Across the Borderline

Across the Borderline is the 40th studio album by Willie Nelson. It was produced by Don Was, Paul Simon, and Roy Halee. It includes songs written by Paul Simon, Ry Cooder, John Hiatt, Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, and Nelson himself. Featured performers include David Crosby, Kris Kristofferson, Sinéad O'Connor, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon.

Across the Borderline
Studio album by Willie Nelson
Released	March 23, 1993
Recorded	August–December 1992
Genre	Country, country rock
Label	Columbia
Producer	Don Was, Paul Simon, Roy Halee
Willie Nelson chronology
The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories? (1992) Across the Borderline (1993) Moonlight Becomes You (1994)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Calgary Herald	A[2]
Robert Christgau	[3]
Entertainment Weekly	A[4]
Music Week	[5]
The Observer	(favorable)[6]
Select	[7]

The title track, "Across the Borderline", was written by Ry Cooder, John Hiatt, and Jim Dickinson. It is a remake of a song by Freddy Fender, which was featured on the motion picture soundtrack for The Border starring Jack Nicholson.

"Don't Give Up" was performed by Nelson with Sinéad O'Connor singing the part sung by Kate Bush on the original Peter Gabriel recording.

Bonnie Raitt duets with Nelson on "Getting Over You".

Nelson and Bob Dylan wrote and performed a new composition, "Heartland", for this album.

Paul Simon duets with Nelson on his composition "American Tune".

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"American Tune" (duet with Paul Simon)	Paul Simon	4:20
2.	"Getting Over You" (duet with Bonnie Raitt)	Stephen Bruton	4:03
3.	"(The) Most Unoriginal Sin"	John Hiatt	4:48
4.	"Don't Give Up" (duet with Sinéad O'Connor)	Peter Gabriel	6:58
5.	"Heartland" (duet with Bob Dylan)	Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson	4:32
6.	"Across the Borderline"	Jim Dickinson, John Hiatt, Ry Cooder	4:40
7.	"Graceland"	Paul Simon	4:44
8.	"Farther Down the Line"	Lyle Lovett	3:14
9.	"Valentine"		3:36
10.	"What Was It You Wanted"	Bob Dylan	5:24
11.	"I Love the Life I Live"	Willie Dixon	3:09
12.	"If I Were the Man You Wanted"	Lyle Lovett	3:37
13.	"She's Not for You"		3:15
14.	"Still Is Still Moving to Me"		3:30
Total length:			59:59

All tracks are written by Willie Nelson, except where noted

Personnel

• Mose Allison – piano
• Mingo Araujo – congas
• Eric Bazilian – mandolin
• Jimmy Bralower – drums
• David Campbell – harmonium
• Gene Chrisman – drums
• David Crosby – backing vocals
• Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
• Debra Dobkin – percussion
• Bob Dylan – vocals
• Paul English – drums
• Paul Franklin – pedal steel guitar
• Johnny Gimble – violin
• Mark Goldenberg – guitar
• Milt Hinton – bass guitar
• James "Hutch" Hutchinson – bass guitar
• Mark Isham – trumpet
• Jim Keltner – drums
• Kris Kristofferson – vocals
• Mike Leech – bass guitar
• John Leventhal – guitar
• Grady Martin – guitar
• Bobbie Nelson – piano
• Mark O'Connor – violin
• Sinéad O'Connor – vocals
• Jody Payne – acoustic guitar
• Ray Phiri – guitar
• Bonnie Raitt – vocals, slide guitar
• Mickey Raphael – harmonica
• John Selelowane – guitar
• Paul Simon – guitar
• Smitty Smith – drums
• Bee Spears – bass guitar
• Fred Tackett – guitar
• Benmont Tench – organ
• Danny Timms – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals
• Robby Turner – pedal steel guitar, mandolin
• Don Was – bass guitar
• Reggie Young – guitar
• Willie Nelson – vocals, acoustic guitar

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Norway (IFPI Norway)[8]	Gold	25,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Notes

1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r169205
2. Obee, Dave (11 April 1993). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
3. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Willie Nelson". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
4. Tucker, Ken (2 April 1993). "Across the Borderline". Entertainment Weekly.
5. Faux, Karen (22 May 1993). "Market Preview: Country — Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 8. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
6. Spencer, Neil (16 May 1993). "Pop Releases". The Observer.
7. Wright, Jonathan (May 1993). "Reviews: Albums — Sound Bites". Select. p. 95. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
8. "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.