Jimmy Webb, 80, releases new album and PBS special featuring Lyle Lovett and Vince Gill
The Grammy-winning songwriter debuts a collection of unreleased tracks and a concert special on PBS Friday night.
By Grace Anderson ·
Eighty years old, Jimmy Webb has just released a new album. The record, titled Yours for the Taking: The Found Music of Jimmy Webb, is available now on Sun Records. It gathers older compositions that never found a permanent home on previous releases. Webb states that some of the songs required rewriting before they could be included in the collection.
The material offers a look at the songwriter's process. Webb notes that he did not always think the songs deserved attention in their original form. He reworked lyrics to improve them for the new collection. The album serves as a snapshot of his songwriting mechanics over several decades.
Webb's career spans six decades. His work appears across pop, country, and other genres. Artists including Glen Campbell, The Fifth Dimension, and Donna Summer have recorded his songs. He has intentionally avoided being associated with a single genre. He describes his approach as a desire to remain unidentifiable and move forward creatively.
A new PBS special titled Great Performances: Jimmy Webb, American Songwriter premieres on Friday, Oct. 30, at 9 p.m. ET. The episode features a live performance by Webb and a cast of singers. The group includes Ryan Shaw, Shelea, Lyle Lovett, Vince Gill, and Ashley Campbell. They perform a range of hits and deep cuts from his catalog.
The set list includes songs such as "Up Up and Away," "Galveston," and "MacArthur Park." Lovett performs "Galveston," a track that Webb says he had never heard interpreted in that specific way. Lovett became emotional during the performance. Webb credits the cast with bringing a fresh perspective to the material rather than replicating the original hit records.
Webb performed "Highwayman" with Lovett, Gill, and Campbell. The song was originally recorded by Webb and Glen Campbell before The Highwaymen turned it into a standard. The audience gave the performance one of the largest ovations of the evening. Webb notes that the tempo of the song mirrors the pace of life, which he describes as always feeling too fast.
Webb says he has more new music planned. He is working on a solo album consisting entirely of new material. He attributes his continued activity to good health. He remains engaged with audiences during live shows, maintaining a level of interaction and wit that keeps the performances dynamic.
The PBS special showcases his impact on American popular music. It features lush arrangements of his work. Webb invited top-tier performers to the project. He wanted the show to match the name of the series, ensuring that the performances were exceptional. The album and the special mark a dual release of his work in 2026.
