Whiskey River
Willie Nelson | Artist Essentials
First released: 1973 (year verified)
Original 1973 Shotgun Willie studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: Hear the voice lean against the rhythm while the band leaves room for the guitar.
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Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1973 (year verified)
The original studio performance was released on Shotgun Willie in 1973; the later live hit is a separate recording.
Recording: Original 1973 Shotgun Willie studio recording
Credit: Willie Nelson
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original album: Shotgun Willie
Shotgun Willie - official Willie Nelson album catalog
Original 1973 studio album includes Whiskey River as track two. This is a different performance from the later live recording. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
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About Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson's musical background joins Texas country traditions with western swing and a flexible approach to vocal phrasing. In Nashville he became known as a songwriter through recordings of Crazy, Hello Walls and Funny How Time Slips Away by other performers. His return to Texas helped shape the 1970s outlaw-country period associated with him and Waylon Jennings. His own singing and guitar playing remain central to a career that also includes many separately credited duets and group collaborations.
Artist background sources
Willie Nelson - Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum biography
Texas musical background, phrasing, Nashville songwriting for other performers, return to Texas and outlaw-country era with Waylon Jennings. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-17. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
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