In a New Age was released in 1988, the first recording released by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury

Mickey Newbury

Mickey Newbury was an American songwriter, a critically acclaimed recording artist, and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Biography:...

 since 1981's After All These Years. The album contains new versions of eight classic Newbury songs, with a full version of "All My Trials

All My Trials

All My Trials was a folk song during the social protest movements of the 1950s and 1960s. It is based on a Bahamian lullaby that tells the story of a mother on her death bed, comforting her children, "Hush little baby, don't you cry./You know your mama's bound to die," because, as she explains,...

" which is part of Newbury's "An American Trilogy

An American Trilogy

"An American Trilogy" is a song arranged by country songwriter Mickey Newbury and made popular by Elvis Presley, who began including the song as part of his regular concert routine in the 1970s, thereby making the song a showstopper...

" (which is also included on the album.)

In 1988, Airborne Records planned a release in which Newbury demos were treated with synthesizers and other then-contemporary production effects. Opposed to this project, Newbury instead re-recorded the songs Airborne planned to use, and the album was released with these new recordings, effectively Newbury's first recordings in years.

Newbury recorded the album with accompaniment from violinist Marie Rhines. The set includes Newbury classics "An American Trilogy," "San Francisco Mabel Joy

San Francisco Mabel Joy

"San Francisco Mabel Joy" is a song written by Mickey Newbury, and is one of Newbury's most notable songs, an opinion shared by the artist himself. The song first appeared on Newbury's 1969 concept album Looks Like Rain, a milestone album in the burgeoning songwriter movement in Nashville at the...

," "Lovers," and "Cortelia Clark." "Poison Red Berries" was originally released as "I Don't Think About Her No More" on Looks Like Rain

Looks Like Rain

Looks Like Rain is the 1969 concept album by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. After recording his debut album with RCA, Newbury was dissatisfied with the resulting album and left RCA to pursue a style closer to his tastes...

and "Willow Tree" was originally titled "Wish I Was" and released on His Eye Is on the Sparrow

His Eye is on the Sparrow

"His Eye Is on the Sparrow" is a Gospel hymn. Although today it is a staple of African-American worship services, the song was originally written in 1905 by two white songwriters, lyricist Civilla D. Martin and composer Charles H. Gabriel...

.

In 1999, In a New Age was revised by Newbury's label Mountain Retreat, bass, percussion, guitar, and sound effects were added. It was paired with a 1988 concert with accompaniment by violinist Rhines as part of a 2CD set It Might As Well Be the Moon.

Track listing

1. "All My Trials" (Traditional)
2. "Cortelia Clark" (Mickey Newbury)
3. "Willow Tree" (Mickey Newbury)
4. "The Sailor" (Mickey Newbury)
5. "Frisco Depot" (Mickey Newbury)
6. "Poison Red Berries" (Mickey Newbury)
7. "Lovers" (Mickey Newbury)
8. "San Francisco Mabel Joy" (Mickey Newbury)
9. "An American Trilogy" (Mickey Newbury/Traditional)