Bloody Mary Morning

"Bloody Mary Morning" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Willie Nelson. Nelson wrote the song inspired by his struggles to become a "better parent". It was originally released in the 1970 RCA Records release Both Sides Now with the title "Bloody Merry Morning".

"Bloody Mary Morning"
Single by Willie Nelson
B-side"After the Fire Is Gone" (with Tracy Nelson)
ReleasedFebruary 1974 (February 1974)
RecordedSeptember 1973
GenreCountry, country rock
Length2:48
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Willie Nelson
Producer(s)Jerry Wexler
Willie Nelson singles chronology
"I Still Can't Believe You're Gone"
(1974)		 "Bloody Mary Morning"
(1974)		 "Sister's Coming Come"
(1974)
Audio sample
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During a party in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1972, Nelson performed the song along with others he planned to include on an upcoming concept album. Nelson impressed another guest at the party, Atlantic Records vice-president Jerry Wexler. Wexler offered him a contract to be a part of the new country music division of Atlantic, which Nelson accepted after ending his unsuccessful run with RCA.

"Bloody Mary Morning" was included in Nelson's concept album Phases and Stages, where the meaning of the song was shifted by the context of the album, changing the theme to a man who is left by his wife. Released as a single, it peaked at number 17 in Billboard's Country singles in 1974, later becoming an essential part of Nelson's live performances repertoire.

Background

Written by Nelson during his tenure with RCA Records, the song was first released by the label on his record Both Sides Now, in 1970. As other releases by Nelson at the time on RCA, the song failed to meet success.[1] In 1972, during a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, Nelson attended a party in Harlan Howard's house, where he sang the song along with others that he planned to include in a concept album.[2] Another guest was Atlantic Records vice-president Jerry Wexler, who previously had produced works for artists such as Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. Wexler was interested in Nelson's music. In light of the opening of a country music division on Atlantic, he proceeded to offer him a contract that gave him more creative control than his deal with RCA.[3] When Nelson was released from his RCA contract, he signed with Atlantic for US$25,000 per year, becoming the label's first country artist.[4]

Re-recording and Release

The song was originally written by Nelson in 1970, inspired by his struggles to be a "good parent". For its inclusion in the concept album Phases and Stages, the song was re-recorded, changing the context to a man who was left by his woman, and decides to go to Houston, Texas from Los Angeles, California to forget her.[5]

The first recording session took place in November 1973 in Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama. The recordings did not convince Rick Sanjek, who was in charge of A&R in Nashville. He persuaded Nelson to re-record all the tracks once again, including "Bloody Mary Morning", allegating that the songs sounded too "R&B". The tracks where re-recorded in late November.[6]

"Bloody Mary Morning" was released as a single, peaking at number 17 in Billboard's Country singles.[7] It was defined by the magazine as a "rollicking narrative".[8] Following its success, the song became an essential part of Nelson's live performances repertoire.[9]

Nelson recorded a rock version of the song with the band Supersuckers for the album Twisted Willie, released in 1996.[10][11]

Chart performance
Chart (1974) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 17
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 26[13]

Footnotes
  1. Streissguth, Michael 2013, p. 72.
  2. Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 247.
  3. Kienzle, Richard 2003, pp. 250–251.
  4. Reid, Jan 2004, p. 224.
  5. Reid, Jan 2004, p. 228.
  6. Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 276.
  7. Rovi Corporation 2013.
  8. Billboard staff 1974, p. 60.
  9. Reid, Jan 2010, p. 127.
  10. Hochman, Steve (January 27, 1996). "ALBUM REVIEWS / POP : 'Twisted Willie' Gives Nelson Grunge Honors Treatment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  11. Liner notes, Twisted Willie. Justice Records. 1996.
  12. "Willie Nelson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  13. RPM staff 1974, p. 22.

References
  • Billboard staff (1974). "Billboard's Recommended Lp's". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 86 (10). ISSN 0006-2510.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Kienzle, Richard (2003). Southwest Shuffle: Pioneers of Honky-Tonk, Western Swing, and Country Jazz. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-94103-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Patoski, Joe Nick (2008). Willie Nelson: An Epic Life. Hachette Digital. ISBN 978-0-316-01778-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Reid, Jan (2004). The Improbable Rise of Redneck Rock. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-78776-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Reid, Jan (2010). Texas Tornado: The Times & Music of Doug Sahm. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-77439-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Rovi Corporation (2013). "Phases and Stages – Charts and Awards:Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved July 30, 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • RPM staff (1974). "Country Playlist". 21 (19). RPM Magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Streissguth, Michael (2013). Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris, and the Renegades of Nashville. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-203820-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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