Maps of Music

God's Problem Child (2017)

Where the lyrics of God's Problem Child take you, and where it was really made.

The album was first titled I'm Not Dead, a reference to the recurring hoaxes that announced Willie Nelson's death.

Key places

Recorded at The Moose Lodge (2017)

Recording site The Moose Lodge — Discogs credits part of the album as recorded at The Moose Lodge in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The point is placed at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Pedernales Studio (2017)

Recording site Pedernales Studio — Discogs lists Pedernales Studio among the studios where the album was recorded. The point is placed at city-center level in Spicewood. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Sound Emporium (2017)

Recording site Sound Emporium Studios — Discogs lists Sound Emporium in Nashville among the studios where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Sound Stage Studios (2017)

Recording site Sound Stage Studios — Discogs lists Sound Stage Studios in Nashville among the studios where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Paia Town Recording Studio (2017)

Recording site Paia Town Recording Studio — Discogs lists Paia Town Recording Studio among the studios where the album was recorded. The point is placed at city-center level in Paia. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• God's Problem Child is the 66th solo studio album by Willie Nelson
• Released April 28, 2017 by Legacy Recordings
• Features new songs co-written by Nelson and producer Buddy Cannon
• Seven tracks are written by Nelson and Cannon
• Track listing has 13 songs
• Issued in a digifile sleeve

Background

• The original album title was I'm Not Dead, which refers to recurrent hoaxes announcing Nelson's death
• "Delete and Fast-Forward" describes Nelson's view on the 2016 United States elections
• The title track was written by Jamey Johnson and Tony Joe White, with vocals by Leon Russell in one of his last recordings
• The release includes a song written by Cannon's mother, Lyndel Rhodes
• "He Won't Ever Be Gone" is a tribute to Merle Haggard, written by Gary Nicholson
• The release was sold through traditional music retailers and was also available for pre-order on the website PledgeMusic along with promotional merchandise

Recording

• Cannon and Nelson used their frequent method, exchanging lyrics in text messages to write the songs
• Nelson later recorded his vocals in the studio
• Alison Krauss provides background vocals on "True Love" and "Little House on the Hill"
• Discogs credits recording at several studios, including The Moose Lodge in Goodlettsville, Pedernales Studio, Sound Emporium, Sound Stage Studios, Blackbird Studio and Paia Town Recording Studio

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com · it.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 awarded the album four stars out of five.
• AllMusic noted an improvement in Nelson's voice compared to his releases of 2016.
• Rolling Stone praised the album, observing that age is a focus of Nelson's new songwriting.
• Uncut rated the album eight out of ten and favored Nelson's songwriting.
• Record Collector rated the album four out of five stars.
• Pitchfork summed up the album by calling Nelson a cosmic joker contemplating mortality.
• The Austin American-Statesman called it Nelson's best album since the 1990s.
• Sounds Like Nashville wrote that at age 84 the singer continues to come out swinging on all cylinders.

Records

• Debuted at number one on Billboard's Top Country Albums with 36,000 album-equivalent units, including 34,000 pure sales
• Nelson's sixteenth country album chart-topper
• Entered the Billboard 200 at number ten, his sixth top 10 album on that chart
• Record-extending 50th top 10 album on the Top Country Albums chart
• Sold 108,300 copies in the United States as of June 2018

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Rolling Stone premiered the video for the lead single "A Woman's Love" on February 14, 2017
• The Los Angeles Times premiered the video for "It Gets Easier" on March 9
• The Daily Beast first showed the video for "Old Timer" on March 28
• Leon Russell's vocals on the title track are from one of his last recordings
• Alison Krauss provides background vocals on the tracks "True Love" and "Little House on the Hill"

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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