"Always on My Mind" is a love song by Johnny Christopher, Mark James, and Wayne Carson first recorded by B.J. Thomas in 1970, and first released by Gwen McCrae in 1972. Brenda Lee also released a version in 1972. The song has been a crossover hit, charting in both the country and western and pop categories.
"City of New Orleans" is a country folk song written by Steve Goodman, describing a train ride from Chicago to New Orleans on the Illinois Central Railroad's City of New Orleans in bittersweet and nostalgic terms.
"To All the Girls I've Loved Before" is a song written by Hal David (words) and Albert Hammond (music). It was originally recorded by Hammond in 1975 on his album 99 Miles From L.A., but is more famous for a 1984 recording by Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson, which appeared on Iglesias's album 1100 Bel Air Place. A breakthrough for Iglesias in the English language market, the song peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles. "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" went to number one on the country chart, and was one of two entries on the country chart for Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson as duo.
"Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" is a song written by songwriter Fred Rose. Originally performed by Roy Acuff, the song has been covered by many artists, including Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Russell, and Charley Pride. Most notably, the song was recorded by Willie Nelson as part of his 1975 album Red Headed Stranger. Both the song and album would become iconic in country music history, and jump start Nelson's success as a singer and recording artist.
Make Way for Willie Nelson is the fifth studio album by country singer Willie Nelson.
"Don't Take Your Guns to Town" is a 1958 single by Johnny Cash. The single was his fifth release to reach the number one position on the country chart, where it stayed for six weeks. "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" was also a crossover hit peaking at number thirty-two on the pop chart. The song is also included in the live album VH1 Storytellers: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson. The song was covered by U2 as the B-side of their 2001 single "Elevation".
"Good Hearted Woman" is a song written by country music singers Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. In 1969, Jennings and Nelson were staying in a motel in Fort Worth, Texas. Jennings was inspired to write the song after reading an advertisement that promoted Ike and Tina Turner. Jennings joined Nelson during a poker game and told him about the idea. The singers completed the song while Nelson's wife, Connie Koepke, wrote it down.
"My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" was recorded by Waylon Jennings on the 1976 album Wanted! The Outlaws, and further popularized in 1980 by Willie Nelson as a single on the soundtrack to The Electric Horseman. "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" was written by Sharon Vaughn and Nelson's version was his fifth number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for two weeks and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the country chart.
"Yesterday's Wine" is the title track of the 1971 album of the same name by Willie Nelson. The track was also written by Willie Nelson. It later became a #1 duet for George Jones and Merle Haggard in 1982.
"Forgiving You Was Easy" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Willie Nelson. It was released in February 1985 as the first single from the album Me & Paul. "Forgiving You Was Easy" was Willie Nelson's tenth number one single as a solo artist. The single went to number one for one week and spent fourteen weeks on the country chart.
"Living in the Promiseland" is a song written by David Lynn Jones, and recorded by American country music artist Willie Nelson. It was released in February 1986 as the first single from the album The Promiseland. "Living in the Promiseland" was Willie Nelson's twelfth number one single on the country chart as a solo artist, spending one week at number one and twenty weeks on the chart.
"Whiskey River" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Johnny Bush. He released the song in 1972 through RCA Victor and included it on his album Whiskey River. Bush later re-recorded the song in 1981 and released it through the Delta label, with "When My Conscience Hurts the Most" on the b-side.
"Why Do I Have to Choose" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Willie Nelson. It was released in May 1983 as the first single from his album Take It to the Limit. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.
"Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning" is a song written by Gary P. Nunn and Donna Farar, and recorded by American country music artist Willie Nelson. It was released in October 1982 as the third single from his album Always on My Mind. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and number one on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.
"There You Are" is a song written by Mike Reid and Kye Fleming, and recorded by American country music artist Willie Nelson. It was released in September 1989 as the second single from his album A Horse Called Music, and his last release in the 1980s. The song peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
"Mendocino County Line" is a song written by Matt Serletic and Bernie Taupin, and recorded as a duet by American country music artists Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Womack. It was released in January 2002 as the lead-off single from Nelson's album The Great Divide. It was a Top 40 hit on the U.S. country chart, peaking at number 22. It was Nelson's first Top 40 hit on that chart since "Ain't Necessarily So" in 1990. It won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration.
The following is a detailed discography of all singles released by country music singer Willie Nelson. A total of 25 Nelson singles have reached number one on music charts.
"Reasons to Quit" is a song recorded by American country music artists Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson as a duet. It was released in January 1983 as the first single from the album Pancho & Lefty. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The song was written by Haggard.
"Ain't Necessarily So" is a song written by Beth Nielsen Chapman, and recorded by American country music artist Willie Nelson. It was released in September 1990 as the first single from his album Born for Trouble. The song reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"Night Life" is a song written by country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. Nelson was inspired to write the song during one of his trips from his home in Pasadena, Texas, to his work, singing at the Esquire Ballroom in Houston.
