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To Lefty from Willie (1977)

Where the lyrics of To Lefty from Willie take you, and where it was really made.

Willie Nelson's tribute to Lefty Frizzell was recorded in 1975 but sat in Columbia Records' vaults until 1977.

Key places

Recorded in Dallas (1977)

Recording site Luminous Sound — The album was recorded at January Sound in Dallas, Texas, in 1975. The point sits at city-center level, so the exact studio building is not pinned here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• To Lefty from Willie: studio album by American country singer Willie Nelson
• Tribute to fellow country singer Lefty Frizzell
• Recorded in 1975, then held in Columbia Records' vaults until 1977
• Released June 1977 by Columbia Records
• Discogs notes that the release date of the CD is unknown
• The CD copy carries the notice © 1977 CBS Inc.

Background

• Recorded in 1975 and shelved for about two years before release
• Willie Nelson is credited on guitar and vocals
• Other musicians: Jody Payne (guitar), Bee Spears (bass), Bobbie Nelson (piano), Rex Ludwig and Paul English (drums), Mickey Raphael (harmonica)

Recording

• Recording location: January Sound in Dallas, Texas (city-level point only)
• Recorded in 1975

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com · es.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 June 1977 by Columbia Records
• Recorded in 1975 and held in the vaults until 1977
• Spanish article: tribute to Lefty Frizzell that includes versions of his hits
• Italian and Spanish articles both describe it as Willie Nelson's 21st studio album

Reappraisal

• AllMusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine is linked as an external reference
• Track listing has ten songs, and Frizzell is credited as a writer on seven of them
• Spanish article names two Frizzell hits covered here: "I Never Go Around Mirrors" and "That's the Way Love Goes"

Records

• US country albums chart: number 2
• Billboard 200: number 91
• Discogs notes that the CD release date is unknown

Sources: es.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album is a tribute to Lefty Frizzell, and the tracklist includes several of his songs
• Frizzell's hits "I Never Go Around Mirrors" and "That's the Way Love Goes" are covered here
• Recorded in Dallas, Texas, at January Sound
• The album was held back for about two years after the 1975 sessions
• Mickey Raphael plays harmonica on the record

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

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