Willie Nelson - Shotgun Willie (Hybrid SACD)
Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar - Willie Nelson [click here to see more Vinyl/SACD featuring Willie Nelson]
Backing Vocals – Dee Moeller, Jesse Colter, Larry Gatlin
Acoustic Guitar – Augie Meyer, Larry Gatlin, Red Lane, Steve Burgh
Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals – Waylon Jennings
Baritone Saxophone – James Mitchell, Willie Bridges
Bass – Dan Spears, Hugh McDonald, Jack Barber
Dobro – James Clayton Day
Drums – George Rains, Paul English, Steve Mosley
Electric Guitar – David Bromberg
Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Augie Meyer
Electric Piano – Jeff Gutcheon
Fiddle – Johnny Gimble
Horns – The Memphis Horns
Lead Guitar – Steve Burgh
Pedal Steel Guitar – James Clayton Day
Piano – Augie Meyer, Bobbie Nelson
Snare – Steve Mosley
Tenor Saxophone – Andrew Love
Trombone – Jack Hale
Trumpet – Wayne Jackson
Written by Willie Nelson, Johnny Bush, Paul Stroud, Tommy Duncan, Bob Wills, Cindy Walker, Leon Russell
1 Hybrid SACD
Original analog Master tape : YES
Stereo
Studio
Label : Analogue Productions
Original Label : Atlantic
Recorded February 1973 at Studio Atlantic (New York City) Quadraphonic (Nashville) Sam Phillips (Memphis)
Engineered by Gene Paul, Knox Phillips, Stan Hutto, Steve Ham
Produced by Arif Mardin, David Briggs, Jerry Wexler
Mastered by George Piros
Photography by David Gahr
Originally released in June 1973
Reissued in 2024
Tracks:
- Shotgun Willie
- Whiskey River
- Sad Songs And Waltzes
- Local Memory
- Slow Down Old World
- Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer)
- Devil In A Sleepin' Bag
- She's Not For You
- Bubbles In My Beer
- You Look Like The Devil
- So Much To Do
- A Song For You
Reviews:
"Transferring his allegiance to Atlantic (where he would record two remarkable albums that would get him kicked off the label), Willie Nelson offered his finest record to date for his debut -- possibly his finest album ever. Shotgun Willie encapsulates Willie's world view and music, finding him at a peak as a composer, interpreter, and performer.
This is laid-back, deceptively complex music, equal parts country, rock attitude, jazz musicianship, and troubadour storytelling. Nelson blurs the lines between his own tunes and covers to the point that "Whiskey River," this record's best-known song, seems thoroughly original, yet it was written by Johnny Bush and Paul Stroud. This, along with two songs apiece by Leon Russell and Bob Wills, provides context for his originals, with Shotgun Willie becoming a musical autobiography, offering not only insights into his musicality (witness how he slows down "Stay All Night [Stay a Little Longer]" to a slow shuffle) but, seemingly, into himself (most notably on the title track and the wonderful, funny travelogue "Devil in a Sleepin' Bag"). Nelson wasn't just at a peak of performing here -- he also wrote some of his greatest songs, highlighted not just by the previously mentioned tunes but also by the lovely slow waltz "Slow Down Old World" and "Sad Songs and Waltzes." All of it adds up to possibly the finest record in a career filled with hits and highlights." AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
'I'm gonna love you 'til the wheels come off'. What a great line. But it would be nothing without the delivery. After more than five decades of recording, Shotgun Willie is still teaching the young country pups a thing or two about finding your own unique style and using it to impart a real depth of emotion to the listener.
He's released two albums this month, and if you're short of cash and hesitating over which one to buy, let us make it easy for you. Forget the overblown made-for-telly special Outlaws And Angels - Willie probably has - and get your hands on It Will Always Be. The quality writing, perceptive performances and moments of subtle beauty and humour make it one of the strongest country records released this year.
It's his third release for ever-credible label Lost Highway Records, and his first studio album since 2000's excellent The Great Divide, which spawned the Grammy and CMA Award-winning duet with Lee Ann Womack, "Mendocino County Line".
Produced by James Stroud (Toby Keith, Merle Haggard and Tim McGraw) the album is written largely by Nelson, with contributions from some of the best songwriters around; including Scotty Emerick, Chuck Cannon and Tom Waits/ Kathleen Brennan (whose sweet song "Picture In A Frame" is home to that 'wheels come off' line).
There's also the usual interesting array of duet partners. First up is Paula Nelson, joining her Dad on "Be That As It May" and unfortunately singing like she's trying to dislodge some fried chicken from her back teeth. Lucinda Williams proves herself to be much more suited to the style of the old troubadour. The version of "Overtime" featured on Outlaws And Angels was a pretty raucous affair but here it is beautifully languid, with Williams being soft and (almost) coquettish.
Affirmed Nelson fan Norah Jones -whose appearances on the other two recent live albums, Live And Kickin' and Stars And Guitars added a touch of class to otherwise unexciting recordings -brings her silken vocals to the "Crazy"-feeling lounge tune "Dreams Come True".
Even Toby Keith is acting grown-up, with his song "Tired" offering Nelson the chance to interpret another poignant tale of the hard working man who doesn't notice his relationship crumbling around him. Keith saves his vocal contribution for something far more upbeat and fun; a meaty cover of the Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider", the lead-off single which they'll hope will replicate the success of their last duet, the plain daft "Beer For My Horses". BBC Review by Sue Keogh.
Ratings:
Discogs : 4.61 / 5 ; AllMusic : 5 / 5