Willie Nelson – Always On My Mind – 1982
About the song
Welcome to my blog, where I share my passion for music and its history. Today, I want to talk about one of my favorite songs: “Always on My Mind” by Willie Nelson. This song is a classic example of how a cover version can become more popular and successful than the original. In fact, “Always on My Mind” was written by Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson Thompson, and first recorded by Brenda Lee in 1971. However, it did not chart well and was soon forgotten.
The song gained more attention when Elvis Presley recorded it in 1972, as a tribute to his estranged wife Priscilla. His version reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 16 on the country charts. It also won him a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. However, Elvis was not satisfied with his rendition and felt that he could have done better.
A full decade later, Willie Nelson decided to record his own version of “Always on My Mind” for his album of the same name. He was inspired by the producer Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons, who suggested that he record the song during the sessions for his collaboration album with Merle Haggard, Pancho & Lefty. Nelson’s version was a huge hit, spending 21 weeks at number one on the country charts and reaching number five on the pop charts. It also won him three Grammy Awards: Best Male Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Song and Song of the Year. It was the Billboard number one country album of the year for 1982, and stayed 253 weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts, peaking at number one for a total of 22 weeks, as well as spending 99 weeks on the Billboard 200 for all albums.
What made Nelson’s version so special and enduring? I think it was his distinctive voice, his heartfelt interpretation and his simple arrangement that highlighted the emotional lyrics. He sang the song as if he was truly regretting his mistakes and longing for his lost love. He also added some subtle changes to the melody and the words that made the song more personal and authentic. For example, he sang “little things I should have said and done” instead of “all those things I should have said and done”, and “tell me that your sweet love hasn’t died” instead of “give me one more chance to keep you satisfied”.
Nelson’s version of “Always on My Mind” has been widely praised by critics and fans alike, and has been ranked among the best songs of all time by various publications and polls. It has also been covered by many other artists, such as Pet Shop Boys, Loretta Lynn, Al Green, Michael Bublé and Carrie Underwood. However, none of them have matched the popularity and impact of Nelson’s rendition, which remains a timeless classic that touches millions of hearts around the world.
