Buc McMaster Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 For those of you not fortunate enough to be from Texas, Willis Alan will be a treat indeed! His one and only album (and it was an album) was released in 1972 on Leon Russell's Shelter label and is a classic of Americana music. The Captain & Teneille (sp?) had a hit with his Muskrat Love but Willis' original recording stands head and shoulders above the radio release. I don't even know if his self-titled album is still available, but you can get a taste on his myspace page, Willis Alan. Listen to Angel Eyes, my pick for the greatest love song ever written. The slick humor in Satin Sheets and Northeast Texas Women. This man could turn a phase like few could then or can today, and his voice and guitar fit his writing perfectly. I think his guitar of choice was a Martin D18, but who cares! With songs like these who needs a guitar! Give him a listen! (maybe this post is in the wrong forum.....move it where you will........but listen to this man's songs!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLiveSoundGuy Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panzeron Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 "praise the lord and pass the mescaline" thanx buc that was a real treat...very soulful voice...great writer too. i am amazed at all the music thats out there and has been there...and we don't know about...and then we discover it and it's like wow....wheres this been....ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Layla Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Hey Buc McMaster, Love West Texas Country blues. Heres one of my favs. Ray Wylie Hubbard. Hope you like it. Layla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWilson Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 How'd I miss this guy all these years? Good stuff, Buc, thanks for sharing. I'll visit his site again. You're right about Angel Eyes. Great tune. He fits in with all the people I favor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locogringo Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Hey Buc McMaster' date=' Love West Texas Country blues. Heres one of my favs. Ray Wylie Hubbard. Hope you like it. Layla Check out Ray Wylie Hubbard's CD Loco Gringo's lament. I think it is his best as you may can tell from my screen name. It is one of those CD's you play over and over. Rinse and repeat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locogringo Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Also have seen Wilis Alan live several times. He puts on an amazing show. We could start a thread about Texas Singer Songwriters that could go on for a long time. Terry Allen comes to mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guth Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Buc - thanks for the great post. Willis is yet another one of my favorite Texas singer-songwriters, and also provided my wife and I with many fond memories during our time spent in Texas. The first time we caught Willis live was out in Luckenbach, and he put on a wonderful show. We also got to see Willis play many times around Austin. Got to chat with him quite a few times, he's a really humble, down-to-earth guy. He has written plenty of great songs since his only album - too bad he never released a follow-up recording. I know that Lyle Lovett has recorded a number of his tunes and recorded with him. I'm pretty sure that Eric Clapton has covered at least one of the tunes that Willis has yet to record himself - "Positively". Back in the 90's Willis actually played a vintage slope-shouldered Gibson (I believe that it was an old J-45). I can remember him actually rambling on about it a few times between songs, going on about how old guitars had more soul, etc., etc.. He was also sporting an old steel resonator guitar at the time. By the last time we caught him live he had switched over the the Martin, but he still sounded great. Interestingly, I was first turned onto Willis Alan Ramsey by Roy Book Binder who was doing a cover of Willis' "Watermelon Man". All the best, Guth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asmith9509 Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Yeah, used to see Willis all the time at the Saxon Pub when I lived in Austin. Fond memories- music, beer, and late-night tamale vendors. Yum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suburude63 Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 "I learned every song off his record. I went to see him everytime he played, got tennis shoes like his. I wanted to be Willis Alan Ramsey." -- Lyle Lovett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locogringo Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Yeah' date=' used to see Willis all the time at the Saxon Pub when I lived in Austin. Fond memories- music, beer, and late-night tamale vendors. Yum.[/quote'] That's pretty scary cause I saw him at the Saxon as well when I lived in Austin. What years did you live there? We may have been there at the same time as I used to be there a lot. A lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asmith9509 Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 I was there 1998-2003. Still miss living there, I must confess.... the Saxon was a favorite hangout although I lived northwest. BB Rovers was my regular spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locogringo Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 I left in 1992. Had a townhouse on Kinney Ave basically behind the Saxon. Loved it. Still try to get there once or twice a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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