Jimmy Webb Opens Piano Bench for New LP

On the eve of his 80th birthday, songwriting legend Jimmy Webb is opening up his piano bench to reveal a remarkable trove of music—songs that have waited decades for their moment in the light.

The legendary Songwriters Hall of Famer and multi-Grammy winner has compiled this treasure in Yours for the Taking: The Found Songs of Jimmy Webb, set for release on October 23 via Sun Records. This is not just an album; it is a six-decade journey through Webb’s prolific career, featuring thirteen previously unreleased tracks.

For years, these compositions remained tucked away, some written with specific singers in mind who never recorded them, while others simply languished unseen. Longtime producer Fred Mollin played a crucial role in safeguarding these compositions for years, eventually helping to bring them back into the spotlight and realize Webb’s realization: “Why didn’t I release this when I wrote it? This could be a hit!”

The resulting collection blends rock and roll with delicate touches of jazz and country, steering away from conventional Nashville sound. The production, overseen by Mollin and featuring musicians from Nashville, gives the album a rich, distinctive texture.

Webb invites listeners into this rediscovered world, showcasing incredible collaborations. He is joined by major figures including Michael McDonald, Amy Grant, Marc Cohn, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Justin Currie across eleven newly produced tracks, alongside two intimate original demos.

The project also includes a special bonus track, “Winter Clothes (Original Demo),” an intimate early recording that dates back nearly 50 years, showcasing Webb’s early vision for collaboration with Frank Sinatra in mind.

Webb reflects on this act of release, noting how his perspective has shifted. “A younger Jimmy Webb wrote these songs, decades ago,” he shared. “He was in a rush. He was hard on himself and his works. He was moving fast and leaving songs behind. Now, on the eve of my 80th birthday, a more relaxed, more creative and more grounded Jimmy Webb is announcing the release of these deserving songs that I have found, toiled over and then collaborated with an extraordinary group of people on, so we can finally share them with the world.”

Webb’s musical legacy has resonated far beyond its original eras and genres. His compositions have been interpreted by titans such as Sinatra, Glen Campbell, Barbra Streisand, Nina Simone, Isaac Hayes, Linda Ronstadt, and Tony Bennett. More recently, artists like R.E.M., Guns N’ Roses, Keith Urban, and Flea have drawn inspiration from his masterful songwriting, and his work has even been sampled by modern giants like ODESZA and Kendrick Lamar.