Willie Nelson at 70

Subject: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 02:37 PM

A nice article from CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/15/wkd.willie.nelson.ap/index.html

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: smokeyjoe
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 02:42 PM

I gotta admit, I'm not a fan of his voice/phrasing, but he sure as hell wrote some timeless songs.

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 04:40 PM

Bet he never dreamed he'd have lived this long about 30 years ago!

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 05:51 PM

THE most creative pop musician of my generation......and if ya don't believe me, I'll back it up with hundreds of "Nerd-facts" about the guy's playin' and singin.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 06:33 PM

Great article...two more CDs to add to my wish list. I've always loved his stuff and his delivery.

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 06:37 PM

Rick I bet you can too! Hows about "Crazy"?

That one alone gets my vote ... probably the greatest pop songster of the century!

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Mr Happy
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 10:06 PM

me 2!

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 11:17 PM

Kat, I got the "Crazy, The Demo Sessions" for my birthday (well, I might have dropped some serious hints). It's really interesting hearing these songs before they became hits for others, knowing that Willie was struggling at the time, but you sure could hear what would make Willie famous coming through loud & clear.

Some of the tracks turned up on Teatro, the Daniel Lanois produced CD from a few years ago. Neat hearing the originals.

Rick, I know that you know a lot more Nerd facts than I do, but my ear doesn't lie to me and I've been a Willie fan since I first heard "Stardust". I was about nineteen at the time and into Hendrix, Winter, Dylan etc. But there was just something about Stardust that made sit up and take notice. And I've said it here before if you haven't seen a live Willie performance, you haven't heard Willie.

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 12:43 AM

Just visited Barnes & Noble to buy "Crazy: The Demo Sessions." WELL worth the money--it's been a long time since I've heard unadulterated Willie; just him and his guitar, with an occasional help-out from some other talented musicians (Hank Cochran, Buddy Emmons, "Pig" Robbins, and Jimmy Day, to name a few).

Oddly enough, the blurb says "15 tracks" are on the CD, but my copy actually has 17. "Half a Man" and one I hadn't heard before (!), presumably called "Within Your Crowd." All are good, although my preference is for "Opportunity to Cry" and "Permanently Lonely," and I was disappointed that "Night Life" wasn't there.

Steve, I've got you beat on Willie-listening...I've been a fan of his since I was six years old, and that's now a half-century ago. I even remember him when he really looked like the pictures in the CD's accompanying small booklet...no beard, no pigtail, just one damned well-used face.

Excellent CD! Go buy it!

Lin

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: open mike
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 12:47 AM

ok who is this daniel lanois fellow?'
i ordered a cd of his on recommendation
from a ud catter (clinton hammond?)
when i was searching for a french song
to play on my radio show..his album was
said to be a must have.
He is a producer, too?

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 12:48 AM

Lin,

Wow, you do have me beat. I don't think that this CD is for everyone, but for us Willie nerds it's a real treat.

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 01:48 AM

Several years ago, I visited a little hole-in-the-wall antique/junk shop in Renton, Washington, called "Jake's Miscellany." He had an LP album cover up on his wall, with a handwritten sign under it--"Does Anybody Know This Man?" I had to laugh.

Told him, "Sure, that's Willie Nelson." He said I was the second person who'd recognized him since he put the cover up. (Didn't say how long it had been on the wall, however...)

Must have been about a 1950s album. Willie was wearing one of those Nashville suits of lights: sequins all over, huge lapels; his hair was short (and still red); he was clean-shaven, etc.

I've lost track of the number of albums/CDs I have. They're ALL good!

And I agree, until you've heard him live, you haven't really heard him. Looking for a chance to attend my fourth live concert this year. Hope he makes a venue somewhere in this general vicinity; my "Vote for Willie for President and Paul English for Vice" T-shirt is beginning to wear out!

Lin

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 03:43 AM

Went to the Horseshoe Tavern in 1966 and saw him. Shiny suit, Green Baldwin (335 style) guitar and two-channel Baldwin amp. He sang mostly Hank Williams songs. He probably did a few of his, but I wouldn't have recognized them. Interesting evening, but not terribly memorable.

Saw him years later at The Canadian National Exhibition with Waylon, Jesse and Kris......GREAT show! My partner of five years broke up with me during that show!

Rick

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 08:08 AM

open mike,

I think it's safe to say that Daniel Lanois is better known as a producer than a performer. Best known for his work with U2, but in recent years has produced Dylan's "Time Out Of Mind", Emmylou Harris's "Wrecking Ball" and Willie's "Teatro".

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: ddw
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 06:29 PM

Jeez, Rickk, you slay me. You remember what he wore, what guitar and amp he used and what he sang. If it had been a memorable evening, would you remember how many beers you had and how many times you peed?

LOL

david

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 06:58 PM

Yes David.

Actually, what I would have remembered would have been the songs......I have no memory of them. I only saw one set. Perhaps he did Crazy and Nitelife in the next one.

The Baldwin amp was a fifty watt two channel job....I bought one years later.....not because of Willy.....hated it!

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: mutineer
Date: 17 Apr 03 - 12:30 AM

Has anyone heard the new duet he recorded with Toby Keith - 'Beer for my Horses'????
It kicks arse!

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 03 - 01:14 AM

Nelson's new album, The Great Divide, has a song called "Mendocino County Line," with Lee Ann Womack. I don't know much about country music, except that she seems to have her feet firmly on the ground. For all of the awards and recognition she receives, she still teaches science at my daughter's high school in Fort Worth.

SRS

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 03 - 07:26 AM

"Steve, I've got you beat on Willie-listening...I've been a fan of his since I was six years old, and that's now a half-century ago. I even remember him when he really looked like the pictures in the CD's accompanying small booklet...no beard, no pigtail, just one damned well-used face."

You've got everybody beat on Willie-listening. Other than one obscure, local single in the late 1950's, Willie's career began in the early 1960's, and that's about a decade off from a half-century.

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 18 Apr 03 - 12:22 AM

If you grew up in Texas, you heard him earlier than that. But thanks for checking...

Lin

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Strick
Date: 18 Apr 03 - 03:50 PM

My brother-in-law still tells the story of going into a small club in San Antoino in the late 50s and having Willie come out in a shiny suit with the skinny tie to introduce himself to each of the 4 people in the audience.

I'm a fan of the works, his songs, his phrasing and this guitar work. Willie's a national treasure.

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: PoppaGator
Date: 18 Apr 03 - 04:15 PM

Willie's career in the national spotlight extends back past the 60s and into the 50s *if* you count his contributions as a songwriter, not just as a performer. In fact, some of his greatest and best-know compositions date back to those earliest days. (E.g., "Crazy," recorded by Patsy Cline.)

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Apr 03 - 04:43 PM

Willie Nelson is so downright wonderful that it defies description. He's untouchable (except by women...a cast of thousands of 'em! :-))

His book "Willie" is a great biography, full of amusing anecdotes about an extraordinary life. If you haven't read it, do so.

I'll also grab this opportunity to recommend Joan Baez's autobiography, "A Voice To Sing With". Best musical lifestory I have ever read, period. She has a whole lot of class, and a whole lot of courage.

- LH

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 18 Apr 03 - 05:46 PM

Little Hawk--

The pictures alone i9n Willie's book are priceless. And I have the definite impression that it's truly his writing, not a ghostwriter's interpretation--funny stories, too. :>)

Lin

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Apr 03 - 06:50 PM

"Willie's career in the national spotlight extends back past the 60s and into the 50s *if* you count his contributions as a songwriter, not just as a performer. In fact, some of his greatest and best-know compositions date back to those earliest days. (E.g., "Crazy," recorded by Patsy Cline.)"

Wrong again, Poppa Gator.

Willie wrote "Crazy" for Patsy Cline in 1961. The newly released CD of his demos has the 1961 demo that Patsy heard.

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Apr 03 - 06:53 PM

http://www.sugarhillrecords.com/catalog/pagemaker.cgi?1073

Subject: Review: Happy 70th Willie!
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 30 Apr 03 - 05:34 PM

Not a review, but there is not a subject for Birthday. Good on Willie Nelson for reaching 70. He has had his guitar for about 35 years. I believe it is the only one he plays, but I might be wrong. Anyway, he says he thinks it has aged better than he has!

His guitar has three holes in it. Don't know whether he counts the sound hole in, but he says it has a better tone with all the holes. He has it reinforced to help keep it's integrity. Also note that it is strung with nylon strings instead of wire ones. A real luthiers' nightmare! He really gets those nice sounding low Tex Mex border tones though. Style points to anyone who knows the name of his guitar.

Being an evening worker, I particularly like his song 'Night Life'. Yeah, the night life ain't no life, but it's my life. I've seen the clock say 3:00AM many times.

He used to play stand up bass on the road for Ray Price (who BTW is/was Cherokee). That is where he got a lot of his road experience, I guess. Willie sure likes the traveling.

Here's to a few more miles and many more years Willie!

Os'da Utugi buddy.

W.E.

---

I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 30 Apr 03 - 10:08 PM

Walking Eagle,

Trigger. How many style points do I get?

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 30 Apr 03 - 11:40 PM

Oh, I guess a gazillion will do! It all depends on how tall you are and if your are single (@};->)!

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 30 Apr 03 - 11:49 PM

6'0, married.

I'm really enjoying Crazy, The Demo Sessions.

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Kaleea
Date: 01 May 03 - 02:52 AM

I heard some of the "Demo Sessions" on the radio a few weeks back, & thought it was funny to me that people are just now "discovering" the marvelous torch-singer aspect of Mr. Nelson & his songs. The songs weren't "Country" enough at the time in the 60's, but they are terrific & stand the test of time!
    Now for the real question--how old is that holey guitar?!!

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Hrothgar
Date: 01 May 03 - 03:31 AM

Has he paid all his taxes yet?

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 01 May 03 - 08:20 AM

Yes, the IRS thing was cleared up long ago.

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 01 May 03 - 05:04 PM

Kaleea, according to the FAQs on Willie's home page, he's had Trigger about 35 years.

Lin

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: GUEST,Miki D (Nevada)
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 11:33 PM

I think Willie is timeless! First time I saw him was in Amarillo Texas. Necktie, Suit and all. Performing for the Air Force basic trainees. Loved him then, loved him during all the turmoil of the 80's and 90's, love him even more now. Now I'm a gramma who still would give her eye teeth for a visit with MY MAN!! Timeless voice, timeless lyrics, and just a darn sweetie all around. Even got a kiss on the cheek in Reno at a concert at UNR onetime. Hey we all gotta dream specially when we hit the late 50's. God Bless ya Willie, and if your are ever near Lovelock Nevada, we wanta hear from ya!1

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 12:17 AM

This is an old thread and I notice some of the posters are gone gone gone. Anywho you are right there about Willie! one of the greatest songwriters of our time no doubt about it.

BTW he still playing that old Spanish Guitar! What a story, it must be told one day soon!

:0)

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 05:34 AM

I just like him

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: kendall
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 05:55 AM

I read somewhere that Fred Rose wrote Blue Eyes Crying in the rain.
Willy does a good job, but he always sounds like he needs to blow his nose.

Subject: RE: Willie Nelson at 70
From: fat B****rd
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 06:44 AM

Great South Bank Show (UK TV) the other week.