SACD Willie Nelson – Shotgun Willie

Shotgun Willie as a hybrid stereo SACD from the Atlantic 75 Series: Willie Nelson’s 1973 turning point, all twelve songs in one sequence – from the title track to Leon Russell’s “A Song For You”, sung by Nelson alone with his guitar.

Willie Nelson finds his own way

Released in 1973, Shotgun Willie marks a turning point in Willie Nelson’s career. He had left RCA, moved to Austin and found a new recording home at Atlantic, where Jerry Wexler gave him room to let country meet blues, soul and western swing. The worldwide success was still ahead of him; this album captures an artist rebuilding the musical world around him.

The main sessions took place at Atlantic Studios in New York in February 1973, with further recording in Nashville and Memphis. Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler and David Briggs shared the production. Nelson’s own musicians met guests from several musical circles – a breadth you can read in the album’s long list of credits.

The Family and its guests

Bobbie Nelson travelled to New York for the sessions. The pianist, Willie’s older sister, later remembered this as her first recording with her brother – afterwards she became a permanent member of his Family. Bassist Bee Spears, drummer Paul English and Jimmy Day on dobro and pedal steel were other close companions in this new musical life.

The guests bring stories of their own. The Memphis Horns play on the title track, David Bromberg adds electric guitar to “Whiskey River”, and “Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer)” gathers Doug Sahm, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter and Johnny Gimble, among others. The changing line-ups show how openly Nelson approached every single song.

Twelve songs of change and continuity

“Whiskey River”, written by Johnny Bush and Paul Stroud, would become a familiar opener at Nelson’s concerts. Here it sits in a new studio sequence next to his own “Sad Songs And Waltzes” and “Local Memory”, while two songs associated with Bob Wills keep the link to western swing. Nelson’s new direction grows out of music he had lived with for years.

Leon Russell’s “A Song For You” closes the record, with Nelson alone on acoustic guitar. After the colourful ensembles of the songs before it, the ending returns to the direct bond between voice and song – a movement from making music together to a personal address that gives the whole album its beautiful shape.

The Atlantic 75 hybrid stereo SACD

CAPA 045 SA is a hybrid stereo SACD from the Analogue Productions Atlantic 75 Series. The SACD layer plays on SACD-capable players, the CD layer on any conventional CD player. The disc contains the twelve songs of the original album, from “Shotgun Willie” to “A Song For You”.

You order from Michael 45 in Germany. We arrange the US import and ship from Hilden.

More from the series: Atlantic 75 Series

Also in another edition: Shotgun Willie

Customer question: Buying Analogue Productions records in Europe

Musicians

Participants and documented credit status. Track references correspond to the tracklist.

• Willie Nelsonlead vocals, lead acoustic guitarParticipation: Album personnel
• Bobbie NelsonpianoParticipation: tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11
• Bee SpearsbassParticipation: tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11
• Paul EnglishdrumsParticipation: tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11
• Jimmy DayDobro (track 1), pedal steel guitar (tracks 2–11), backing vocals (track 6)Participation: tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
• Steve Burghlead electric guitar (track 1), acoustic guitar (tracks 5, 7, 11), electric guitar (track 8)Participation: tracks 1, 5, 7, 8, 11
• Jeff Gutcheonelectric piano (track 1), organ (tracks 2, 3)Participation: tracks 1, 2, 3
• Steve Mosleysnare drum (track 1), drums (tracks 7, 8)Participation: tracks 1, 7, 8
• Hugh McDonaldbassParticipation: tracks 7, 8
• Wayne JacksontrumpetParticipation: track 1
• Andrew Lovetenor saxophoneParticipation: track 1
• Jack Hale Sr.tromboneParticipation: track 1
• James Mitchellbaritone saxophoneParticipation: track 1
• David Brombergelectric guitarParticipation: track 2
• Dee Moellerbacking vocalsParticipation: tracks 2, 6, 7
• Larry Gatlinbacking vocals (tracks 2, 6, 7), acoustic guitar (track 8)Participation: tracks 2, 6, 7, 8
• Doug Sahmelectric guitar (tracks 6, 7), backing vocals (track 6)Participation: tracks 6, 7
• Augie Meyersacoustic guitar (track 6), backing vocals (track 6), piano (track 9)Participation: tracks 6, 9
• Waylon Jenningsacoustic guitar, second acoustic guitar solo, backing vocalsParticipation: track 6
• Jessi Colterbacking vocalsParticipation: track 6
• Johnny GimblefiddleParticipation: tracks 6, 9
• Red Laneacoustic guitarParticipation: track 9
• Willie Bridgesbaritone saxophoneParticipation: track 9
• Jack BarberbassParticipation: track 9
• George RainsdrumsParticipation: track 9

Personnel per original jacket: Willie Nelson (vocals, acoustic guitar; track 12 solo) · Bobbie Nelson (piano; tracks 1–5, 7, 8, 10, 11) · Bee Spears (bass; tracks 1–6, 10, 11) · Paul English (drums; tracks 1–6, 10, 11) · Jimmy Day (Dobro track 1; pedal steel tracks 2–11) · Steve Burgh (guitar; tracks 1, 5, 7, 8, 11) · Jeff Gutcheon (electric piano track 1; organ tracks 2, 3) · Steve Mosley (snare track 1; drums tracks 7, 8) · Hugh McDonald (bass; tracks 7, 8) · The Memphis Horns: Wayne Jackson (trumpet), Andrew Love (tenor saxophone), Jack Hale Sr. (trombone), James Mitchell (baritone saxophone) (track 1) · David Bromberg (electric guitar; track 2) · Dee Moeller, Larry Gatlin (backing vocals; tracks 2, 6, 7; Gatlin acoustic guitar track 8) · Doug Sahm (electric guitar, vocals; track 6) · Waylon Jennings (acoustic guitar, guitar solo, vocals; track 6) · Jessi Colter (vocals; track 6) · Augie Meyers (acoustic guitar, vocals track 6; piano track 9) · Johnny Gimble (fiddle; tracks 6, 9) · Red Lane (acoustic guitar), Willie Bridges (baritone saxophone), Jack Barber (bass), George Rains (drums) (track 9). String arrangements: Arif Mardin (track 5), Donny Hathaway (track 11). Guitar roles on tracks 5, 7, 8 vary between sources. Produced by Arif Mardin; Jerry Wexler (tracks 6, 9); David Briggs (Nashville). Recorded by Gene Paul (Atlantic Studios, New York), Stan Hutto and Steve Ham (Quadrafonic, Nashville), Knox Phillips (Sam Phillips Recording Studio, Memphis).