Crazy was one of Patsy Cline’s greatest successes. It was also one of her last big hits, as she tragically passed only two years after recording it.
But it turns out another massive name in country music penned the tune.
Today, we’re taking a deep dive into the musical vault to discover the truth behind this famous number.
Let’s hit it!
Who Originally Wrote Crazy?
Willie Hugh Nelson graced the world on April 29, 1933. But his upbringing was far from normal. Not long after she gave birth, Willie’s mother abandoned the family. Then, his father remarried and decided to leave with his new wife.
Fortunately, his grandparents raised him and his sister, Bobbie. They had a deep love and background in music, encouraging their grandchildren to play instruments and learn everything they could about the art.
At age six, Willie received his first guitar and soon began writing poetry and musical compositions. Since he and his family attended church regularly, this was another source of inspiration for him.
His first professional gigs weren’t exactly in line with his Christian upbringing. At age ten, he was in a polka band that often performed at a local bar. Even at that young age, Willie Nelson did what he wanted while making the straight-laced adults crazy.
In 1950, he graduated high school and joined the US Air Force. However, his military experience was cut short. Nine months after enlisting, he received a medical discharge due to persistent back problems. Nelson held a few odd jobs, but being a disc jockey at several Texas radio stations seemed more fitting with his musical pursuits.
His passion for playing the guitar and singing paved the way for decades of amazing contributions we’re all grateful for. It was early in his career that Willie Nelson penned the hit tune Crazy. Nevertheless, the story behind its success is an interesting one.
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What Was Willie Nelson’s Creative Process for Crazy?
Willie Nelson wrote Crazy in 1960, soon after moving to Nashville, Tennessee. He worked multiple jobs to support his first wife and three children, but none were very stable.
Of course, he continued to pursue his dream of becoming a country music star while struggling to make ends meet. He composed many songs with the intent of selling them for $50 each to anyone who would buy them.
One such tune was Crazy, which took Wille Nelson only one hour to write. However, it was the melody that made it somewhat more complex than the standard country style at the time.
Willie recalled in an interview, “I had problems immediately with my song ‘Crazy’ because it had four or five chords…it just wasn’t your basic three-chord country hillbilly song.” Nelson had difficulty finding artists to record it for this very reason.
Eventually, Patsy Cline’s producer heard the demo and thought it’d be great for his client.
Was Patsy Cline the First to Record Crazy?
Born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, Patsy Cline became one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. When she was eight, she taught herself to play the piano and, a few years later, discovered a love for singing.
Patsy dropped out of school at 16 to work various odd jobs to help support her struggling family. She managed to begin a music career during her free time by playing at local radio stations in her hometown of Winchester, Virginia. She also entered and won several singing contests, which helped spread her reputation as a talented performer.
In 1952, she joined a band led by Bill Peer. He was the man who encouraged her to change her name to Patsy. A year later, she married her first husband, Gerald Cline.
The first few singles she recorded under her initial contract didn’t really do all that great. But when she appeared on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts show in 1957, her career took off. Patsy performed Walkin’ After Midnight, and not only did she wow the audience, she won the competition!
Over the next few years, the singer was successful on the country and pop music charts. In fact, she was one of the first crossover artists to have hits in both genres.
After her song I Fall to Pieces made waves in 1961, Cline recorded Willie Nelson’s Crazy. It was an instant smash for the star.
Sadly, Cline’s career came to a tragic end two years later when she died in a plane crash.
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What Popular Covers Are There of Crazy?
Hundreds of artists have recorded their own takes on Crazy, but none were as successful as Patsy Cline’s. We’ll take a look at a few musicians who gave it a go.
Willie Nelson
You might be asking yourself why we have Willie Nelson on this list if he was the one who wrote Crazy. But since Patsy Cline was the first to sing it and make it an instant hit, you could argue that Nelson’s version is a cover.
In 1962, Nelson recorded Crazy for his debut album, …And Then I Wrote. Even though he wasn’t the first to make it popular, we think Willie did an excellent job singing his own song.
Ray Price
Country singer, songwriter, and guitarist Ray Price released a cover of Crazy in 1967 on his Danny Boy album. His deep baritone vocals give the tune a completely different feel than Nelson’s or Cline’s. Many county music fans consider his voice to be one of the best in the genre.
While not as well-known as other versions, it’s worth taking a listen to hear the difference for yourself.
Loretta Lynn
In 1977, Loretta Lynn recorded Crazy to include on an album of songs she covered by the late Patsy Cline. When the two stars met in the early 1960s, they formed an instant bond.
Lynn considered Patsy her best friend as well as a mentor during her early career. Her rendition of the hit song certainly pays a kind tribute to Cline’s legacy.
What Is Willie Nelson Doing Now?
The Red-Headed Stranger turned 90 years old in 2023 and is still performing and releasing music. We can only hope to have as much energy as he has if we’re lucky enough to make it to his age.
Willie’s two-day birthday celebration at the Hollywood Bowl featured an all-star lineup. Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow, and Snoop Dogg were among the many guests helping the country icon ring in his next decade. While Crazy wasn’t one of the songs played at the show, many other Willie Nelson classics made the setlist.
In 2022, Nelson released his 72nd album, A Beautiful Time. It won a Grammy Award for Best Country Album in February 2023. And the year prior to that, The Willie Nelson Family Band put out a record featuring the singer’s sons, daughters, and sister, Bobbie.
Additionally, Nelson joined a long list of other artists as an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. It’s certainly a long overdue recognition if you ask us.
Want all of Willie’s greats, including his version of Crazy? Download Legend: The Best of Willie Nelson.
We’re Still Crazy for this Classic Country Hit
So, now you know the whole story behind Willie Nelson’s song Crazy. For many of us, Patsy Cline will always be the voice we hear when we think of the popular tune.
No matter what version of the hit you listen to, the reason it topped the music charts is undeniable. The lyrics speak of lost love and pining for the one that left. It’s a story many of us can relate to at some point in our lives, but hopefully not too often!