Willie Nelson — Opry House
Recorded 1974
KERA-TV studios · Dallas · 
United States
Featuring Sammi Smith
Setlist
Wrong timestamp?
“To see Willie Nelson on Dallas public television in 1974, on a program that predates Austin City Limits.”
Context
In 1974, Dallas public television makes room for a country music taking new shapes in Texas. At the KERA studios, Willie Nelson finds a close-up audience for Opry House, a program that predates Austin City Limits. Phases and Stages is already part of this phase, between older compositions and recent material.
Willie starts with Whiskey River and stitches Funny How Time Slips Away, Crazy and Night Life into a medley. Jody Payne takes Loving Arms; Mickey Raphael is featured on Going Fishing. Sammi Smith comes in for Truck Drivin' Man and Georgia on a Fast Train. Requests come from the audience, and the band obliges.
The recording's fate imposes a cut that does not belong to the stage. While preparing the retrospective for KERA's 50th anniversary, the staff searches without success for the second tape of the 90-minute program. The first hour survives; Sammi's return and Jerry Jeff Walker's appearance are missing.
- Sammi Smith joins on Truck Drivin' Man and Georgia on a Fast Train.
Lineup at this show
The lineup of this performance — not necessarily the current one.
- Willie NelsonVocals and acoustic guitar
- Jody PayneGuitar and vocals
- Bee SpearsBass
- Paul EnglishDrums
- Mickey RaphaelHarmonica
- Sammi SmithguestVocals
Trivia
Bobbie Nelson is not part of the lineup recorded at this performance.
Willie takes audience requests for Sad Songs and Waltzes and Pick Up the Tempo.
The original program runs 90 minutes, but the second tape is not found during the preparation of KERA's 50th anniversary retrospective.
The missing section includes Help Me Make It Through the Night with Sammi Smith and an appearance by Jerry Jeff Walker.
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