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Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2008 > February > 17 > Entry
Ten essential Willie Nelson songs
“Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain” (1975) Willie’s first number one single and the reason why “The Red Headed Stranger” is often considered his masterpiece.
“Angel Flying Too Close To the Ground” (1980) Perhaps the great one’s greatest lyrics, this live staple (from “Honeysuckle Rose”) also inspires his most expressionist guitar playing. This is the song that made Amy Irving fall for Willie.
“Georgia On My Mind” (1978) Only Willie would take this kind of chance- recording an album of standards when he’s finally climbed to the top of country music. And only Willie would come out of it with his best-selling album ever. “Georgia” was a smash from “Stardust.”
“Always On My Mind” (1982) Nelson wraps a red bandanna around this song and makes it his own.
“On the Road Again” (1980) Willie’s philosophy set to music.
“Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” (1977) In a coin flip with “Good-Hearted Woman” from Willie’s mid-70s heyday.
“In God’s Eyes” (1973) Representing both Willie’s spiritual side and the brilliant concept LP “Yesterday’s Wine,” the precursor to “Red Headed Stranger.”
“The Party’s Over” (1967) Immortalized as Don Meredith’s version of “Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye” during the glory years of “Monday Night Football.”
“You Don’t Know Me” (2004) The standout track of Willie’s Cindy Walker tribute album also pays homage to his old friend Ray Charles.
“Night Life” (1965) Ray Price did the definitive version of Willie’s cowboy blues classic (which bombed on the charts), but it’s always great to hear it from the man who wrote it.
TELL US: Which Willie Nelson songs can you not live without?
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By wniaomm
February 17, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
“Still is still moving to me”!
By Clem Brown
February 17, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
I do miss Willie including “BLOODY MARY MORNING” in his regular live performances. I’m crazy about all his original songs but am most fond of his covers of old gospel favorites as heard on Willie and Bobbie Nelson’s CD “FARTHER ALONG.”
By PATRICIA
February 17, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
ALL OF THE ABOVE AND THEN SOME. HOWEVER HIS MOST RECENT “MOMENT OF FOREVER” WRITTEN BY KRIS KRISTOFFERSON & DANNY TIMMS, IS WITHOUT A DOUBT ONE OF HIS FINEST. IF I MIGHT ADD, RIGHT UP THERE WITH “BLUE EYES”. HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIS MOST RECENT ALBUM, WITH THE SAME NAME. THE MAN IS AN ABSOLUTE PERFECTIONIST ON THIS ONE.
By Eric
February 17, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
Willie is a great interpreter of others songs, but his best work are with those he wrote.
Family Bible Crazy Funny How Time Slips Away Night Life Healing Hands of Time Angel Flying to Close to the Ground In God’s Eyes Yesterday’s Wine On the Road Again My Own Peculiar Way
By tranz
February 17, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
hey all great songs just wanted to note that “You Don’t Know Me” The Songs of Cindy Walker is a 2006 album not a 2004. :)
By Bull
February 18, 2008 12:17 AM | Link to this
There is not a song that Willie has done that I don’t like. He is the best there is, was or ever will be in country music. My personal favorite is “It’s Not Suppose To Be That Way” written by Willie
By Paul W Dennis
February 18, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this
an alternative list
1) “Darkness On The Face of the Earth” - never a single but a great song 2) “Undo The Right” Johnny Bush’s version is better but Willie’s is good , too 3) “Bloody Mary Morning” - we’ve all had one of these, nicht wahr? 4) “What A Way To Live” - again the Johnny Bush recording is better but Willie also gets to the essense of the song. These first four songs are what Willie writes better than anyone else - songs of depair 5) “Faded Love” - this Bob Wills classic recorded with Ray Price and Crystal Gayle is country harmony at its very finest 6) “Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain” - this one wasn’t written by Willie (it was written by Fred Rose and recorded in the 1940s by Hank Williams and by Roy Acuff but Willie certainly nailed it.
7) “Family Bible” - the hit was by Claude Gray but Willie’s own version of a song he wrote (and sold) captures the right blend of reverence and nostalgia
8) “Lily Dale” with Darrell McCall - another great ballad. Willie’s real forte as a vocalist is ballads, not the outlaw country nonsense
9) “On the Road Again” (1980) - okay - so he can do uptempo
10) “You Don’t Know Me” - a loving tribute to the music of old friend Cindy Walker
Willie’s not nearly my favorite performer but he has put together a catalogue of good performances, along with relatively few clinkers
By Jeff J
February 19, 2008 1:56 AM | Link to this
So many Willie favorites…so little space. Some you’ll remember, some you may not. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Me & Bobby McGee, The Most Unoriginal Sin, Amazing Grace, I Never Cared For You, Walkin’, Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer), If You’ve Got The Money (I’ve Got The Time), Heaven & Hell, Pick Up The Tempo, Yesterday’s Wine, Me & Paul, Goin’ Home, I Thought About You, Lord, The Maker, Somebody Pick Up My Pieces, Always On My Mind, Gravedigger, Faded Love (w/ Ray Price).
By SW
February 19, 2008 6:43 AM | Link to this
I think “Whiskey River” could sneak in somewhere around 5 or 6