 | "Crazy"
Patsy Cline
 |  |
Infatuation country style – the Willie Nelson tune that became Patsy Cline's theme song.
"Crazy" is the karaoke diva's dream, a sultry yet tender number that conveys the madness of infatuation in a innocent pop-tinged, sway-along kinda way. Willie Nelson wrote the song when he was struggling to launch his career and legend has it that he nearly sold it at a knockdown price as he was so short of money.
In his autobiography, Willie: An Autobiography, he explained how he would write his songs: "Some of my best writing, I think, is done when I'm driving down the highway by myself. My mind is clear and open and receptive … A song will start. The good ones come quickly, and in a few minutes it's over." He was certainly on a roll when he wrote "Crazy". During that same week he also managed to pen two other hit records...
 | |
"I wrote those three songs, 'Funny How Time Slips Away', 'Crazy' and 'Nightlife' all in one week!" |
There are conflicting reports concerning Patsy Cline's reaction to hearing the Willie Nelson's demo of the song for the first time. Some say she loved it, others argue that she was put off by Willie's vocal style, as he practically talked his way through the number.
Whatever her initial reactions to the song were, she agreed to record it and went into the recording studio at 7.15pm on August 21st 1961 and spent the entire four hour session trying to capture an acceptable version of "Crazy". The song proved to be hard to get right. The fact that Patsy had been in a serious car accident a few week previously (she sustained a severe head injury and broken ribs) added to her problems during the recording session. She even had problems sustaining some of the notes because her ribs hurt her too badly to hold the breath.
Cline was given a second chance to get that perfect take a few days later, when she added her vocals onto the backing track.
| |
"I knew she had nailed it – it's like it was written for her" |
 | "Crazy" is Nashville country music at its richest and best. Renowned Country producer Owen Bradley matched lush orchestral arrangements with backing vocals from Nashville regulars The Jordanaires, a vocal quartet who'd also worked with Elvis, Gene Pitney and Jim Reeves. |  |
"Crazy" was Patsy Cline's biggest US hit in the Billboard pop chart of 1961, reaching #9 in the pop charts and #2 in the country charts.
But it wasn't until 1991 that this classic piece of Country Pop achieved success in the UK, when it reached #14 in the charts. Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits compilation has long since passed the ten million sales mark in the US.
Songwriting tips Willie Nelson wrote three hit songs in as many weeks - and Crazy was just one of them.
Discover the secrets of successful songwriting in the Songwriting Guides.
| | Test your knowledgeTake the "Crazy" quiz! |
|
 | | | DON'T MISS | | | |  | | Doves
Special guests on Dermot's show this week
| |
|
|
Full Schedule
Newsletter sign-up