Shotgun Willie is the 16th studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson, released on June 11, 1973. The recording marks a change of style for Nelson, who later stated that the album "cleared his throat". When Nelson refused to sign an early extension of his contract with RCA Records in 1972, the label decided not to release any further recordings. Nelson hired Neil Reshen as his manager, and while Reshen negotiated with RCA, Nelson moved to Austin, Texas, where the ongoing hippie music scene at the Armadillo World Headquarters renewed his musical style. In Nashville, Nelson met producer Jerry Wexler, vice president of Atlantic Records, who was interested in his music. Reshen solved the problems with RCA and signed Nelson with Atlantic as their first country music artist.
The album was recorded in the Atlantic Studios in New York City in February 1973. Nelson and his backup musicians, the Family, were joined by Doug Sahm and his band. After recording several tracks, Nelson was still not inspired. Following a recording session, he wrote "Shotgun Willie"—the song that would become the title track of the album—on the empty packaging of a sanitary napkin while in the bathroom of his hotel room. The album, produced mostly by Arif Mardin with assistance from Wexler and longtime Neil Young collaborator David Briggs, included covers of two Bob Wills songs—"Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)" and "Bubbles in My Beer"—that were co-produced by Wexler. Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter collaborated on the album, providing vocals and guitar.
In spite of poor sales, Shotgun Willie received good reviews and gained Nelson major recognition with younger audiences. The recording was one of the first albums of outlaw country—a new subgenre of country music and an alternative to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound, the dominant style in the genre at the time.
^Freeman, Doug (October 30, 2020). "Jerry Jeff Walker Brought the Magic". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
ShotgunWillie is the 16th studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson, released on June 11, 1973. The recording marks a change...
restrictions of the Nashville sound. The critical success of his album ShotgunWillie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed...
She's Not For You She's Still Gone (Shirley Nelson) Shelter Of My Arms ShotgunWillie Sister's Coming Home Sit On My Lap Sitting Here In Limbo (Written by...
session. She joined Willie Nelson on the piano during his sessions with Atlantic Records, that produced The Troublemaker, ShotgunWillie and Phases and Stages...
Waltzes may refer to: "Sad Songs and Waltzes", a song by Willie Nelson from his 1973 album ShotgunWillie Sad Songs and Waltzes, a 1982 album by Keith Whitley...
singer-songwriter Willie Nelson, released in March 1974. It followed the moderate success of his first Atlantic Records release, ShotgunWillie. Nelson met...
Country music singer Willie Nelson, besides a varied musical career, has appeared in many films since his debut in The Electric Horseman (1979). His highlights...
band in 1973 when he recorded the LP ShotgunWillie in New York's Atlantic Studios with Jerry Wexler, but Willie Nelson and Family followed the same production...
detailed discography of all singles released by American singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. A total of 25 Nelson singles have reached number one on music charts...
nominations received by Willie Nelson. Willie Nelson is an American country musician whose critical success with the albums ShotgunWillie, Phases and Stages...
Harris Charles Kelley (two alongside Lady A) Martina McBride Darius Rucker Willie Nelson 2 Jason Aldean Breland Luke Combs Florida Georgia Line For King &...
is a detailed discography of all albums released by country music singer Willie Nelson, since his professional debut in 1962. Nelson's discography includes...
cover and was originally written and recorded by Willie Nelson in 1973 on his album ShotgunWillie. The song "I Will Survive" is also found on Fashion...
The Willie Way is the 15th studio album by country singer Willie Nelson. This was also the last album of new material released by RCA Records before Nelson's...
The Willie Nelson Family is a collaborative studio album by Willie Nelson, his sons Lukas and Micah, his daughters Paula and Amy and his sister Bobbie...
on her 1972 album Foxy Lady. 1973 – Willie Nelson sang a solo acoustic guitar version for his album ShotgunWillie, using his famous guitar Trigger. With...
the label. His first album with Atlantic was the critically acclaimed ShotgunWillie, which was followed by one of the first concept albums in country music...
b-side. Willie Nelson first recorded "Whiskey River" for the album ShotgunWillie in 1973. In 1978, a recording from Nelson's live album Willie and Family...
Album) (2016) Willie Nelson – Yesterday's Wine (1971) Willie Nelson – ShotgunWillie (1973) Willie Nelson – Phases and Stages (1974) Willie Nelson – Red...
Lose (1966) Ernest Tubb, Baby It's So Hard to Be Good (1972) Willie Nelson, ShotgunWillie (1973) Bob Wills, For the Last Time (1974) Johnny Gimble, Texas...
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