...And Then I Wrote

...And Then I Wrote
Studio album by Willie Nelson
Released September 1962
Recorded August 22-23; September 11-12, 1962
Genre Country
Length 30:15
Label Liberty
Producer Joe Allison
Willie Nelson chronology
...And Then I Wrote
(1962)		 Here's Willie Nelson
(1963)

...And Then I Wrote is the debut album by country singer Willie Nelson, recorded during August and September 1962 and released through Liberty Records.

Despite Nelson's fruitless efforts to succeed with his recording releases with D Records, and after trying with other labels as a singer, he sold several of his original written songs to other artists. After his composition "Family Bible" became a hit for Claude Gray in 1960, he moved to Nashville, where he was signed by Pamper Music as a songwriter. Several of his songs became hits for other artists, including Faron Young ("Hello Walls"); Ray Price ("Night Life") and Patsy Cline ("Crazy").

Fueled by the success of his songwriting, he was signed by Liberty Records. During August, Nelson started recording his first album, produced by Joe Allison. The single releases of the album "Touch Me" and "The Part Where I Cry" were recorded on that day in Nashville, Tennessee, while it was completed during September in the recording facilities of the label in Los Angeles, California. The single "Touch Me" became Nelson's second top ten, reaching number 7 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles.

Background & recording

In 1958, Nelson released under a contract with Pappy Daily of D Records two records,[1] "Man With the Blues"/"The Storm Has Just Begun" and "What a Way to Live"/"Misery Mansion".[2] While working for D Records and singing in nightclubs, Nelson was hired by guitar instructor Paul Buskirk to teach in his school. He sold to Buskirk his original songs "Family Bible" for US$50, and "Night Life" for US$150.[3] "Family Bible" turned into a hit for Claude Gray in 1960.[4]

Nelson moved to Nashville in 1960, but no label signed him. Most of his demos were rejected. Nelson was later signed as a songwriter to Pamper Music with the help of Hank Cochran, who worked for the publishing company owned by Ray Price and Hal Smith. Faron Young recorded Nelson's "Hello Walls",[5] and after Ray Price recorded Nelson's "Night Life", and his previous bassist Johnny Paycheck quit, Nelson joined Price's touring band as a bass player. While playing with Price and the Cherokee Cowboys, other of his original songs became hits for other artists, including "Funny How Time Slips Away" (Billy Walker), "Pretty Paper" (Roy Orbison), and, most famously, "Crazy" by Patsy Cline.[6] Nelson signed with Liberty Records and was recording by August 1961 at Quonset Hut Studio.[7]

The recording sessions for his first album release, ...And Then I Wrote, began in the Nashville studios of Liberty Records. Nelson recorded on August 22-23, starting during the night and lasting until the morning of the following day. He recorded "The Part Where I Cry" and "Touch Me" for the album, and a later single release. The sessions were later resumed in the studios of the label in Los Angeles, California. During two sessions in September 11-12, Nelson recorded "Crazy", "Darkness on the Face of the Earth", "Three Days", "Funny How Times Slips Away", "Mr. Record Man" and "Hello Walls".[8] The recordings were produced by Joe Allison. The liner notes of the album were written by local DJ Charlie Williams, by request of Allison.[9]

Release

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [10]

The record was released on September 1962.[11] "Touch Me" was released as a single, becoming Nelson's second top ten single, reaching No. 7 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart.[7] Billboard wrote a review about the single, describing it as an "interesting country-styled tune" with "good" lyrics.[12] Allmusic rated the album with four stars out of five.[10]

Charts

Year Song Chart Peak position[13]
1962 "Touch Me" Billboard Hot Country Singles 7[7]

Track listing

All tracks written by Willie Nelson unless otherwise noted. 

Side one
No. Title Length
1. "Touch Me""   2:12
2. "Wake Me When It's Over"   2:48
3. "Hello Walls"   2:23
4. "Funny How Time Slips Away"   3:02
5. "Crazy"   2:50
6. "The Part Where I Cry"   2:18
Side two
No. Title Length
1. "Mr. Record Man"   2:10
2. "Three Days"   2:33
3. "One Step Beyond"   2:20
4. "Undo the Right" (Hank Cochran, Nelson) 2:56
5. "Darkness on the Face of the Earth"   2:19
6. "Where My House Lives"   2:24

Personnel

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Smith, Michael William (April 25, 2013). "Mr. Record Man: Willie Nelson". Houston Press. Voice Media Group. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ Nelson, Willie; Bud Shrake; Edwin Shrake 2000, p. 117.
  3. ↑ Nelson, Willie; Bud Shrake; Edwin Shrake 2000, p. 118.
  4. ↑ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. Nashville, 1960.
  5. ↑ Kosser, Michael 2006, p. 73.
  6. ↑ Erlewine, Michael 1997, p. 324.
  7. 1 2 3 Edwards, David; Callahan, Mike. "The Liberty Records Story". Both Sides Now. Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  8. ↑ Thompson, Graeme 2012, p. 62.
  9. ↑ Nelson, Willie; Bud Shrake; Edwin Shrake 2000, p. 125.
  10. 1 2 ...And Then I Wrote at AllMusic
  11. ↑ Johnny Bush; Rick Mitchell (2007). Whiskey river (take my mind): the true story of Texas honky-tonk. University of Texas Tech. ISBN 978-0-292-71490-8.
  12. ↑ Billboard staff 1962, p. 29.
  13. ↑ "Red Headed Stranger: Charts & Awards (Billboard Singles)". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 12, 2011.

References

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