BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN ~ WILLIE NELSON

"Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" is a song written by songwriter Fred Rose. Originally performed by Roy Acuff, the song was later 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. (He had thus far been primarily successful as a songwriter for other artists.) Originally recorded in 1945 by Acuff, the song was later recorded by Hank Williams in 1951 for the Mother's Best Flour Hour. Gene Vincent recorded the song on 6 August 1959, the recording being issued on his first stereo album "Crazy Times" in 1960. The song was later recorded by Willie Nelson as part of his concept album, Red Headed Stranger, about a fugitive preacher on the run from the law after killing his wife.Nelson's rendition, wrote country music historian Bill Malone, was "a fine example of clean, uncluttered country music, (with) a spare arrangement that could have come straight out of the 1940s." Rolling Stone noted the song was delivered with his "jazz-style phrasing" and was "the beating heart of Red Headed Stranger."