Willie’s 75th Birthday Giveaway
In honor or celebration or whatever of Willie Nelson’s 75th birthday (his claimed birthday), we’re hosting a giveaway with the following prizes:
- Grand Prize: A copy of the book, An Epic Life by Joe Nick Patoski, the box set chronicling his career, One Hell of a Ride, and a set of Willie braids
- Four copies of the book, An Epic Life
- Two copies of the box set, One Hell of a Ride
- Nine sets of Willie braids, w00t!
Leave a comment with your favorite Willie song, album, quote, or story, and if you haven’t listened to any Willie, well, there’s just no excuse. We’ll choose the winners randomly and announce them tomorrow, on Willie’s other birthday (his legal birthday).
Thanks to the fine folks over at Hachette Book Group for sponsoring this giveaway. Even if you don’t win, go buy the book or box set, it’ll be worth every penny.
I’m sure some of you won’t read the book, so if you’re not interested in the book and are only entering for the box set, let us know so we can give the book to someone who will read it and enjoy it.
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Current Discussion
- Jim Malec: "Keeps her letters in a nightstand." She sent him letters, Jon!
- Leverett Sherrif: Paulaw, Brutal, sir..you heard them when they were first getting started..these young girls have worked extremely hard to get to ...
- sam (sam): I'm just a fan, but as I understand it, both singing and songwriting are essential to making good music. It ...
- Jon: @K, thanks for the further explanation. As near as I can tell, there are at least as many mediocre ...
- K: “I would hope that the legacy of a great singer is rewarded more richly than a great writer.” After reading my ...
- Jon: PS – Its too bad Amie Comeaux wasn’t born years later so she could have been a contestant on American ...
- Joe: Great guilty pleasure. I'll enjoy hearing this on the radio.
- Michelle: I love That's My Job by Conway Twitty, but I can't listen to it with others in the room.
- Michelle: Two stars? Whatever!
- Michelle: I love this song. I would love to climb up in his lap and drive his big green tractor!
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April 29, 2008 at 8:13 am Permalink
I love his cover of “City of New Orleans” and his greatest duet, of course, is “Pancho and Lefty”.
April 29, 2008 at 8:32 am Permalink
I love the old stuff, Red Headed Stranger is a classic, but I really love the Teatro cd as well, and think it was crazy over-looked, just because it wasnt typical Willie.
Also, his cameo in the movie “Wag the Dog” was just hilarious!!!!
BTW, I prefer the book if it matters (there are pictures in it right???)
April 29, 2008 at 8:39 am Permalink
So many great songs, and such an amazing character. My dad talked about how he’d go stand on the fence line and listen to Willie through the walls of some old honkeytonk. That was 40 years ago. So few people are as relevant and universally loved for so long.
There’s no way for me to pick a favorite song… or even try to massage a top ten. Here’s hoping he lives to be 175.
April 29, 2008 at 8:49 am Permalink
I Am The Forest
“I’m empty without you, come grow within me. I am the forest and you are the trees”
I’d love the book.
April 29, 2008 at 9:02 am Permalink
My favorite line from a Willie Nelson film and not from Willie Nelson –
“Kill him; kill this Barbarosa. Bring me his cojones. Bring them to me on a stick so we can see them and honor you. ”
after carefully considering the whole situation
April 29, 2008 at 9:38 am Permalink
Hard to pick just one Willie song, but today I’ll go with “Opportunity to Cry.”
April 29, 2008 at 9:39 am Permalink
Once when I had the good fortune to interview Willie, he shared with me his key to longevity: “Just keep breathing, that’s the big secret.”
(I won’t need the book or box set, thanks.)
April 29, 2008 at 9:40 am Permalink
Crazy — any version –
April 29, 2008 at 9:54 am Permalink
Well lets see, Seven Spanish Angels, On The Road Again, Blue Eyes Cryin In The Rain, Crazy, Poncho And Lefty, and the list goes on and on. From his latest work I love Gravedigger and Moment of Forever!!!!
April 29, 2008 at 9:57 am Permalink
No one will ever match Willie…
My two favorite songs: “Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain”, and “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground”
PS: I would certainly read the book.
April 29, 2008 at 10:13 am Permalink
I love “Bloody Mary Morning” – play it before every tailgate!
April 29, 2008 at 10:46 am Permalink
I really like his cover of “Georgia on My Mind”
April 29, 2008 at 10:48 am Permalink
Gotta be the duet with Merle, Pancho and Lefty
April 29, 2008 at 11:00 am Permalink
I absolutely loved the book and gave it a Five Star review on Amazon. It has rave reviews.
Johnny Hughes
April 29, 2008 at 11:20 am Permalink
Blue Eyes Crying the Rain, Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground, Almost everything he covers i like….what an american treasure
April 29, 2008 at 11:28 am Permalink
This is tough. Not the most exciting or original choice, but I guess I’ll have to go with “Crazy” for now. Nobody can sing it like Willie.
April 29, 2008 at 11:36 am Permalink
As much as I love Willie and nearly every song I’ve heard from him (his last album notwithstanding) and as much as I’d love to be hip and name some obscure song most of you have never heard of, I have to go with my heart and say “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” I mean, does it get any better?
April 29, 2008 at 12:33 pm Permalink
it’s a tossup for favorite song. either ‘your memory won’t die in my grave’ from the ’spirit’ album, or ‘i am the forest’ from tougher than leather.
willie nelson is simply unmatched. he rises above genre and his work will outlive him by generations. God bless him and i hope he lives to be 175, too. the world simply won’t be the same without him.
there simply aren’t enough good things to say about the guy. happy birthday!!
April 29, 2008 at 1:09 pm Permalink
I love “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before”.
April 29, 2008 at 1:22 pm Permalink
My husband and I were going to see Willie in the sumer of 2004, but he had to cancel due to hand surgery. The refunded our tickets or let us use our tickets for the reschedule date. Unfortunately, we had to get the refund because we were moving to Michigan for grad school before the rescheduled date. What a lost opportunity!
I love many of Willie’s songs. The latest of my long line of favorites is “You Don’t think I’m Funny Anymore.”
April 29, 2008 at 1:41 pm Permalink
Oh, and my favorite Willie song is “Me and Paul.”
April 29, 2008 at 1:41 pm Permalink
Favorite Willie song is “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground” followed closely by “I’d Have To Be Crazy.”
April 29, 2008 at 1:47 pm Permalink
I had the chance to see Willie in1991 in Branson M.O. he was alsome. I love all of his songs .My favorite song is you,r always on my mind.
April 29, 2008 at 1:55 pm Permalink
His cover of “He Was a Friend of Mine” is incredible. Spare, elegant and beautiful.
April 29, 2008 at 2:29 pm Permalink
“Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground”. Though I think I may be the only one around here who liked his reggae album, esp. the duet with Toots Hibbert on the Cash song “Worried Man”
April 29, 2008 at 3:11 pm Permalink
He didn’t write it but I love it every time I hear Willie perform Whiskey River. It’s not the song as much as the sound Willie’s guitar makes when he’s plucking it hard. I love that.
And while I love Bonnie Raitt and John Prine, I prefer Willie’s version of Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground. And Blue Eyes, of course and Poncho and Lefty and … well you get the idea.
It was really nice of Willie to bring the Picnic to the Gorge last year. Thanks Willie.
April 29, 2008 at 3:36 pm Permalink
His cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Bird on A Wire” is haunting and beautiful.
Oh! And obviously, “Crazy.” What a masterpiece! Sometimes I like his version better than Patsy Cline’s (don’t tell anyone!)
April 29, 2008 at 4:07 pm Permalink
Willie Quote:
When asked what he might want written on his tombstone, Willie thought a while and said:
“HE MEANT WELL”
I always remember when he said that during an interview — and I think it would be a great thing to put on his headstone.
April 29, 2008 at 4:21 pm Permalink
George… need I say more?
April 29, 2008 at 4:25 pm Permalink
My favorite Willy song is the duet Pancho & Lefty.
April 29, 2008 at 4:51 pm Permalink
I was reading through the comments and realized I put George when I meant to say Georgia.
So…
Georgia… need I say more?
(Sort of takes the effectiveness out of it the second time, doesn’t it?)
April 29, 2008 at 5:04 pm Permalink
My favorite quote of Willie’s,,,when I tell him(for the last 35 years) “I am still waitin’ on you to marry me” and he ALWAYS responds,,”YOU’RE NEXT”~~I would never be able to PIN~POINT a favorite song of Willie’s,,if he sung it,,I LOVED IT!!!
April 29, 2008 at 5:48 pm Permalink
Sleeping Bag!
April 29, 2008 at 6:02 pm Permalink
‘I was lost in trouble and strife, I heard a voice and it changed my life
And now it’s a brand new day, and I ain’t afraid to say
You’re not alone when you’re down and out
And I think you know who I’m talking about
When I don’t know how I’ll get through
I ask myself what would Willie do’
– Bruce Robison
That pretty much covers the red headed stranger for me. Play that tune to someone who doesn’t get what all the fuss is about.
Then play them Willie and Dylan doing ‘Pancho and Lefty’ from the Big Six-O concert. If that doesn’t knock you out, you’re beyond help.
April 29, 2008 at 6:12 pm Permalink
STARDUST – I wore out two cassette tapes before I purchased it on CD. Greatest album. Happy Birthday Willie
April 29, 2008 at 7:18 pm Permalink
my favorite willie quote is still ‘fortunately, we’re not in control’. that sums up the zen quality of willie nelson.
April 29, 2008 at 7:36 pm Permalink
From the Album “Tougher than Leather” . . . the song ‘Changing Skies’ says it all.. . from a place to a place . . . Totally Cosmic!
April 29, 2008 at 7:40 pm Permalink
Still is Still Moving to Me….
Willie and Family live in concert, this is the song that does it for me everytime.
Happy Birthday Willie! See ya on the 4th.
April 29, 2008 at 8:01 pm Permalink
Have most of his records and CD’s but am partial to the older stuff, Crazy, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain. Keep up the good work Willie !! You have been GREAT !
April 29, 2008 at 8:14 pm Permalink
I gotta admit, nothing cheers me up more than “Blue Skies” or maybe “Stay All night (stay a little longer)” or maybe “On the Road Again” or maybe… shoot, I could go on all day and night!
April 29, 2008 at 9:09 pm Permalink
I love Willie.
My favorite song of his is “Healing Hands of Time”
My son was killed in an automobile accident less than a year after his son died.
No one steps up to the plate like Willie does!
April 29, 2008 at 9:16 pm Permalink
You know why divorces are so expensive? They’re worth it. – Willie Nelson
April 30, 2008 at 4:29 am Permalink
The sum of his output is so vast and of such high quality that it’s hard to pick just one song, but if I had to pick one I’d say ‘Undo The Right’:
“If you can’t say you love me say you hate me
And you regret each time you held me tight
If you won’t be mine forever then forsake me
If you can’t undo the wrong, undo the right”
Jphnny Bush had a big hit with the song in 1968 and Wade Hayes also recorded it 30+years later. Willie’s version also is quite good
My second choice would be another Willie composition ‘Three Days’, a hit for Faron Young
April 30, 2008 at 5:17 am Permalink
I love Willie.
And I’ve never even smoked weed!
Seriously, Willie Nelson has been and always will be my number one. I love him like I love my own Grandpappy!
The first time I finally saw him in concert, he was singing a song from his COUNTRYMAN record, originally done by Jimmy Cliff, “The Harder They Come”. Not only is it one of the best songs ever written, Willie’s tonal qualities just make it that much cooler.
I have a million Willie-faves, but to be perfectly honest… right now, “MOMENT OF FOREVER”, the title track from his latest record before “One Hell of a Ride” really gets me. The first time I heard it, I was driving down the freeway and I actually had to pull over. And I’ve been in radio forever, so I’m used to my musical emotions! But this song, for whatever reason, really hit me and continues to reach into my soul everytime I listen to it.
I love Willie.
I’d love to win a piece of his Pie in the Sky.
Thank you to The 9513 AND to the fine folks at the Hachette Book Group for this great giveaway. And just for getting all of us Willie fans to take time to write about such a great man.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILLIE! We love you!
April 30, 2008 at 6:38 am Permalink
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Willie!
Still Is Still Moving To Me is my favorite song and I can’t wait to get On The Road Again, and see you in July.
Peace, Dee
April 30, 2008 at 7:19 am Permalink
The first song that comes to mind that has always been a favorite for me is “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground”.
Happy Birthday Willie!
April 30, 2008 at 7:49 am Permalink
Who can decide?
At the top of my head, right now, at this exact moment in time. I’ll say… I Never Cared For You.
That’ll change in two minutes. But I want to win!
April 30, 2008 at 7:54 am Permalink
Willie with Don Cherry.It’s Magic CD. Don was 81 years old and still sounds like hes 20. Willie’s Sweet Memories track on the CD, best version ever. They both sound great.
April 30, 2008 at 10:03 am Permalink
My mama was such a big Willie Nelson fan that she was going to name me Willie…til I popped out and she learned she had a girl. :)
Still, she sang me Willie songs growing up. She played his music a lot but she mostly sang me his songs. I grew up thinking every other kid was rocked to sleep to the tune of “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” or “Funny How Time Slips Away.” I guess I was just lucky. :)
April 30, 2008 at 10:10 am Permalink
One In A Row
(Have the book. Trying to win One Hell Of A Ride; braids)
April 30, 2008 at 10:14 am Permalink
Happy 75th Willie
Luv all your music….you be “The best there is, was,or ever will be”
April 30, 2008 at 11:45 am Permalink
I had the pleasure of seeing Willie in concert last year. It was a fascinating concert. Annoying because Willie is Willie and I couldn’t sing along (I understand he does that intentionally) but a pleasure none the less.
My favourite Willie song? Always on My Mind.
I’d love the music or the book.
Happy Birthday Willie!
April 30, 2008 at 1:20 pm Permalink
Love you, Willie! My favorite song has to be Angel Flying to Close to the Ground – Happy 75th!
April 30, 2008 at 2:26 pm Permalink
Picking a favorite Willie song is so hard…I love them all. One I always love hearing Willie sing is, “BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN” and one of my favorites that he has written is, “HEALING HANDS OF TIME”.
A favorite Willie quote is: “HAPPINESSIS IN THE WAY WE ACT, NOT IN THE OUTCOME”.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILLIE…YOU’RE THE GREATEST!!
April 30, 2008 at 3:40 pm Permalink
I’m gonna have to go with “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” my my number one favorite…at least for today.
April 30, 2008 at 3:41 pm Permalink
The giveaway has now ended and we’ve drawn the winners. I’ll send out emails to all of you later, but if you want to get a head start, go ahead and send me your full name and shipping address.
Congrats to you all and Happy Birthday to Willie!
Grand Prize Winner
Kelly
Box Set Winners
Madeleine
Lanibug
Book Winners
Tony Nowobielski
Pat/Miss Tex
crystal
John
Swanky Willie Braid Winners
Robb
Charlie Mack (1st outta the Limo)
John M
Desmond
Guy
SW
Baron Lane
Double-L
menachem
April 30, 2008 at 6:00 pm Permalink
WE LOVE YOU WILLIE, YOU ARE A TREASURE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY ALL TIME HERO! love, beanie
May 1, 2008 at 10:48 pm Permalink
I was in the Marines in 1946 stationed in San Francisco and my wife and I used to go to a place called Will King’s Coffee Cup. A guitar player singer Rusty Draper sang Night Life suppsedly written by Willie Nelson. According to my figuring that would have made him 14 years old when he wrote it. Does anyone know anything about this?
May 7, 2008 at 4:29 pm Permalink
THANKS GUYS!!!
I just got the box set and book at my door! I swore one sultry summer night long ago that I would never tell another man this, but Brady & Brody, to quote Olivia Newton John, “I love you…I honestly love you”. There, I said it for all the world to read (please dont tell my wife)!!
People really do win on the 9513!!
May 7, 2008 at 4:31 pm Permalink
You’re welcome, but you can’t forget Jim, Ben, and Matt (collectively known as The 9513).
Oh, and lets us know what you think of the book and box set once you’ve properly enjoyed them.
May 8, 2008 at 10:03 am Permalink
Of course, of course. Jim, Matt & Ben, I friggin love you!!!!! I mean that….LOVE!!!
May 16, 2008 at 8:57 pm Permalink
These braids are indeed swanky. Thanks again guys!
May 19, 2008 at 9:35 am Permalink
John, glad you like the braids and thanks for participating.
May 19, 2008 at 9:56 am Permalink
I also got my braids…did y’all get the pics of how i put them to use?
June 10, 2008 at 1:02 pm Permalink
Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain
August 24, 2009 at 7:31 am Permalink
RE: Jim Harvey
Rusty Draper was my grandpa. Infact, I have been putting all his old pics, records, tapes, articles etc together in books lately and have been doing alot of research. I have some articles and adds froms Will Kings Coffee Cup. That was indeed along time ago. Grandpa knew Willie long before Willie hit the big time. They were good friends in those days. Grandpa got a gold record (one of eight) with his version of “Night Life”, it was one of my favorites too. He sang it up to the end. I never did meet Willie, I was really little back then. Grandpa thought alot of him. I was just back In Jackson Hole, WY last week where Willie and Rusty played many nights and I saw “The Pink Garter” (a show/club they once both had an interest in. Infact it talks about it in the above book). In my mind I tried to take myself back to those days and hear their music spilling out into the streets.
Yep, Willie is a legend. And he damn well should be! A musical genious that has created memories for people spannning generations. That is true magic.
With great respect,
Cece Napier
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