Shotgun Willie

1	Shotgun Willie 2:40
2	Whiskey River 4:05
3	Sad Songs and Waltzes 3:08
4	Local Memory 2:19
5	Slow Down Old World 2:54
6	Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer) 2:36
7	Devil in a Sleepin' Bag 2:40
8	She's Not for You 3:15
9	Bubbles in My Beer 2:34
10	You Look Like the Devil 3:26
11	So Much to Do 3:11
12	A Song for You 4:20

Barnes & Noble

"You can't make a record if you ain't got nothin' to say," Willie Nelson opines at the outset of Shotgun Willie. Not to worry -- being tongue-tied has seldom been a problem for the endlessly prolific Nelson. On Shotgun, Nelson seemed to be saying: Experiment. This record is a fascinating document of culture clash between Nelson's traditional world of country music and the hippie scene of Austin, Texas, of which he was fast becoming an icon. Produced by Atlantic Records stalwarts Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler, the 1973 release contains an interesting mix of Memphis-style horns and rhythms, hard country, and western swing; consistent with its outlaw nature, it also features appearances by rockers Doug Sahm and Leon Russell. Shotgun Willie contains several songs that have long been associated with Nelson -- "Whiskey River," "Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)," and "You Look Like the Devil." Without this, you can't fully understand the American phenomenon that is Willie Nelson. Daniel Durchholz

All Music Guide

Transferring his allegiance to Atlantic (where he would record two remarkable albums that would get him kicked off the label), Willie Nelson offered his finest record to date for his debut -- possibly his finest album ever. Shotgun Willie encapsulates Willie's world view and music, finding him at a peak as a composer, interpreter, and performer. This is laid-back, deceptively complex music, equal parts country, rock attitude, jazz musicianship, and troubadour storytelling. Nelson blurs the lines between his own tunes and covers to the point that "Whiskey River," this record's best-known song, seems thoroughly original, yet it was written by Johnny Bush and Paul Stroud. This, along with two songs apiece by Leon Russell and Bob Wills, provides context for his originals, with Shotgun Willie becoming a musical autobiography, offering not only insights into his musicality (witness how he slows down "Stay All Night [Stay a Little Longer]" to a slow shuffle) but, seemingly, into himself (most notably on the title track and the wonderful, funny travelogue "Devil in a Sleepin' Bag"). Nelson wasn't just at a peak of performing here -- he also wrote some of his greatest songs, highlighted not just by the previously mentioned tunes but also by the lovely slow waltz "Slow Down Old World" and "Sad Songs and Waltzes." All of it adds up to possibly the finest record in a career filled with hits and highlights. Stephen Thomas Erlewine