "Willie Nelson Set to Release 79th Solo Studio Album 'Dream Chaser'". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
- ↑ Fu, Eddie (March 18, 2026). "Willie Nelson Announces New Album Dream Chaser, Sets 2026 Spring Tour Dates". Consequence. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
- ↑ Suskind, Alex (March 18, 2026). "Willie Nelson's 156th Album Includes a Bob Dylan Co-Write". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Cumming, Tim (May 23, 2026). "Willie Nelson rides high on Dream Chaser". The Arts Desk. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- ↑ Maplethorpe, Dale (May 28, 2026). "Willie Nelson – Dream Chaser album review: Old Willie is still working well". Far Out. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- 1 2 Power, Ed (May 29, 2026). "Album Review: Willie Nelson, Dream Chaser". Hot Press. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ Simmons, Sylvie (May 2026). "Dream Chaser Review". Mojo.
- ↑ Melis, Matt (June 1, 2026). "Willie Nelson rides on with the poignant Dream Chaser". Paste. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ Mueller, Andrew (May 22, 2026). "Willie Nelson Dream Chaser". Uncut. Retrieved May 28, 2026 – via Internet Archive.
- ↑ "Dream Chaser / Willie Nelson / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Willie Nelson – Dream Chaser" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Willie Nelson – Dream Chaser" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Lista prodaje 23. tjedan 2026. (01.06.2026. - 07.06.2026.)" [Sales list Week 23 2026] (in Croatian). HDU. June 7, 2026. Archived from the original on June 17, 2026. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Album 2026 uke 23". IFPI Norge. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 5/6/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 23, 2026". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Willie Nelson – Dream Chaser". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Official Albums Sales Chart on 5/6/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Official Americana Albums Chart on 5/6/2026 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart on 5/6/2026 – Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
