Willie Nelson Archives - Page 4 of 9

The Saga of Willie Nelson’s Guitar

This short 12-minute film from Rolling Stone tells the story of Willie Nelson’s famous guiar, Trigger. In The Tale of Trigger, Nelson recounts how he acquired the guitar, why he named it “Trigger” (after Roy Rogers’s horse, of course), and how he started collecting autographs on it. The video follows the important role that the Martin N-20 acoustic guitar played in his career.

One of my favorite parts of my favorite Willie Nelson’s albums is his recognizable guitar sound. Now, The Tale of Trigger tells us a little more about the five-decade relationship involving one of the most important guitars in country music history. Check it out.

What is your favorite Trigger appearance? Leave your two cents in the comments.

Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp Sing “Night Life”

When is Mickey Newbury’s “33rd of August”?

That Time Willie Nelson Got a Little Emotional Singing with Leon Russell and Ray Charles

Internet Venom, Toby Keith’s Death, . . . and Grace from Willie Nelson

Karen O and Willie Nelson Record “Under Pressure” (Pandemic Song of the Day)

When the World Seems to be Spinnin’ Hopelessly Out of Control

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Willie and Bobbie Nelson: “Who’ll Buy My Memories?”

Willie Nelson is releasing a new album, December Day, which features Nelson working with his sister Bobbie Nelson on a mix of songs that includes covers, classics, deep cuts, and new songs. One of the songs on the album is “Who’ll Buy My Memories?” a song referencing the IRS’s seizure of Nelson’s property for back taxes, although it also is a universal song about aging. The song first appeared on Nelson’s The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories?

Check out the video for the new version of “Who’ll Buy My Memories?”

December Day: Willie’s Stash, Vol. 1 will be released December 2.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

When is Mickey Newbury’s “33rd of August”?

That Time Willie Nelson Got a Little Emotional Singing with Leon Russell and Ray Charles

Internet Venom, Toby Keith’s Death, . . . and Grace from Willie Nelson

Karen O and Willie Nelson Record “Under Pressure” (Pandemic Song of the Day)

When the World Seems to be Spinnin’ Hopelessly Out of Control

Willie Nelson: “Immigrant Eyes”

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Buy from Amazon

Willie Nelson and Engelbert Humperdinck: “Make You Feel My Love”

Engelbert Humperdinck recently released a new album of duets, Engelbert Calling (2014). On one of the tracks, Willie Nelson joins Humperdinck on “Make You Feel My Love,” a song that Chimesfreedom has discussed as one of Bob Dylan’s Late Career Classics.

This collaboration is somewhat unusual. I am guessing this recording is one of those duets you are either going to love or hate, so check it out and judge for yourself.

Other artists that appear on Engelbert Calling include Elton John, Cliff Richards, Shelby Lynne, Dionne Warwick, and Il Divo.

What do you think of the combination of Nelson and Humperdinck on a Dylan song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

When is Mickey Newbury’s “33rd of August”?

That Time Willie Nelson Got a Little Emotional Singing with Leon Russell and Ray Charles

Internet Venom, Toby Keith’s Death, . . . and Grace from Willie Nelson

Elton John’s Tribute to John Lennon: Where is the Garden of the “Empty Garden”?

Karen O and Willie Nelson Record “Under Pressure” (Pandemic Song of the Day)

When the World Seems to be Spinnin’ Hopelessly Out of Control

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Buy from Amazon

The First Farm Aid

On September 22, 1985, the first “Farm Aid” was held in Champaign, Illinois. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp organized the benefit concert for struggling American farmers. Performers at that concert included a broad range of performers, including Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Hoyt Axton, Don Henley, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Billy Joel, Waylon Jennings, John Denver, Loretta Lynn, Joni Mitchell, Charley Pride, Sammy Hagar, George Jones, and Lou Reed.

Reportedly, the idea for Farm Aid began when Bob Dylan played at Live Aid earlier in the year in July and suggested some of the money from that concert should go to American farmers. While some — including Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof — were upset that Dylan exploited the stage of a worldwide televised concert in support of African famine relief to focus on Americans, other artists used the comment as inspiration for the Farm Aid concert. And Farm Aid benefit concerts continue to this day.

That September 22 in 1985, the performers did not know that the work would continue for decades. But they joyously sang and played to try to give something back. Below is one of the performances that day in Illinois, featuring Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, and Dottie West singing “City of New Orleans.”

What is your favorite Farm Aid performance? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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Willie and Merle Are “Missing Ol’ Johnny Cash”

Cowboy Jack Clement: “I Guess Things Happen That Way”

Devil’s Right Hand Arrest in New York City

Thanksgiving with Marty Stuart: The Pilgrim

Taxi Driver Music: “The Pilgrim, Chapter 33”

Van Morrison: Til I Gain Control Again

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

“It Ain’t You” From Ray Benson and Willie Nelson (Song of the Day)

Bismeaux Records earlier this year released a second solo album from Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel. The new album, A Little Piece, features the song “It Ain’t You” with Willie Nelson.

TwangNation explains that Benson and Nelson have been friends for more than forty years, going back to when Nelson advised Benson to move to Austin in 1973. Benson explains that he could not believe that nobody had yet covered the song written by Waylon Jennings and Gary Nicholson. He asked Nelson to record it with him because, “The song is about growing old and yet feeling and acting young…it felt so appropriate for us to do.”

The video of the beautiful song captures images of Nelson and Benson through the years. Check it out.