Maps of Music

December Day: Willie's Stash, Vol. 1 (2014)

Where the lyrics of December Day: Willie's Stash, Vol. 1 take you, and where it was really made.

The album grew out of jam sessions on Nelson's tour bus between concert dates, and it became the first release in the Willie's Stash archive series.

Key places

Recorded at Pedernales Recordings studio (2014)

Recording site Pedernales Studio — The album was recorded at Pedernales Recordings studio, with Buddy Cannon producing and Steve Chadie engineering. The point is placed at city-centre level for Spicewood, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Willie's Stash, Vol. 1: December Day is a collaboration album by Willie Nelson and his sister Bobbie Nelson
• Released 2 December 2014 by Legacy Recordings
• It is the first release in Willie's Stash, a set of archival recordings curated by Nelson
• The concept came from jam performances on Nelson's bus between tour dates
• Nelson sang and played guitar; Bobbie played a travel-size piano while on the road
• The album includes two original songs newly written by Nelson, plus new versions of older compositions
• Covers include Irving Berlin's Alexander's Ragtime Band and What'll I Do

Background

• Recorded with Nelson's road band
• Includes a track featuring longtime bassist Bee Spears, who died in 2011

Recording

• Recorded at Pedernales Recordings studio
• Produced by Buddy Cannon; engineered by Steve Chadie
• Liner notes written by Mickey Raphael

Cover

• Cardboard gatefold sleeve
• Includes 16 page glossy booklet

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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

• Metacritic average score 68, based on 8 reviews from mainstream critics
• The New York Times: Nate Chinen found the Nelsons' rapport welcoming and true from start to finish
• The Observer: Neal Spencer applauded the album, saying Nelson's worn, almost conversational vocals remain arresting and his guitar playing idiosyncratic
• AllMusic: Mark Deming called the sibling interplay gentle and intuitive, one of the consistent pleasures of Nelson's body of work
• Cuepoint: Robert Christgau was disappointed by a lack of memorable tunes at first listen, but saw the album as a showcase for Nelson's guitar playing and a 'senescence album'
• Christgau praised the closing suite that ends with 'Laws of Nature', calling it inescapably tuneful
• Mojo: a pleasant, charm-filled release but no great addition to the Nelson canon
• The Boston Globe: lamented the slower songs, finding them monotonous

Records

• Christgau named it the eleventh best album of 2014 in his year-end list for The Barnes & Noble Review
• Released 2 December 2014 to generally positive reviews from music critics

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Two singles were released on 21 November 2014; 'Laws of Nature' premiered on Nelson's SiriusXM channel Willie's Roadhouse, and 'Who'll Buy My Memories' premiered on Rolling Stone Country.
• The full album premiered on the New York Times' website series Press Play on 24 November.
• One track features longtime bassist Bee Spears, who died in 2011.
• The Italian track list gives 18 songs, including Irving Berlin's Alexander's Ragtime Band and Django Reinhardt's Nuages.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact