Maps of Music

Remember Me, Vol. 1 (2011)

Where the lyrics of Remember Me, Vol. 1 take you, and where it was really made.

A conversation about one cigarette song, and a producer's memory of his mother smoking while it played, set off this covers album by Willie Nelson.

Key places

Vocals added at Pedernales (2011)

Recording site Pedernales Studio — Stroud traveled here after the Nashville sessions to add Nelson's voice to the tracks. The point is set at Spicewood city center, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Backing tracks cut in Nashville (2011)

Recording site Nashville — Stroud recorded the backing tracks here with Nashville studio musicians before Nelson's vocals were added in Texas. The point refers to the city of Nashville. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Remember Me, Vol. 1 is the 59th studio album by Willie Nelson
• Released November 21, 2011
• Collects 14 country hits picked from Billboard's country hits of the last 70 years
• Covers a selection of country hits from roughly the last seven decades, summarizing the history of the genre

Background

• Nelson and producer James Stroud decided to record an album that summarizes country music history through different hits
• The idea came while Stroud and Nelson talked about Tex Williams' 'Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)'
• Stroud recalled hearing the song for the first time and seeing his mother smoking while it played
• Nelson liked the anecdote and then suggested recording the album
• The pair first drew up a list of 75 songs, later narrowed to 32
• They chose the key and the songs that could best suit Nelson's style

Recording

• Stroud went to Nashville and cut the tracks with studio musicians
• He later traveled to Nelson's Pedernales studio in Austin, Texas to add Nelson's voice to the recordings
• The 14 songs were taken from the sessions with Stroud that produced 32 songs
• The remaining songs were scheduled for a Remember Me, Vol. 2 release in 2012
• The recordings for Vol. 2 have yet to surface

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

• Los Angeles Times: positive review, saying producer James Stroud wrapped Nelson's elastic voice in tasty, traditional arrangements
• USA Today: said the concept sounds fail-safe but covers are tricky to make engaging, and that Nelson succeeds more often than not
• Rolling Stone: rated the album 2.5 out of 5, criticizing stiff arrangements from an overstuffed band of Nashville pros
• Country Weekly: said the album offers straightforward takes on 14 tunes, though fans of Willie at his most freewheeling may find it a bit tame
• AllMusic: rated the album 3.5 out of 5, noting it is backed by some of Nashville's finest session musicians
• Nashville Country Club: rated the album 4 out of 5 and said it stays true to Nelson's classic style
• Times Record News: praised the backing arrangements as clean, tight and hot, thanks to top Nashville studio pickers
• Democrat and Chronicle: said this collection of 14 old country classics works much better than expected

Records

• Billboard Top Country Albums: number 40
• Billboard Top Independent Albums: number 37

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album grew out of a conversation about Tex Williams' hit 'Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)'
• Stroud recalled seeing his mother smoking while the song was being played
• Nelson liked the anecdote and then suggested the album
• The rest of the songs from the sessions were scheduled for Remember Me, Vol. 2 in 2012, but the recordings have yet to surface
• Mickey Raphael plays harmonica and Chris Collins makes a guest appearance on the album
• The album drew mixed reviews on release

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact