Willie Nelson: Top 100 Songs

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Willie Nelson Top 100 Songs

Country singer/songwriter Willie Nelson was born on 4/29/1933 in Abbott, TX. He wrote hits for others before becoming a successful singer in his own right. He moved to Nashville in 1960 and moved back to Texas in 1970. He pioneered the “outlaw” country movement. He appeared in several movies including The Electric Horseman (1979), Honeysuckle Rose (1980), and Barbarosa (1982). Dave’s Music Database initially posted its ranking of the top 10 Willie Nelson songs on its Facebook page in response to a July 12, 2010, Paste magazine list of The 10 Best Willie Nelson Songs. It was updated and expanded to a top 80 list here in honor of Nelson’s 80th birthday (April 30, 2013). In 2023, it was expanded again – this time to a top 100 list – in honor of Nelson’s 90th birthday and the announcement that he would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This list includes songs written by Nelson but performed by others (noted in parentheses) and songs Nelson covered which have DMDB higher-ranked versions by other artists (*). For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry. Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:

Top 100 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to charts.) DMDB Top 1%: 1. Crazy (recorded by Patsy Cline, written by Willie Nelson; 1961) 2. Always on My Mind (1982) #1 CW DMDB Top 2%: 3. On the Road Again (1980) #1 CW DMDB Top 5%: 4. Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys (with Waylon Jennings, 1978) #1 CW 5. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (1975) #1 CW 6. Good Hearted Woman (live with Waylon Jennings, 1975) #1 CW 7. Georgia on My Mind (1978) * #1 CW 8. To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before (with Julio Iglesias, 1984) #1 CW 9. Pretty Paper (written by Willie Nelson, performed by Roy Orbison, 1963) 10. Hello Walls (recorded by Faron Young, written by Willie Nelson; 1961) #1 CW 11. Pancho and Lefty (with Merle Haggard, 1983) * 12. Yesterday (2014) * DMDB Top 10%: 13. The Highwayman (with Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, & Kris Kristofferson, 1985) #1 CW 14. Blue Skies (1978) #1 CW * 15. All of Me (1978) * 16. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1980) #1 CW DMDB Top 20%: 17. City of New Orleans (1984) * #1 CW 18. Just Breathe (2012) * 19. Heartbreak Hotel (with Leon Russell, 1979) * #1 CW 20. September Song (1978) * 21. America the Beautiful (2001) * 22. Mona Lisa (1981) * 23. Baby It’s Cold Outside (with Norah Jones, 2009) * 24. Fire and Rain (1975) * 25. Funny How Time Slips Away (written by Nelson, performed by Al Green with Lyle Lovett, 1994) 26. Help Me Make It Through the Night (1979) * 27. Without a Song (1983) * 28. Beer for My Horses (with Toby Keith, 2002) #1 CW Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 29. Live Forever (with Lucinda Williams, 2022) 30. Whiskey River (live, 1978) 31. It Was a Very Good Year (with Ray Charles, 2004) * 32. Let It Be Me (1982) 33. If I Were a Carpenter (with Sheryl Crow, 2007) * 34. What a Wonderful World (1988) * 35. Night Life (written by Willie Nelson, recorded by Rusty Draper, 1963) 36. (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay (with Waylon Jennings, 1982) * 37. If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time (1976) * #1 CW 38. Pretty Paper (1963) 39. Crazy (1962) 40. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter (1981) * 41. Remember Me (1975) 42. Just to Satisfy You (with Waylon Jennings, 1982) #1 CW 43. Night Life (1965) 44. Forgiving You Was Easy (1985) #1 CW 45. Funny How Time Slips Away (1962) 46. That Lucky Old Sun (with Kenny Chesney, 2008) * 47. Funny How Time Slips Away (written by Nelson, recorded by Jimmy Elledge, 1961) 48. Seven Spanish Angels (with Ray Charles, 1984) #1 CW 49. Night Life (written by Nelson, recorded by Ray Price, 1963) 50. Everything’s Beautiful in Its Own Way (with Dolly Parton, 1982) 51. Take It to the Limit (with Waylon Jennings, 1983) * 52. Pretty Paper (with Kenny Chesney, 2003) 53. Angels Flying Too Close to the Sun (1981) #1 CW 54. Twilight Time (1988) * 55. Hello Walls (1962) 56. Living in the Promiseland (1986) #1 CW 57. Funny How Time Slips Away (Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass with Willie Nelson, 1980) 58. Nothing I Can Do About It (1989) #1 CW 59. Uncloudy Day (1976) 60. Bloody Mary Morning (1974) 61. Faded Love (with Ray Price, 1980) * 62. Me and Paul (1972, re-recorded in 1985) 63. Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning (1982) 64. Half a Man (1963) 65. The Party’s Over (1967) 66. Good Times (1968) 67. Crazy Arms (1970) * 68. Heart of Gold (1986) * 69. On the Street Where You Live (2009) * 70. Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer) (1973) 71. Yesterday’s Wine (1971) 72. Touch Me (1962) 73. Willingly (with Shirley Collie, 1962) 74. Funny How Time Slips Away (written by Nelson, recorded by Billy Walker, 1961) 75. Reasons to Quit (with Merle Haggard, 1983) 76. If You Can Touch Her at All (with Waylon Jennings, 1978) 77. I’d Have to Be Crazy (1976) 78. Shotgun Willie (1973) 79. Midnight Rider (1979) * 80. Sweet Memories (1979) 81. She’s Not for You (1965) 82. The Last Letter (1963) 83. Why Do I Have to Choose (1983) 84. Little Old Fashioned Karma (1983) 85. You Took My Happy Away (1964) 86. If I Could Only Fly (with Merle Haggard, 1987) 87. I Love You a Thousand Ways (1977) 88. Something to Brag About (with Mary Kay Place, 1977) 89. Wabash Cannonball (with Hank Wilson, 1984) * 90. I Still Can’t Believe You’re Gone (1974) 91. You Ought to Hear Me Cry (1977) 92. I’m a Memory (1971) 93. One in a Row (1966) 94. Bring Me Sunshine (1968) 95. I Hope So (1969) 96. Blackjack County Chain (1967) 97. Graceland (with Paul Simon, 1993) * 98. Little Things (1968) 99. Once More with Feeling (1970) 100. I Just Can’t Let You Say Goodbye (1965) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Willie Nelson Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” First posted 4/30/2013; updated 5/6/2023.

Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind” topped country chart

Always on My Mind Willie Nelson

Writer(s): Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, Mark James (see lyrics here) First Charted: March 6, 1982 Peak: 5 US, 4 CB, 53 HR, 8 RR, 2 AC, 12 CW, 49 UK, 10 CN, 39 AU, 9 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, -- UK, 2.0 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 5.0 radio, 315.2 video, 78.82 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: This song “is virtually the definition of a modern pop standard.” AMG B.B. King told Esquire magazine in the January 2006 issue that this was his favorite song. SF While the ballad format of the song may be conventional, its theme of a love affair’s end instead of its beginning is a break from the more traditional love song that becomes a pop standard. AMG The narrator confesses guilt and regret AMG over not always doing what he should have to show appreciation for the object of his affection. SF With its “expressive melody and dramatic lyrics” AMG the song was “a natural for vocalists.” AMG Brenda Lee had a minor country hit with it in 1972. That same year, Elvis Presley had a gold single with his version that went top 20 on the U.S. pop charts and top 10 in the U.K. In 1982, Willie Nelson gave the song its greatest success yet, taking it to the top of the U.S. country charts and into the top 5 on both the pop and adult contemporary charts. His version was also a platinum seller and multiple award winner. While other versions risked sounding “melodramatic or corny,” AMG Willie’s take on the song “emphasized the pain and sorrow of the lyrics.” AMG Before the close of the ‘80s, the song became a hit again, but this time it was recast as a dance song. The Pet Shop Boys performed it for an Elvis tribute show on the BBC SF and then released a single of the song. Their version actually outdid Nelson’s in terms of chart performance – it went a notch higher on the U.S. pop charts (#4) and went to the top of the U.K. charts. Nonetheless, the best version will always belong to Willie Nelson. Resources: AMG All Music Guide SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: Last updated 10/29/2022.