Maps of Music

Let's Face the Music and Dance (2013)

Where the lyrics of Let's Face the Music and Dance take you, and where it was really made.

Most of this album is old standards that Willie Nelson and his sister Bobbie played since childhood, and Bobbie plays piano on it.

Key places

Nelson's Pedernales studio (2013)

Recording site Pedernales Studio — The album was recorded at Nelson's Pedernales studio in Austin, Texas. The dot sits at the Spicewood city center, the place listed for this studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Mixing in Nashville (2013)

Recording site Nashville — The album was later mixed by Butch Carr at Budro Music Repair Shop in Nashville, Tennessee. The dot marks Nashville's city center, not the shop's building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Let's Face the Music and Dance: 61st studio album by American country singer-songwriter Willie Nelson
• Second album under Nelson's contract with Legacy Recordings
• Released April 16, 2013
• Produced by Buddy Cannon
• Collection of pop, jazz, rock, and country music standards

Background

• Standards that Nelson and his sister Bobbie played during childhood and throughout their careers
• Album centers on Nelson's musical relation with Bobbie
• Set includes a new version of Nelson's original "Is the Better Part Over" from his 1989 album A Horse Called Music

Recording

• Recorded at Nelson's Pedernales studio in Austin, Texas
• Later mixed by Butch Carr at Budro Music Repair Shop in Nashville, Tennessee
• Personnel: Willie Nelson on acoustic guitar and lead vocals; Bobbie Nelson on piano; Mickey Raphael on harmonica; Paul English on snare drums and gut string guitar; Jim "Moose" Brown on Hammond B-3 organ; Micah Nelson on charango and percussion; Kevin Smith on upright bass

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

• AllMusic: three stars out of five, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine praising the musicality and describing Nelson and The Family's sound as one seamless unit
• The Austin Chronicle: three stars out of five, referring to Nelson's upcoming birthday and calling the album an exquisitely contemplative turn into 80
• Exclaim!: praised Nelson's guitar playing and described the band as a small combo playing songs as timeless as his voice
• Daily Record: favored his guitar playing as well as his voice, and noted his recent tendency to feature covers instead of original songwriting
• Popmatters: praised Nelson's coordination with the band, calling the record a welcome effort that is comfortable, graceful, and uniformly pleasant

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Album draws on standards that Nelson and his sister Bobbie played through their childhood and careers
• Set includes a new version of Nelson's own "Is the Better Part Over", originally on the 1989 album A Horse Called Music
• Daily Record noted Nelson's recent tendency to favor covers over original songs
• The Austin Chronicle referred to Nelson's upcoming birthday in its review

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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