On This Day in 1980: Willie Nelson Released ‘Honeysuckle Rose’, the Classic Movie Soundtrack to His First Starring Role

On this day (July 18), in 1980 Willie Nelson released the classic album Honeysuckle Rose. The album served as the soundtrack for the film of the same name which starred Nelson and released the same day. The double LP included classic tracks like “On the Road Again,” “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” “Whiskey River,” and others.

Nelson made his acting debut in The Electric Horseman in 1979. The next year, he took on the lead role of Buck Bonham in Honeysuckle Rose. The film saw the Outlaw Country legend portraying a country singer. It wasn’t a huge hit at the box office but remains a hit among Nelson’s fans. The film’s soundtrack was a larger success.

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Honeysuckle Rose peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Albums chart. It just missed the top 10 of the publication’s all-genre albums chart, landing at No. 11. It has since been certified Double Platinum by the RIAA.

Willie Nelson Compiles a Classic Album in Honeysuckle Rose

Honeysuckle Rose is packed with classic Willie Nelson songs. For instance, it opens with a live version of “On the Road Again” which was also an alternate title for the film. Nelson wrote the song for the soundtrack and released it as a single. It went on to become his sixth solo No. 1 and his ninth overall chart-topper.

Nelson also penned “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” for the film’s soundtrack. It was the second single from the album and brought Willie his seventh No. 1 as a solo artist.

The album also features “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” The Fred Rose-penned classic first appeared on Nelson’s iconic 1975 concept album Red Headed Stranger. It was a No. 1 country hit for Nelson and landed in the top 40 of Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 upon its initial release in 1975.

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The album also featured a who’s who of country artists. World-class fiddler and former member of Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys, Johnny Gimble appeared on the album. Additionally, Emmylou Harris, Jeannie Seely, Hank Cochran, and Chris Etheridge showed up in the album’s long list of personnel.

In short, Honeysuckle Rose the film may have gotten mixed reviews but the movie’s soundtrack will go down in history as one of Willie Nelson’s finest albums.

Featured Image by Sterling Munksgard