Maps of Music

...And Then I Wrote (1962)

Where the lyrics of ...And Then I Wrote take you, and where it was really made.

Before his first album came out, Nelson had already written songs that other singers turned into hits, including Patsy Cline's "Crazy."

Key places

Second half recorded in Hollywood (1962)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The album was completed in September in the label's Los Angeles recording facilities, which were the Radio Recorders studios in Hollywood. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Touch Me recorded in Nashville (1962)

Recording site Nashville — The single Touch Me was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, at Bradley Studios, a location shown only at city level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• ...And Then I Wrote is the debut studio album by country singer Willie Nelson
• Recorded in August and September 1962 and released through Liberty Records
• Produced by Joe Allison
• The single "Touch Me" reached No. 7 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart

Background

• In 1958, Nelson released two records under a contract with Pappy Daily of D Records
• Those records did not bring success, so he sold original songs to other artists
• "Family Bible" became a hit for Claude Gray in 1960
• Nelson moved to Nashville in 1960, but no label signed him at first
• He was later signed as a songwriter to Pamper Music
• Faron Young, Ray Price, and Patsy Cline recorded his songs "Hello Walls," "Night Life," and "Crazy"
• Fueled by the success of his songwriting, he was signed by Liberty Records

Recording

• The Nashville sessions began on August 22–23 at night and lasted until the next morning
• Dissatisfied with the results, Allison moved the sessions to the label's studios in Los Angeles
• In Los Angeles, Nelson was joined by guitarists Billy Strange, Roy Nichols, and Johnny Western
• Across two sessions on September 11–12, Nelson recorded "Crazy," "Mr. Record Man," and "Hello Walls"
• The vocal chorus led by B. J. Baker had trouble following Nelson's idiosyncratic style
• Allison placed baffles between Nelson and the singers so they could stay on the beat
• The liner notes were written by local DJ Charlie Williams at Allison's request

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Willie Hugh Nelson on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas.
• Wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band, Bohemian Polka, as a guitarist at age nine.
• Attended Baylor University for two years before dropping out to pursue music.
• Moved to Nashville in 1960 and joined Ray Price's band as a bassist.

Career

• Songs such as "Crazy" (Patsy Cline), "Funny How Time Slips Away" and "Pretty Paper" became hits for other artists.
• Debut album ...And Then I Wrote was released in 1962; joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1965.
• Helped lead the outlaw country movement after moving to Austin, Texas in 1972.
• Red Headed Stranger (1975) was a critically acclaimed concept album; the single "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" became his first number one hit.
• Co-founded Farm Aid in 1985 with Neil Young and John Mellencamp.
• Acted in over 30 films, including The Electric Horseman (1979).
• Received a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance for "Ride Me Back Home" (2019).
• Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• AllMusic rated the album four stars out of five
• Billboard reviewed the single "Touch Me" and called it an "interesting country-styled tune"
• Billboard's review also described the lyrics as "good"

Records

• "Touch Me" became Nelson's second top ten single
• The single reached No. 7 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart
• "Touch Me" is described as the album's biggest hit
• The song earned Nelson a place on jukeboxes throughout the United States
• The single was released in September 1962, the same month the album came out

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Nelson sold "Family Bible" to guitar instructor Paul Buskirk for US$50 and "Night Life" for US$150
• After "Hello Walls" was written, Hank Cochran told Nelson it was a hit
• Joe Allison placed baffles between Nelson and the backing singers to keep them from hearing each other
• Nelson met his second wife, Shirley Collie, during the recording of "Mr. Record Man"

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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