Willie Nelson "I Love You A Thousand Ways" Single Of The Day

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable.  Today, we look back at one of the many hits of Willie Nelson, a single that was the second Lefty Frizzell hit that Willie would also score with.

The story of Willie Nelson is well known; his incredible songwriting talents, but also his years of struggle to become a singing star, that finally culminated with his breakthrough Red-Headed Stranger album, featuring his first number one single, “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain”.  One year later, Willie was back on top, this time with a remake of the Lefty Frizzell classic “If You’ve Got The Money, I’ve Got The Time”.  Fast forward another two years, to August, 1977, and once again, Willie calls on a Lefty classic, this time “I Love You A Thousand Ways”.   Taken from his Lefty Frizzell tribute album, To Lefty From Willie, the song, ironically, was Lefty’s second chart single, and second number one hit, as well as the flip side to his first of each, “If You’ve Got The Money, I’ve Got The Time”.

Willie’s version made it’s debut in August, climbing the charts to as high as nine, by early Fall.  Performed in that standard Nelson style of that era, where his guitar is nearly as prominent as his voice.  It was an amazing sound, so different than anything else on the radio.  And if you listen close, you can tell the Frizzell influence on Willie, on this track.

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Willie Nelson "I Love You A Thousand Ways" Single Of The Day