The Year of Willie

Part One of Eight

It’s possible that 2003 will become known as "the year of Willie," and despite Senator Hillary Clinton’s new book dredging up topics better left forgotten, this Willie has nothing to do with the vast right-wing conspiracy. No, this Willie is Willie Nelson, one of the biggest country artists of all-time. The onslaught began back in January — although it would also be easy to make the case that it actually began back in the 1970s as he’s issued multiple albums and compilations in more years than not — with the release of Crazy: The Demo Sessions, a terrific collection of recently discovered, very early material. Since then, Nelson has added a live concert recording and DVD (Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin’), a new collaboration with Ray Price (Run That by Me One More Time), two greatest hits sets (Columbia’s The Essential Willie Nelson and RCA’s Platinum & Gold Collection), and five remastered reissues (To Lefty from Willie, Willie and Family Live, Honeysuckle Rose, San Antonio Rose, and Yesterday’s Wine). That’s just through August, and there’s more to come. Thank goodness, it’s nearly impossible to tire of hearing Nelson’s music. His catalog is so diverse that one can sustain oneself for quite some time before needing to look elsewhere for musical fulfillment. Here’s a brief glimpse at several of the recent reissues, each of which showcases a different side of Nelson’s complex persona:

Willie Nelson
To Lefty from Willie
(Columbia/Legacy)

Willie Nelson is not merely a stellar songwriter, he’s also a masterful interpreter of other people’s works. Perhaps there is no better example in all of his vast catalog than To Lefty from Willie, a tribute to his pal and fellow Texan Lefty Frizzell. Originally recorded in 1975 — the same year Nelson released the classic concept album Red Headed Stranger — the project was shelved for two years after Frizzell’s untimely death because Nelson didn’t want to appear as if he was trying to capitalize upon it.

At the time, Nelson was on quite a roll, too. The 1970s yielded his most consistent string of albums, and To Lefty from Willie was no exception, even if it is an oft-overlooked effort. The ten-song set was graceful and easy going, sounding as much like a Nelson outing as it did a tribute to Frizzell. The subtle instrumentation blended his trademark guitar with piano, harmonica, drums, and bass, all of which served to gently underscore the songs, placing the emphasis where it belonged — on Nelson’s emotive vocals. From the profession of love and affection on I Love You a Thousand Ways and Mom and Dad’s Waltz to the heartbreak of Always Late (with Your Kisses), Nelson was as comfortable as could be, filling each tune with raw, honest emotion. Without a doubt, To Lefty from Willy was a labor of love, but it also turned out to be the one of the finest collections of Frizzell’s songs ever compiled. The reissue includes a single bonus track — a short, but intense rendition of If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time.  

Part Two: Willie and Family Live

Part Three: San Antonio Rose

Part Four: Honeysuckle Rose

Part Five: Willie Nelson's Greatest Hits (& Some That Will Be)

Part Six: Always on My Mind

Part Seven: Pancho & Lefty

Part Eight: Tougher than Leather