Maps of Music

Shotgun Willie (1973)

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

Nelson wrote the title song on the empty wrapper of a sanitary napkin in a hotel bathroom, and the album was named after that song.

Key places

Where most of the album was recorded (1973)

Recording site Atlantic Studios (New York City) — The album was recorded in February 1973 at Atlantic Studios in New York City, where most of the recordings were made. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Part of the album recorded in Nashville (1973)

Recording site Quad Studios — Parts of the album were recorded at the Quadraphonic studios in Nashville, according to the album's recording account. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Part of the album recorded in Memphis (1973)

Recording site Sam Phillips Recording — Parts of the album were recorded at the Sam Phillips Recording studio in Memphis, according to the album's recording account. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Shotgun Willie: 16th studio album by Willie Nelson
• Released June 11, 1973
• Recorded in February 1973, at Atlantic Studios in New York City
• Atlantic Records release; Nelson moved to the label after leaving RCA
• Marked a change of style for Nelson, who later said the album "cleared his throat"
• Reviewed well but sold poorly on release
• One of the first albums of the outlaw country movement

Background

• Nelson refused an early contract extension with RCA Records in April 1972
• RCA then decided not to release any further recordings by him
• Manager Neil Reshen settled the RCA contract for a return of US$1,400 in overpaid money
• Nelson had moved to Austin, Texas, where the hippie music scene at Armadillo World Headquarters renewed his musical style
• Jerry Wexler, Atlantic vice president, offered Nelson a contract with more creative control than RCA
• Nelson signed with Atlantic for US$25,000 per year and became the label's first country artist

Recording

• Most tracks were made at the Atlantic studio in New York City
• Parts were also recorded at Quadraphonic studios in Nashville and at the Sam Phillips Recording studio in Memphis
• Doug Sahm and his band joined the New York sessions
• Arif Mardin produced most tracks; Wexler and Nashville session musician David Briggs assisted
• Two Bob Wills covers were co-produced by Mardin and Wexler
• Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter took part as musicians and vocalists

Cover

• First album to show Nelson with long hair and a beard on the cover

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.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

• Rolling Stone called the album "flawless" and considered that Nelson "finally demonstrates why he has for so long been regarded as a Country & Western singer-songwriter's singer-songwriter"
• Billboard praised Nelson's narrative writing and singing, saying he had few peers
• Texas Monthly credited producer Jerry Wexler with capturing on record the energy Nelson had in person
• The Fort Worth Star-Telegram said the album "displays unique musical abilities to excellent advantage"
• The Detroit Free Press gave a favorable review, calling the songs written by people-type people
• Good reviews came even though the album sold poorly on release

Reappraisal

• Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that it was Nelson's finest record to that point
• AllMusic described it as laid-back, deceptively complex music, equal parts country, rock attitude, jazz musicianship, and troubadour storytelling
• Biographer Joe Nick Patoski called it Nelson's "creative declaration of independence"

Records

• Peaked at number 41 on Billboard's Top Country Albums
• The singles "Shotgun Willie" and "Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer)" peaked at number 60 and number 22 on Hot Country Songs
• Reissued on CD by Atlantic Records in 1990
• Reissued on CD and LP in 2009, and on LP and digital download in 2021

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Nelson wrote the title song after a recording session, on the empty wrapper of a sanitary napkin.
• The title refers to a nickname Nelson got after a family conflict over domestic abuse, which Nelson's daughter reported to him.
• Atlantic's Jerry Wexler told Nelson to say his new songs would be "art" and "truth" rather than commercial.
• The album's cover was the first to show Nelson with long hair and a beard.
• Leon Russell wrote two songs on the record, "You Look Like the Devil" and "A Song for You".
• Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter took part in the album as musicians and vocalists.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

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