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I Don't Know a Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard (2023)

Where the lyrics of I Don't Know a Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard take you, and where it was really made.

The songwriter honored on this tribute album, Harlan Howard, was the man who gave Willie Nelson his first job as a songwriter.

Key places

Recorded at Sound Emporium, Nashville (2023)

Recording site Sound Emporium Studios — The album was recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The pin marks the studio's building address. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded near Spicewood, Texas (2023)

Recording site Pedernales Studio — The album was also recorded at Pedernales Recording Studio near Spicewood, Texas. The pin is set at the town center, so the exact studio building is not shown. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• I Don't Know a Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard is the 73rd solo studio album by Willie Nelson
• Released March 3, 2023
• Tribute album to songwriter Harlan Howard
• Collection of ten songs originally written by Howard and performed by Nelson
• Produced by Buddy Cannon
• Cover art by Nelson's son, Micah

Background

• Howard gave Nelson his first job as a songwriter for the publishing company Pamper Music
• Album released on the 21st anniversary of Howard's death
• Nelson released the single "Busted" on January 17, 2023, before the album came out
• "Busted" is one of the ten songs on the album, written by Howard

Recording

• Recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
• Pedernales Recording Studio in Spicewood, Texas is also listed as a recording site
• Personnel include Mickey Raphael on harmonica, Lonnie Wilson on drums, and Larry Paxton on bass
• Bobby Terry and James Mitchell are credited on guitars

Cover

• Cover art by Micah, Nelson's son

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · 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

• Released March 3, 2023, on the 21st anniversary of Howard's death
• Metacritic: 84 out of 100 from four reviews, indicating "universal acclaim"
• Critics gave the album positive reviews overall

Reappraisal

• Liz Thomson of The Arts Desk called the album "a real doozy" and praised Howard's irresistible songs, the musicianship and Nelson's remarkably secure voice
• Stephen Thomas Erlewine at AllMusic praised Nelson's voice; the arrangements held few surprises, which put the focus on the "ace band"
• No Depression concluded that Nelson still delivers the goods even when the songs come out of his mouth instead of his head
• Tom Dunne of The Irish Examiner listed the album among his six favorite albums of the year so far in mid-April 2023

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Released on the 21st anniversary of Howard's death, March 3, 2023
• The single "Busted" came out on January 17, 2023, before the album
• The track list includes "Streets of Baltimore," credited to Tompall Glaser and Howard
• Cover art is by Nelson's son, Micah
• The album was made in a year when Nelson returned to the songs of a writer who had launched his songwriting career

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

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