Willie Nelson “Red Headed Stranger”

sfilzen — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 22:14:02 +0000

Willie Nelson “Red Headed Stranger” 1975. Today, April 29th, is Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday (b. 1933). Not much of a country fan myself, this LP is from my kid’s collection and still sports its original shrink wrap circa 1980, or at least The People’s Choice sticker states that year. Red Headed Stranger was Nelson’s 18th studio LP. A concept album about a fugitive on the run from the law after killing his wife and her lover, it is considered one of the best country albums ever recorded and its crossover appeal plus commercial success earned it a #28 spot on the Billboard pop charts and went to #1 on the country charts. The single “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” (written by Fred Rose, first recorded by Elton Britt in 1946, then made more popular by Roy Acuff in 1947) won a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and catapulted Nelson into widespread popularity: it went to #1 on the country charts and to #21 on the Hot 100. In 1986, Nelson, along with Morgan Fairchild, starred in the movie Red Headed Stranger based on the concept album. Robert Redford was originally slated for the lead role in the late 70’s when the script was first written but he eventually turned it down. Then in the early 80’s legendary western director Sam Penkinpah was supposed to direct, but at the time HBO was going to produce it with a low budget, so Penkinpah also declined his participation. It finally began filming in ’85 and released in ’86 but didn’t fare particularly well and had a limited release. I haven’t seen it but I’m guessing the record is better than the film.

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Willie Nelson “Pretty Paper”

sfilzen — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 22:48:58 +0000

Willie Nelson “Pretty Paper” 1979. Nelson’s first Christmas album and his 24th studio LP. Relaxed, country-tinged standards like “White Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Silent Night, Holy Night” as well as the rockabilly classic “Blue Christmas” made famous by Elvis. Nelson has two originals, the title track “Pretty Paper” and the instrumental “Christmas Blues.” Nelson wrote “Pretty Paper” in 1963 and it was first recorded by Roy Orbison. Orbison’s version went to #15 on the US Hot 100 chart in ‘63 and went to #6 in the UK in ‘64. Nelson first recorded it in ‘64 and then re-recorded it for Pretty Paper and again in ‘97 for Hill Country Christmas. A whole slew of other artists have covered the song over the years including Chris Isaak (2004), Reverend Horton Heat (2005) and most recently Dolly Parton (2020).

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Willie Nelson “Red Headed Stranger”

Willie Nelson “Pretty Paper”