Lukas Nelson Performs Dad's '80s Song 'Always On My Mind' On Cruise

Sep 02, 2021 by apost team

So many people were shocked to hear the hit classic “Always On My Mind” from someone other than Willie Nelson. However, once they realized that the song was being sung by his son, Lukas Nelson, they could see (and hear) that this apple certainly didn’t fall far from the tree.

Luckily, someone recorded Lukas' live performance, which took place on a cruise ship in 2013.

Lukas Nelson is very deep into the music scene, just like his father has been for many years. He is part of a group known as Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. They tour all over the country regularly and love sharing their music with their fans. Their official Facebook page has more than 465,000 followers who enjoy their music and are likely eager to hear the latest hit.

When you hear his voice, you will see why they so fervently await the next post from the band. However, this particular performance was nothing short of spectacular. Lukas did not have any backup when he recorded his unique version of “Always On My Mind,” but as you will soon hear, he didn’t need it. His rendition of the song is absolutely amazing.

Listening to his soulful voice would turn anyone into a fan.

We bet you didn’t even realize that the original version of this hit was released more than 35 years ago. But people still adore it. They are even happier to hear a fresh, new version of the song coming from Willie Nelson’s son. Who better to perform this timeless classic than the kid himself?

Listeners on YouTube certainly seemed to enjoy the performance.

“I think most people are so mesmerized, they forget to click the thumbs up button,” Billy Brackeen commented.

“Gave me goosebumps.  If I was not watching, I would have thought that was Willie for sure!  God blessed him with the voice for sure!  Wow...One of my favorite Willie songs as well!” James Fish added.

 Fans of Lukas Nelson will be happy to hear that he and his band have a new album as of April 2021: “A Few Stars Apart,” which came out on Fantasy Records. And if the critics are to be trusted, it’s one of Lukas Nelson’s best records yet.

“Ultimately, Lukas Nelson proves that he is his father’s son—indeed, a song such as “Hand Me a Light” could have easily come courtesy of his dad’s catalog,” Lee Zimmerman writes in his review for American Songwriter. “Yet at the same time, he’s made it clear that comparisons are no longer necessary. A Few Stars Apart brings him closer to the singular distinction he so decidedly deserves.”

For the new record, the band enlisted the help of another musical great, David Cobb. The six-time Grammy winner is one of country music and rock’s most well-known and well-respected producers. Cobb has worked with John Prine, Sturgill Simpson and the Rival Sons, along with having a hand in producing the “A Star Is Born” soundtrack.

And for fans who can’t get enough of Lukas’ father, Willie Nelson also has a new record out, the musician’s 71st studio album “That’s Life.” Released in February 2021, the album is a tribute to the late, great Frank Sinatra.

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Critics also praised Willie Nelson for his work on “That’s Life.”

“Willie sounds younger here than he has in years. He seems to be singing with a smile, as buoyed by his band as he is by these standards, a quality that gives That's Life an endearing kick,” Thomas Erlewine writes in his AllMusic review of the album.

The record is part of a series of Frank Sinatra tribute albums. In 2018, he released “My Way,” which won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. That album, like “That’s Life,” features a series of Sinatra standards: “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Summer Wind,” “Blue Moon” and more.

In December 2020, Willie Nelson spoke to his more recent Sinatra tribute album in an interview with Slate.

“That was one of the things I loved about Frank, his phrasing. He never done it twice the same way. I love that,” he told the publication. “My biggest regret is we played a show together, I don’t know where it was, Vegas or somewhere, and he asked me to hang out with him a while that night, and I couldn’t. I had someplace to go and get on the bus. But that was one of my biggest regrets, that I didn’t get to hang out with Frank. Because I love him. He always has been my favorite singer.”

It’s no question that like Sinatra, Willie Nelson will also be remembered as an inspirational figure in the history of American music. And if he continues to impress as he already has, then perhaps Lukas Nelson will also become an icon — only time will tell.

What do you think of Lukas Nelson’s rendition of “You Were Always On My Mind?” What’s your favorite Lukas or Willie Nelson track? Let us know — and be sure to pass this on to other music aficionados.