The Year of Willie

Part Seven of Eight

Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson
Pancho & Lefty
(Epic/Legacy)

In theory, Townes Van Zandt’s cinematic outlaw tale Pancho and Lefty is suited perfectly to the singing styles of Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, and for a moment, their 1982 duet works — that is until Chip Moman’s polished production significantly softens the song’s gruffer edges, turning it into more mainstream country fluff. If commercial aspirations were what the duo had in mind, however, Moman helped to guide another massive success. Pancho and Lefty topped the country charts, while the album that shared its title was ranked within Billboard’s list of the top country releases for nearly two years.

Unlike Nelson’s other 1982 outing Always on My Mind, the rest of Pancho & Lefty isn’t nearly as unimaginative. In fact, it surprisingly plays quite well to the strengths of both Haggard and Nelson, succinctly mining the old-time country and western swing territory where both artists’ catalogues intersect. From Nelson’s creepy, but touchingly heartfelt Half a Man to Haggard’s weary Reasons to Quit to a pair of tunes (Still Water Runs the Deepest and My Life’s Been a Pleasure) penned by Bob Wills’ former fiddler Jesse Ashlock, the set is subtle, yet sophisticated, and although there are better outings in each singer’s past, Pancho & Lefty stands as a welcome reminder as to what country music regularly seems to forget. The addition of Nelson’s solo re-workings of Half a Man and My Own Peculiar Way — two songs to which he repeatedly returned throughout his career — make the reissue even stronger. ½

Part One: To Lefty from Willie

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 Eight: Tougher than Leather