Shotgun Willie

Amazon.com essential recording
Frustrated by eight years without creative freedom or commercial success, Willie Nelson left RCA Victor in 1972 only to be signed by Atlantic Records VP Jerry Wexler, a longtime fan. Willie and a group of Texas, Nashville, and Manhattan musicians (Doug Sahm and Larry Gatlin among them) recorded three albums worth of material in New York, including this benchmark collection. A musical crazy quilt reflecting Nelson's own freewheeling repertoire, it mixed Willie compositions old ("Slow Down Old World") and new ("Shotgun Willie") with a Bob Wills favorite ("Bubbles in My Beer"), Johnny Bush's Texas barroom anthem "Whiskey River," and a stately rendition of Leon Russell's "A Song for You." Literate, sharply focused, and earthy, it proved a turning point, validating Willie's creative quest aesthetically. The triumph was also a commercial one. Acclaimed by the rock music press, Shotgun Willie attracted many younger fans to become Nelson's bestselling album to date, paving the way for his future superstardom at Columbia and beyond. --Rich Kienzle

Shotgun Willie,Willie Nelson,Atlantic / Wea,Country,Country & Western,Outlaw Country,Pop,Progressive Country,Traditional Country,United States of America

Average customer rating: The start of something new Shotgun Willie doesn't run dry... superb record.... Textbook of Willie Nelson's eclectic music One of the Best

Shotgun Willie Willie Nelson Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Outlaw & Texas Country | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Outlaw & Texas Country | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Country | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Phases and Stages Red Headed Stranger Yesterday's Wine Stardust Spirit ASIN: B000002I75 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Shotgun Willie
2. Whiskey River
3. Sad Songs And Waltzes
4. Local Memory
5. Slow Down Old World
6. Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer)
7. Devil In a Sleepin' Bag
8. She's Not For You
9. Bubbles In My Beer
10. You Look Like The Devil
11. So Much To Do
12. A Song For You

Amazon.com essential recording

Frustrated by eight years without creative freedom or commercial success, Willie Nelson left RCA Victor in 1972 only to be signed by Atlantic Records VP Jerry Wexler, a longtime fan. Willie and a group of Texas, Nashville, and Manhattan musicians (Doug Sahm and Larry Gatlin among them) recorded three albums worth of material in New York, including this benchmark collection. A musical crazy quilt reflecting Nelson's own freewheeling repertoire, it mixed Willie compositions old ("Slow Down Old World") and new ("Shotgun Willie") with a Bob Wills favorite ("Bubbles in My Beer"), Johnny Bush's Texas barroom anthem "Whiskey River," and a stately rendition of Leon Russell's "A Song for You." Literate, sharply focused, and earthy, it proved a turning point, validating Willie's creative quest aesthetically. The triumph was also a commercial one. Acclaimed by the rock music press, Shotgun Willie attracted many younger fans to become Nelson's bestselling album to date, paving the way for his future superstardom at Columbia and beyond. --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews:

The start of something new.......2006-11-06

This was the begining of the outlaw county music trend in the 70's and its great. dont expect all of the songs to be shotgun willie cause theres some slow ones too but they're just as good

Shotgun Willie doesn't run dry..........2006-03-04

There have been better voices in country music, but never a better vocalist than Willie Nelson. I consider him on par with Frank Sinatra or Sam Cooke in terms of singing skill. He knows exactly what he wants out of each line to maximize the effect of the lyric, and his phrasing is inventive and unique. Although he is widely lauded for his song-writing ability, it is his delivery that makes the songs stand out. Shotgun Willie is no exception.

Unlike Red-Headed Stranger or Phases and Stages, there is no unifying concept to hold the album together. This is just Willie being Willie. He's so relaxed and comfortable with the material that the tempo never really makes it above a laid back toe-tapper. And who cares? I could sit back and tap my toe to music of this caliber much longer than the 40 minute running time. Another difference from his string of concept albums is the variety of songs here. Tougher than Leather, for instance, seems to run together a little bit, and even his finest conceptual efforts repeat musical themes throughout, making them more of an overall experience. On Shotgun Willie, every track can stand alone. There is no filler. The title track is wry and amusing with an accompanying horn section that sounds just at home as the strings backing Willie on "Slow Down Old World", or the honky-tonk piano and fiddle on "Bubbles in My Beer". "Whiskey River" is worlds apart from his raucous live version, but none-the-less effective. By the time he chuckles on the second verse of the track, you are so engrossed that you chuckle along with him, even though you're not sure what's so funny.

That's not to say that the songs aren't cohesive, because they are. The arrangements are lovely and uncluttered regardless of what instruments are utilized. Willie's humor is evident on many tracks (particularly on one of my favorites, "You Look Like the Devil in the Morning"). And the covers stand along side the originals in seamless harmony. These are all Willie's songs now. Despite the sad lyrical content (these are by and large break-up songs), this is a joyous album to behold. The only song that breaks the playful mood is the final track, a cover of Leon Russell's "A Song for You". This one may have you spilling tears in your beer, but only because the stark vocal performance is truly affecting.

Shotgun Willie may be Nelson's finest hour (Stranger provides the strongest argument otherwise). There isn't a superfluous moment on this album, and you might find yourself leaving it on repeat throughout the day. In fact, I'm going to start it up again, right now.

superb record...........2006-01-24

this album is a trip - the thoughtful, humoruous, touching, lyrics combine well with Willie's unique voice creating a true "feel" throughout the record. i wish it were longer!!

Textbook of Willie Nelson's eclectic music.......2002-08-05

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.

One of the Best.......2002-03-12

This is one of the best Willie cd's. There really
isn't a bad track on the disc. The now Willie Standards
Stay All Night and Whiskey River (a more mellow version)
are included which are both great. Other great
songs would be Sad Songs and Waltzes + Devil in a Sleepin
Bag.

This one is worth the money...

Average customer rating:

Shotgun Willie/Phases and Stages Willie Nelson Manufacturer: Mobile Fidelity ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: Synchronicity Quadrophenia On The Threshold Of A Dream Every Picture Tells a Story Meddle ASIN: B000000ISN Release Date: 1993-06-18

Tracks:

1. Shotgun Willie
2. Whiskey River
3. Sad Songs and Waltzes
4. Local Memory
5. Slow Down Old World
6. Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)
7. Devil in a Sleepin' Bag
8. She's Not for You
9. Bubbles in My Beer
10. You Look Like the Devil
11. So Much to Do
12. Song for You
13. Phases and Stages (Theme)/Washing the Dishes
14. Phases and Stages (Theme)/Walkin'
15. Pretend I Never Happened
16. Sister's Coming Home/Down at the Corner Beer Joint
17. (How Will I Know) I'm Falling in Love Again
18. Bloody Mary Morning
19. Phases and Stages (Theme)/No Love Around
20. I Still Can't Believe You're Gone
21. It's Not Supposed to Be That Way
22. Heaven or Hell
23. Phases and Stages (Theme)/Pick Up the Tempo/Phases and Stages (Theme)

Music Album:

1. Soul Sex: Wrestling the Angel/Versatile
2. Spyboy
3. Stars & Guitars [Live]
4. Strong [Enhanced]
5. Tears Of Fire: The 25th Anniversary Collection [Box set]
6. The Amazing Rhythm Aces
7. The Best of Baillie & the Boys
8. The Best of New Grass Revival
9. The Crossing
10. The Essential Tom T. Hall: Twentieth Anniversary Collection-The Story Songs

Music Album