Description: Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard took the song to number one on the country charts in July 1983 on their duet album Pancho & Lefty. Nelson also recalls how his album with Haggard was nearly completed but he felt they didn't have "that blockbuster, you know, that one big song for a good single and a video, and my daughter Lana suggested that we listen to "Pancho and Lefty". Written and previously recorded by the great Townes Van Zant, I had never heard it and Merle had never heard it." When Lana Nelson returned with a copy of the song and Nelson cut it immediately with his band in the middle of the night but had to retrieve a sleeping Haggard, who had retired to his bus hours earlier, to record his vocal part. He was not a “happy camper” and didn’t want to do anything else that night but Willie insisted. The vocals were recorded in one take that night. The next day, Haggard wanted to rerecord his part, but Nelson told him the song had already been sent to New York. Haggard later stated that the song was the only one he had ever recorded before "he really knew it". As a side bit of trivia, it was during the sessions of that album when Willie and Merle were together that Willie told Merle he had written a song he thought would be perfect for Merle. The song was ALWAYS ON MY MIND. Merle took a look and said he really didn’t care for it, so Willie “shelved” it for another time. That other time, it was a track on one of his albums but the producers and Willie himself loved it so much, they used it as the title track and title of the album. It was a monster. It became a Platinum single and a 4X RIAA Platinum Album. Merle never admitted that he “blew that opportunity.” Feel free to Goooo-gle my dad for more on his work: Ken Kitinger Gold Records. Pancho & Lefty comes with a framed EPIC Pancho & Lefty promo photo signed by Merle & Willie (reproduced – not hand signed). Pancho & Lefty is also the first cut on Merle’s Platinum album “..Epic hits, the first eleven….to be continued.” That award is large with extra bonuses including the original Side 2 record label and the original cassette insert – which are extremely rare if not impossible to find.
Price: 169 USD
Location: Woodstock, Georgia
End Time: 2025-01-01T20:48:55.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Industry: Music
Personalize: Yes
Signed: Yes
Original/Reproduction: Original
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Personalization Instructions: include name of award recipient for an personalized COA.
