Willie Nelson with Francine Reed – Funny How Time Slips Away

I heard from several people who really love Francine Reed (she was featured on yesterday’s song with Lyle Lovett).

So let’s bring her back for an encore.

But first, some background…

Willie Nelson released his first album, And Then I Wrote, in 1962.

That album included a song he wrote called “Funny How Time Slips Away.”

A year earlier, Billy Walker was the first to record that song, and his version was a hit — far more popular than Willie’s later version.

That’s how it went for Willie in the 60s. He was much better known as a songwriter than a performer.

He didn’t become a superstar and a legend until the 1970s.

As the years passed, Funny How Time Slips Away became a country standard — one of Willie’s legendary hits. Here’s a list of some of the people who covered it:

Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Al Green, Ray Price, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Spinners, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Paycheck, Rick Nelson, Wanda Jackson, Jim Nabors, Bobby “Blue” Bland / B.B. King, Brenda Lee, Leon Russell, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Four Freshmen, The Supremes, Bryan Ferry, Chet Atkins, Diana Ross & the Supremes, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Lyle Lovett, Perry Como, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tina Turner, and many more.

And then there’s Glen Campbell.

Despite being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2011, he soldiered through a farewell tour in 2013. And soon after, he recorded an album of country classics for a final album called Adiós.

Long time friend Carl Jackson produced the album. It wasn’t easy to record that album as Glen slipped away.

The third track: A duet with Willie. You know the song.

The album was released on June 9, 2017 when Glen was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s. He passed away on August 8, 2017.

His version of the song is here:

youtu.be/j5KtCUHnAFw

The version I’ve added to the Song of the Day playlist is one Willie recorded with Francine Reed in 2000 for the album Milk Cow Blues.

She’s also featured on the title track of this under appreciated album.

Enjoy…

Today’s Song

Title: Funny How Time Slips Away

Artist: Willie Nelson with Francine Reed

Album: Milk Cow Blues (2000)

YouTube Link: youtu.be/3RbCstJ9Sx4

Here are the Playlists:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3xYKtYparrdJRYAjBj9kjx?si=eb6c3ebc30484204