In August of 1981, one of country music's greats released a two LP best of called Greatest Hits (& Some That Will Be), and the folks at Columbia were kind enough to send a promo copy to my first store there in Decatur, Illinois. I spent months listening to it--in many ways the album was my stepping stone to furthering my interest in country music which had been pretty close to zilch prior. It would eventually culminate in a trip to the Illinois State Fair to see aforesaid great live (while she would never remember, it was technically my daughter's first concert). As you might surmise, it was also my introduction to this week's tune....
Willie Nelson's career started before I was even born (1956 to be exact), and sixty-nine years down the road he's still making music as he prepares to hit ninety-two years old this April. Needless to say, there isn't any way to capture his career in a paragraph, as Nelson has become an icon for generations of fans and has stretched the boundaries of country music in ways anyone not named Johnny Cash has not. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Songwriting Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, winner of numerous Grammys, and being an Academy Award nomineee are just a few of the accolades Nelson has acquired through his many years. His album discography is here (over a hundred studio albums between solo and collaborations--surely a Friday Night Jukebox record), and his single discography is here (over a hundred and thirty--with twenty-five #1's--also Jukebox records). Nelson is a strong supporter of cannabis rights, leans left politically, was an original founder of Farm Aid, and has been active in numerous other charities. A life well lived and well done.
Fun Fact: Nelson is a devotee of martial arts, and holds black belts in several different styles, including Tae Kwon Do like my youngest son. Cool!
"On the Road Again" was the first single from the soundtrack to the rather florally entitled Honeysuckle Rose (from the movie of the same name which Nelson also starred in). The single would hit #20 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the country singles chart. The soundtrack would hit #11 on the Billboard 200 and as with the single, #1 on the country albums chart. Nelson would also receive an
Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
Asked to write a song about life on the road by the movie's producers, Nelson penned "On the Road Again" on a barf bag while on a flight to one of the movie's sets. It's a happy go lucky affirmation of traveling the world and making music with your band, and Nelson keeps the tempo and the vocals as upbeat as any good show would be. Bonus points to me for finally noticing after forty years of listening that there's a harmonica in the song. Nothing earth shattering for this one--just two and a half minutes of good music and fun.
Lyric Sheet: "On the road again/Just can't wait to get on the road again/The life I love is making music with my friends..."
Enjoy:
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
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