Background and recording
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During the recording sessions for Nelson's collaboration album with Merle Haggard , Pancho & Lefty , the producer Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons suggested that they record Johnny Christopher's "Always on My Mind ". Haggard had no interest in recording a version of the song for the album, so instead Nelson recorded his own version—the first for the album entitled Always on My Mind . In his autobiography, Nelson stated: "We'll never know what would have happened if Merle had really heard the song right. 'Always on My Mind' bowled me over the moment I first heard it, which is one way I pick songs to record".
The rest of the album was constituted by adult-contemporary and pop standards, such as "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man " and Paul Simon 's "Bridge Over Troubled Water ",[4] as well as re-recordings of his own songs including "Permanently Lonely" (originally recorded for 1969's Good Times LP) and "The Party's Over " (originally recorded for The Party's Over released in 1967).
A 2003 re-release of the album included two bonus tracks: "The Man Who Owes Everyone" and "I'm a Memory" (another re-recording of an earlier release).
Title Writer(s) 1. "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man " Chips Moman , Dan Penn 2:58 2. "Always on My Mind " Johnny Christopher , Mark James , Wayne Carson Thompson 3:34 3. "A Whiter Shade of Pale " Gary Brooker , Keith Reid , Matthew Fisher 4:01 4. "Let It Be Me " Mann Curtis , Pierre Delanoë , Gilbert Bécaud 3:33 5. "Staring Each Other Down" Chips Moman, Bobby Emmons 2:16 6. "Bridge over Troubled Water " Paul Simon 4:39 7. "Old Fords and a Natural Stone" Bobby Emmons, Chips Moman 2:33 8. "Permanently Lonely" Willie Nelson 2:41 9. "Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning " Gary P. Nunn , Donna Sioux Farar4:22 10. "The Party’s Over " Willie Nelson 2:52 Total length: 33:29
2003 re-release bonus tracks
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Title Writer(s) 11. "The Man Who Owes Everyone" Dave Anderson, Willie Nelson 3:16 12. "I'm a Memory" Willie Nelson 2:42 Total length: 39:27
Personnel
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Technical
Virginia Team - art direction
Beverly Parker - photography
Chart performance
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1982 Weekly Chart
Peak position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums
1
U.S. Billboard 200
2
Canadian RPM Top Albums
20
Dutch Albums Chart
28
Australian Albums Chart
60
End of year charts
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1982 Year-end Chart
Position
U.S. Billboard Country Album
1
U.S. Cashbox Top 100
7
U.S. Billboard 200[citation needed ]
26
Canadian RPM Top Albums
96
Charting Singles
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Certification
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Organization
Level
Date
RIAA – USA
4× Platinum
October 21, 1994[5]
References
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