To Lefty from Willie

In the early ‘50s only Hank Williams, Sr. could rival Lefty Frizzell for success and influence on the country music scene. Both singers taught an entire generation how to sing honky-tonk and both had a number of successful tunes that defined the genre. But where Williams died on New Year’s Day 1953 at the age of 29, forever establishing his legendary status, Frizzell lived on to witness his commercial decline, as styles and sounds changed. Frizzell died of a stroke in 1975, leaving behind a catalog of masterful songs that included his first hit “If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time,” “Always Late (With Your Kisses)” and “Look What Thoughts Will Do.” In 1977, Willie Nelson at the height of his popularity decided to release this straightforward tribute composed of some of Lefty’s best-known songs. The arrangements recall the no-nonsense honky-tonk of Frizzell’s hard country and Nelson sings with aggression. (The inclusion of the Jimmy Buffett-Jerry Jeff Walker composition “Railroad Lady” makes little sense in this particular context.) As important in its way as Nelson’s more well-known collections such as Stardust.