Willie Nelson - Shotgun Willie (1973/2014)

Transferring his allegiance to Atlantic (where he would record two remarkable albums that would get him kicked off the label), Willie Nelson offered his finest record to date for his debut – possibly his finest album ever. Shotgun Willie encapsulates Willie's world view and music, finding him at a peak as a composer, interpreter, and performer. This is laid-back, deceptively complex music, equal parts country, rock attitude, jazz musicianship, and troubadour storytelling. Nelson blurs the lines between his own tunes and covers to the point that "Whiskey River," this record's best-known song, seems thoroughly original, yet it was written by Johnny Bush and Paul Stroud. This, along with two songs apiece by Leon Russell and Bob Wills, provides context for his originals, with Shotgun Willie becoming a musical autobiography, offering not only insights into his musicality (witness how he slows down "Stay All Night [Stay a Little Longer]" to a slow shuffle) but, seemingly, into himself (most notably on the title track and the wonderful, funny travelogue "Devil in a Sleepin' Bag"). Nelson wasn't just at a peak of performing here – he also wrote some of his greatest songs, highlighted not just by the previously mentioned tunes but also by the lovely slow waltz "Slow Down Old World" and "Sad Songs and Waltzes." All of it adds up to possibly the finest record in a career filled with hits and highlights. Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

TRACKLIST
01 Shotgun Willie 2:41
02 Whiskey River 4:02
03 Sad Songs And Waltzes 3:06
04 Local Memory 2:18
05 Slow Down Old World 2:49
06 Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer) 2:32
07 Devil In A Sleepin' Bag 2:38
08 She's Not For You 3:12
09 Bubbles In My Beer 2:32
10 You Look Like The Devil 3:28
11 So Much To Do 3:11
12 A Song For You 4:23

BAND
Willie Nelson – vocals, acoustic guitar
Steve Burgh – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
James Clayton Day – dobro, pedal steel guitar, background vocals
Bobbie Nelson – piano
Mickey Raphael – harmonica
Jeff Gutcheon – electric piano, organ
Dan Spears, Hugh McDonald, Jack Barber – bass
Paul English, Steve Mosley, George Rains – drums
Wayne Jackson – trumpet
Andrew Love – tenor sax
James Mitchell, Willie Bridges – baritone sax
Jack Hale – trombone
Dave Bromberg, John Goldthwaite – electric guitar
Dee Moeller, Larry Gatlin, Jessi Colter – background vocals
Arif Mardin – string arrangement
Doug Sahm – electric guitar, background vocals
Waylon Jennings – acoustic guitar, background vocals
Augie Meyers – acoustic guitar
Johnny Gimble – fiddle
Jimmy Day – pedal steel guitar
Red Lane – acoustic guitar
Donny Hathaway – string arrangement