Maps of Music

Heroes (2012)

Where the lyrics of Heroes take you, and where it was really made.

Most of this album was recorded not in Nashville but at Willie Nelson's own Pedernales studio in Austin, Texas.

Key places

Nelson's own studio in Austin (2012)

Recording site Pedernales Studio — Most of the album's tracks were recorded here by engineer Steve Chadie at Nelson's own studio in Austin, Texas. The point is placed at city-centre level, not on the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Nashville sessions at Sound Emporium (2012)

Recording site Sound Emporium Studios — Three tracks, including "Hero" and "Come On Back Jesus", were recorded by Butch Carr at Cannon Productions and Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The point marks the Sound Emporium studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Additional recording at Merle Haggard's studio (2012)

Recording site Talley Studio — Additional recording for the album is credited to Merle Haggard's Talley studio in Palo Cedro, California. The point is placed at city-centre level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Scientist recorded in Hollywood (2012)

Recording site The Music Grinder (Hollywood) — The Coldplay cover "The Scientist" was recorded at Henson Studios in Hollywood, California, according to the release credits. The point is placed at city-centre level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Heroes is a studio album by American country singer Willie Nelson, released by Legacy Recordings on May 15, 2012
• Produced by Buddy Cannon
• Contains classic country songs, new songs written by Nelson and his son Lukas, and the classic "A Horse Called Music"
• Guest vocalists include Lukas Nelson, Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson, Billy Joe Shaver and Sheryl Crow
• Includes a cover of Coldplay's "The Scientist"

Background

• First album Nelson recorded and released under his new contract with Sony Music
• Originally planned under the title of the track "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die"
• Renamed Heroes because the original name could deter some conservative sales outlets
• Lukas Nelson suggested recording Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe"
• Micah Nelson suggested "Come On Up to the House"
• The album's three covers are Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe", Coldplay's "The Scientist" and Tom Waits' "Come On Up to the House"
• The Coldplay cover gained wider attention after its use in a Chipotle advertisement during Super Bowl XLVI
• Nelson's version of "The Scientist" plays during the closing credits of the 2014 film The Judge

Recording

• Most tracks were recorded by engineer Steve Chadie at Nelson's Pedernales studio in Austin, Texas
• "Hero", "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die" and "Come On Back Jesus" were recorded by Butch Carr at Cannon Productions and Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
• Merle Haggard appears on "A Horse Called Music"
• Sheryl Crow appears on "Come On Up to the House"

Sources: en.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

• Metacritic: "Generally favorable reviews" based on nineteen reviews, final score 70/100
• AllMusic (Stephen Thomas Erlewine): called it "an appealingly misshapen collection of classics, contemporaries, and originals"; said Lukas Nelson's contributions were "a wee bit too much" but that he contributes to a couple of the record's best songs
• Consequence of Sound (Matthew Kauffman Smith): criticized the many collaborations on the album
• Country Music Television (Chet Flippo): said Nelson "never fails to amaze" and that his ear for a good song is as acute as it has ever been
• The Chicago Reader: called it a mixed bag aimed at pop crossover that nonetheless turned out pretty good
• Rolling Stone: rated it three stars out of five; Jody Rosen praised the covers and the original songs
• The Daily Telegraph: rated it four stars out of five; reviewer Neil McCormic wrote that it has a last-will-and-testament quality
• Entertainment Weekly: rated it a B, saying the music is less diverse than Nelson's tastes suggest
• The Independent: praised the guests, singling out "A Horse Called Music" as the best track
• Associated Press (Michael McCall): gave a negative review, saying there is little to separate it from Nelson's other releases apart from the Coldplay cover
• American Songwriter (Jeff Terich): praised Lukas Nelson's songwriting while disdaining the covers

Reappraisal

• Yahoo! Music (Dave DiMartino) and the Toronto Sun (Darry Sterdan) also wrote favorable reviews

Records

• Billboard Top Country Albums: number four
• Billboard 200: number 18
• US debut week sales: 17,000 copies
• UK debut: number 73, with 1,669 copies sold in the week

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album was first titled after the track "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die", and the rename to Heroes came after the team judged the original name could deter conservative sales outlets.
• Lukas Nelson suggested the Pearl Jam cover "Just Breathe", while brother Micah suggested "Come On Up to the House".
• Nelson's version of Coldplay's "The Scientist" plays over the closing credits of the 2014 film The Judge.
• The Coldplay cover drew attention after a Chipotle advertisement aired during Super Bowl XLVI.
• "Just Breathe" and "Come On Back Jesus" were released as singles on Record Store Day 2012, alongside the non-album cut "Can I Sleep In Your Arms".

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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