Most of you know I spent a good chunk of my life in Austin, TX,
before moving back to Colorado, in 2015. While in the Lone Star State, I
filled my ears with Robert Earl Keen, Slaid Cleaves, James McMurtry,
Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Bob Schneider, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, etc... I won't lie, I do miss being around that wealth of music (and good Mexican food).
Of course, you can't call yourself a true resident of A-Town
without genuflecting to one musical name in particular, Willie Nelson.
In Austin, the man walks on Town Lake. A street is named after him, a
statue has been erected, and no doubt, when he passes, the city will
lower flags at half staff.
So, imagine my
shock when I discovered a Colorado-related Willie Nelson LP. An album
so bizarre, you'd swear it was made aboard his beloved bus, while
enjoying the braided one's favorite ground herb. I literally have no
clue how the idea for this recording was even conceived.
Released on the Soundmark label, out of Denver, Willie Nelson Family Album is credited as coming from the brain matter of The Sandpiper Agency, out of Durango. Willie Nelson voices a portion of the disc, with a
biographical account of his life and career - through spoken
word and song.
Darn it, so much for being a better blogger (blush). Yeah, yeah...
The album starts off with an intro from an unknown narrator, which segues into the same intro heard on his 1971 album, Yesterday's Wine - give a listen.
Side One:
Let Me Be a Man
Family Bible
Summer of Roses
Hello Walls
Crazy
Funny How Time Slips Away
Side Two:
I've Got a Wonderful Future Behind Me
Stay Away from Lonely Places
Remember the Good Times
Me and Paul
My Own Particular Way
Pick Up The Tempo
Heaven and Hell
December Day
Yesterday's Wine
Adding
to the mystery is the large NOT FOR SALE - FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY
across the back cover. So how many of these albums were pressed, and who
received them? A quick Google search finds nada on "The Sandpiper
Agency" of Durango, so that was a dead end.
The liner notes on the back offer absolutely no explanation:
This album is designed to guide the listener through the Willie Nelson Family Album
in Willie's own words and music. The album is presented in four
segments: Willie's early life in Texas, his first years in Nashville as a
songwriter, the later years in Music City USA, when his music and
singing first became popular and his decision to move back to Texas,
with a whole new sound.
As Patsy might say, "Crazy."
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