Willie Nelson Album: “Shotgun Willie”

Having broken free of RCA Nashville, Nelson spent a two album stint on Atlantic. This 1973 debut for the label covers a lot of ground, blending Nelson originals with covers (including a pair of Bob Wills titles and a pair from Leon Russell, including "A Song For You") across country, jazz and Texas storytelling tradition. As fruitfully as Nelson has conquered the charts over the years, album-styled music such as this is clearly his first love.

Highlights include the (then) newly-penned autobiographical title track, a soulful version of "Whiskey River" that greatly changes mood from the live hit single, the tearful (and perhaps ironically self-fulfilling) original "Sad Songs and Waltzes," and a family take of Bob Wills' "Say All Night (Stay a Little Longer)."

This is complex, thoughtful music with the sophistication of its country musical roots and its New York City recording location. Those familiar only with the more readily digestible hits will find a fuller philosophical and musical meal here.

Cake is one of my favorite bands, and on Cake's "Fashion Nugget" album, there's a fine song called "Sad Songs and Waltzes". I did a search on the internet and found that the Cake song I love was written by Willie Nelson. Needless to say, I bought Shotgun Willie the same day, and I'm so glad I did! When I was a kid, my parents were huge Willie Nelson fans, but I never game him much thought. I really wish I had now that I understand what he's saying and how great his songs are. This album is fantastic. If you're like me, and you dislike all the current country music (Shania, Randy Travis, Tim McGraw, etc..) because it's nothing but pop music, and no different than anything Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand are doing, then you'll definitely love Shotgun Willie. Buy it!, you won't be sorry.

I grew up on this album as a kid. It's got the most beautiful rendition of Whiskey River on it ever made. I was born and raised in Texas and have seen Willie, Waylon, and Jerry Jeff

live. Anybody that is a fan of Willie's will love this album.

I rate this as his second all-time greatest album; second only to the Redheaded Stranger. Enough said. God Bless Texas! Mike

Willie was still slightly under the radar in some parts when this record was released in 1973, though today the listener can get a sense that he was aware of his burgeoning star-power as he cut these undeniably classic tracks.

He had all ready recorded over a dozen albums, charted a slew of singles and wrote many hits for other artists such as "Crazy" for Patsy Cline, "Hello Walls" by Faron Young and "Night Life", which has been recorded by...well, by just about everyone.

The lyrics to his original compositions seem informed with the fact that this was a success on the rise, with the wry irony of Sad Songs and Waltzes declaring "...it's a good thing I'm not a star...you don't know how lucky you are..." because he has written a song about his lover's infidelity, "...you have no need to fear it... 'cause no one will hear it...sad songs and waltzes ain't sellin' this year..."

Through out this recording, Willie directs the ensemble and guides the listener deftly on an odyssey of musical adventure that shifts from full Texas swing to bluesy bar songs to the sparse intimacy of Willie alone with his guitar, sometimes all in one song ("Local Memory" comes to mind).

Though the sessions for Shotgun Willie were split between New York City, Nashville and Memphis the Lone Star flag is flyin' high with the inclusion of two Bob Wills numbers and the song "Whiskey River", which was written by fellow Texan Johnny Bush. Thanks to a couple of Leon Russell songs, a bit of the Tulsa Sound is also represented.

Do yourself a favor and grab one of those funny discs that eat lasers or better yet, snag a warm vinyl copy of Shotgun Willie. You will not be disappointed.

In "est."1974 I was 22 yrs. young,I went to a concert at the stadium in Houston,Tx.to see ZZ TOP& other bands like the Doobie Bros.It was out doors & typical to Houston it started raining hard.ZZ Top performed "Rio Grande Mud" but lots of bands were packing up and leaving.My girlfriend & I stuck it out soaked to the bone.This guy stepped out on stage with a flat top guitar,tennis shoes,no shirt,wearing cut-off jeans and a bandanna tied around his hair.Willie Nelson (who I had never heard of)started out with Shotgun Willie and played like tere was no tomorrow.I have been a diehard Willie fan ever since."Rock on Willie"I love ya man.