Willie Nelson is one of my favorite song writers, although he’s not one of my favorite singers. Back when his voice was at it’s prime, it was pretty good. Not terrific like people such as Johnny Bush, Ray Price, or Eddy Arnold, but certainly not stick your fingers in your ears bad. Enjoyable in fact. The only time that I heard Willie Nelson in person, he was well past his prime, although some of that was the venue. Still, I’ve always thought that he was a better lyricist than singer.

Many of his big hits weren’t big hits by him, they were covers by other artists of songs that he wrote. Patsy Cline had a huge hit with “Crazy”, which was written by a then little known Willie Nelson, but rearranged by her producer. Nightlife has been covered by just about everyone from Ray Price to Leon Russell and it’s great song. By the way, this site notes that Nightlife was sold by Willie for $200.00, although he bought back 1/3 of the rights later on. Faron Young had a #1 Country hit with “Hello Walls”. I could go on, but I think you get the point.

Ironically, two of his biggest early hits were songs that he didn’t write. Go figure, right?

Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, written in 1945 by Fred Rose for Roy Acuff. Nelson released it on his 1975 album “Red Headed Stranger”.  It charted at #1 on Billboards Hot Country chart in 1975.

You Were Always On My Mind, written by Johnny Christopher, Mark James, and Wayne Carson, and recorded by too many people to list, including Elvis Presley and of course Willie Nelson. For whom it charted at #1 once again on the Billboard Hot Country chart.

Finally a song both written and performed by Willie Nelson. Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground, was a 1981 #1 single on Billboards Hot Country chart.

In case you’re curious, he’s had 14 #1 singles to date.

The Voice

Originally written for the 1939 Gene Autry movie of the same name. The plot revolutionaries, cattle, enemy agents, doesn’t stand the test of time all that well, but the song does.

Here is the original, sung by Autry in the movie,

Here is a version by Patsy Cline, just because I don’t think she was capable of doing any song poorly. Some were terrific, the rest merely great.

Here is a version by Slim Whitman, who no one plays any more and is mostly remembered as a punch line for jokes by late night comedians. More the pity because he’s still alive and performs on occasion.

The voters at the Country Music Hall of Fame finally stopped being fools and voted to induct Connie Smith.

Because you know, nobody but a fool would think that she doesn’t belong there.

One of the most recorded songs in Country Music history. Although strictly speaking, it’s not Country, but Western Swing.

Originally recorded as an instrumental only, lyrics were added in 1942 and it was re-released as “New San Antonio Rose”.

It would be easier to list who hasn’t covered it because just about everyone has. Of all of the songs by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, probably only “Faded Love” has been covered more.

Another in my off and on “Same Song, Different Artists” series.

Written and performed by Hank Williams Sr, it was released in 1953 after his death. It went to #1 on the country charts and stayed there for six weeks.

In 1962 Ray Charles covered Your Cheatin’ Heart on Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volume 2. Here is his version from 1981.

Two versions. The first is by Don Gibson, who composed the song and originally recorded it.

The second is by Ray Charles from Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

I’ll be doing more of these as I find the tracks on You Tube. Same song, different artists.

Because as the man says, the only thing better than fiddle music is twin fiddles.