For Willie Nelson’s 92nd Birthday, Here’s 3 of His Best Deep Cuts

In honor of Willie Nelson‘s 92nd birthday, here are some deep cuts from various albums through his long and storied career. From his debut in 1962, to a duet album with Waylon Jennings (but which one, you’ll find out), and an album track from the beloved Shotgun Willie. And if these cuts aren’t deep enough for you, well then, maybe “I Gotta Get Drunk” will do it for you.

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“Hello Walls” (1962)

Before he was sporting his signature braids, Willie Nelson looked like a bit of a square, but his outlaw passion was still simmering right under the surface. His debut album And Then I Wrote featured the song “Hello Walls”. It’s a crisp, 60s banger about a man lamenting his girlfriend leaving by conversing with his empty house.

“Hello Walls” has Nelson crooning in his Texas drawl, melding standard 60s composition with Nelson’s timeless voice. We know this voice now as just one of the sparks that lit the bonfire of outlaw country. To hear him singing songs for early 60s teen dances and popular radio is jarring, but also an interesting look into how he fully leaned into his later work.

“Two Old Sidewinders” (1991)

Released in 1991 on the album Clean Shirt, this duet with Waylon Jennings is another example of Willie Nelson’s timelessness and skill. His clear vocals play well off of Jennings’ rougher tones, pulling interesting vocal gymnastics from both of them.

The two first released Waylon & Willie in 1978. That album went to no. 1 on the country charts. They would release two more duets albums before Clean Shirt, which would be their last. It wasn’t much of a commercial success, and came during a career decline for both Jennings and Nelson. However, “Two Old Sidewinders” is just one great example of how well the two sounded together.

“Devil In A Sleepin’ Bag” (1973)

“Devil In A Sleepin’ Bag” was released on the highly praised Shotgun Willie album in 1973, and it remains one of its star offerings. The blend of bluesy rhythm, Nelson’s drawling intonation, and the interesting narrative makes this an excellent song.

Shotgun Willie marked a distinctive style change for Nelson, which proved successful in the long run. While the album underperformed commercially, it brought Nelson to a wider and younger audience at the time. It also introduced outlaw country to the scene, challenging the uptight style of the Nashville sound.

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