What a Way to Live (song)

Last updated
"What a Way to Live"
Willie Nelson - What a Way to Live.jpg
Single by Willie Nelson
B-side "Misery Mansion"
ReleasedMay 1960
RecordedMarch 11, 1960 at Gold Star Studio (Houston, Texas)
Genre Country
Length2:54
Label D
Songwriter(s) Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson singles chronology
"Man With the Blues"
(1959)		"What a Way to Live"
(1960)		"Nite Life"
(1960)

"What a Way to Live" is a song written by country music singer Willie Nelson. He recorded the song on his second session with D Records, after moving to Houston, Texas. Produced by Bill Quinn, it was cut at Gold Star Studios in March 1960.

Contents

A cover version by Johnny Bush was recorded in 1967. Bush's version became a success, peaking at number twenty-nine on Billboard's Hot Country Singles.

Background

In 1959, Nelson moved from Fort Worth, Texas to Houston. Just arrived in town, Nelson visited the Esquire Ballroom, where he tried to sell his original songs to bandleader Larry Butler. Instead of buying the songs, Butler offered Nelson to join his band, The Sunset Playboys. By that time, Nelson also befriended Paul Buskirk, who just had founded the "Paul Buskirk School of Guitar". Buskirk hired Nelson as an instructor. [1]

Nelson had moved to Houston to advance as a performer and writer, and to be closer to the office of his newly signed label, D Records, and its publishing house, Glad Music. During his first D Records session in Fort Worth, Nelson had recorded "Man With the Blues". [2]

Recordings

On March 11, 1960, his second session with the label took place at Gold Star Studios, produced by Bill Quinn. On the recording of "What a Way to Live", Nelson was backed by Paul Buskirk on guitar, steel guitarist Ozzie Middleton, fiddlers Darold Raley and Clyde Brewer, bassist Dean Reynolds and drummer Al Hagy. [3] Released in May 1960, [4] the single was not a success. [3] As part of the deal that Nelson made with Uncle Hank Craig to sign him to D Records, Craig received part of the proceeds of the single. [5]

In 1967, Johnny Bush recorded a cover version for the label Stop Records. Backed by steel guitarist Jimmy Day, fiddlers Tommy Jackson and Buddy Spicher and bassist Junior Husky. Bush sang his own harmony. The shuffle beat was set to a 4/4 bass. [6] The song debuted on Billboard's Hot Country Singleson March 16, 1968, and peaked at twenty-nine. It remained on the chart for thirteen weeks. [7]

Mark Chesnutt also recorded a version of the song on his 1994 album of the same name.

Chart performance

Johnny Bush

ChartPeak
position
Billboard Hot Country Singles 29 [7]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Thomson, Graeme 2012, p. 20.
  2. ↑ Bradley, Andy & Wood, Roger 2010, p. 78.
  3. 1 2 Bradley, Andy & Wood, Roger 2010, p. 79.
  4. ↑ Sachs, Bill 1960, p. 40.
  5. ↑ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 93.
  6. ↑ Bush, Johnny 2007, p. 137.
  7. 1 2 Withburn, Joel 2005, p. 66.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Nelson</span> American country singer (born 1933)

Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country singer, guitarist and songwriter. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. The critical success of his album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy (Willie Nelson song)</span> Willie Nelson song popularized by Patsy Cline

"Crazy" is a song written by Willie Nelson and popularized by country singer Patsy Cline in 1961. Nelson wrote the song while living in Houston, working for Pappy Daily's label D Records. He was also a radio DJ and performed in clubs. Nelson then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, working as a writer for Pamper Music. Through Hank Cochran, the song reached Patsy Cline. After her original recording and release, Cline's version reached number two on Billboard's Hot Country Singles, also crossing to the pop chart as a top 10 single.

<i>Yesterdays Wine</i> 1971 studio album by Willie Nelson

Yesterday's Wine is the 13th studio album and a concept album by country singer Willie Nelson. Nelson had been recording for RCA Victor since the early 1960s, and had released no significant hit records. By 1970, his recordings had reached mid-chart positions. Nelson lost the money he made from his song-writing royalties by financing concert tours that were generally unsuccessful and unprofitable. In addition to problems with his music career, Nelson had a troubled personal life. He had divorced his wife, Shirley Collie, and his Tennessee ranch had been destroyed by a fire.

<i>Make Way for Willie Nelson</i> 1967 studio album by Willie Nelson

Make Way for Willie Nelson is the fifth studio album by country singer Willie Nelson.

<i>...And Then I Wrote</i> 1962 studio album by Willie Nelson

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family (Willie Nelson's band)</span> Willie Nelsons touring and recording group

The Family is the lead singer Willie Nelson's touring and recording group. Nelson, who did not manage through the 1960s to succeed as a singer, retired after the failure of his 1971 album Yesterday's Wine. The following year, he returned from retirement rejuvenated by the burgeoning music movement of Austin, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night Life (Willie Nelson song)</span> 1960 single by Willie Nelson

"Night Life" is a song written by country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. Nelson was inspired to write the song during one of his trips from his home in Pasadena, Texas, to his work, singing at the Esquire Ballroom in Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloody Mary Morning</span> 1974 single by Willie Nelson

"Bloody Mary Morning" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Willie Nelson. Nelson wrote the song inspired by his struggles to become a "better parent". It was originally released in the 1970 RCA Records release Both Sides Now with the title "Bloody Merry Morning".

The Western Express was a country-music radio show transmitted by KCNC in Fort Worth, Texas. The show started in 1947, hosted by disk jockey Charlie Williams. In 1956, the station later hired Willie Nelson, then a struggling singer-songwriter who previously worked on different radio stations. Nelson hosted the three-hour-long show singing his original songs, taking calls and playing records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family Bible (song)</span> 1960 song performed by Claude Gray

"Family Bible" is a song written by country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. Nelson began writing the song in 1957, while he enjoyed success as a disc jockey in KVAN, in Vancouver, Washington. After being denied a raise by the station, he moved to Houston, Texas. Due to financial issues he sold the song to Paul Buskirk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Record Man</span> 1961 single by Willie Nelson

"Mr. Record Man" is a song written by country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. After writing the song, Nelson moved to Houston, Texas, where due to his financial issues, tried to sell it to Larry Butler. Butler, who rejected to buy the song, employed Nelson instead. After his original songs turned into hits for other artists, Nelson was signed as a recording artist by Liberty Records.

"The Storm Has Just Begun" is a song by country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. Nelson wrote the song at the age of twelve. While working for KBOP in Pleasanton, Texas, in 1955, the song was one of the first two ever recorded by Nelson.

"Man With the Blues" is a song by country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. After moving to Fort Worth, Texas, and quitting the music business for a year, Nelson returned to perform on the KCUL's Country Hoedown. Through a booking agent, he was signed as a recording artist by D Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willingly</span> 1962 single by Willie Nelson and Shirley Collie

"Willingly" is a duet by American country music singer Willie Nelson and Shirley Collie, produced by Joe Allison during Nelson's third session for Liberty Records. Released in March 1962, the album reached number ten on Billboard's Hot Country Singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Half a Man</span> 1963 single by Willie Nelson

"Half a Man" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Willie Nelson. The song was released as the A-side of the single for his second Liberty Records album, Here's Willie Nelson. Despite receiving mixed airplay for its content, the song became a sales success, peaking at number twenty-five on Billboard's Hot Country Singles and number twenty on Cashbox's country singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Part Where I Cry</span> 1961 single by Willie Nelson

"The Part Where I Cry" is a song written by country music singer Willie Nelson. After moving to Nashville in 1960, leveraged by the success of his songwriting, and helped by Harlan Howard, Nelson was signed by Joe Allison of Liberty Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touch Me (Willie Nelson song)</span> 1962 single by Willie Nelson

"Touch Me" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Willie Nelson. Leveraged by the success of his songs, Nelson moved to Nashville in 1960. Through songwriter Harlan Howard, Nelson was signed to write for Pamper Music, and to a recording contract with Liberty Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wake Me When It's Over (Willie Nelson song)</span> 1962 single by Willie Nelson

"Wake Me When It's Over" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Willie Nelson. After being signed as a recording artist to Liberty Records in 1961, the song was recorded during his second session with the label in September 1961 at Radio Recorders. Selected as the A-side of one of the promotional singles, the song failed to chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Party's Over (Willie Nelson song)</span> 1967 single by Willie Nelson

"The Party's Over" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Willie Nelson during the mid-1950s. After arriving in Houston, Texas, Nelson was hired to play for the Esquire Ballroom band, where he would be allowed to close the shows singing the song. Guitar instructor and Nelson's friend Paul Buskirk forwarded the song to singer Claude Gray, who recorded the original version of the song, released as "My Party's Over" in 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Never Cared For You</span> 1964 single by Willie Nelson

"I Never Cared For You" is a song written by country music singer Willie Nelson. Nelson recorded the song during his stint with Monument Records, and eventually became his only single released by the label.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.