Who’ll Buy My Memories? The IRS Tapes

Country · 1991 · 24 tracks

Who’ll Buy My Memories? The IRS Tapes

Just a man, his battered guitar, and a mountain of debt. These are the barest, most haunting versions of Nelson's greatest songs ever recorded.

1991 · Sony Music Special Products

A weary, dignified solitude that finds beauty in the bare essentials of a song.

Tracklist · 24 Tracks

01

Who’ll Buy My Memories?

3:16

02

Jimmy’s Road

2:41

03

It Should Be Easier Now

2:18

04

Will You Remember Mine?

2:33

05

I Still Can’t Believe You’re Gone

2:48

06

Yesterday’s Wine

2:27

07

It’s Not Supposed to Be That Way

2:19

08

Country Willie

3:46

09

The Sound in Your Mind

3:10

10

Permanently Lonely

2:19

11

So Much to Do

2:08

12

Lonely Little Mansion

2:09

13

Summer of Roses / December Day

3:53

14

Pretend I Never Happened

3:04

15

Slow Down Old World

1:54

16

Opportunity to Cry

2:24

17

I’m Falling in Love Again

3:28

18

If You Could Only See

2:36

19

I’d Rather You Didn’t Love Me

2:30

20

What Can You Do to Me Now?

2:50

21

Buddy

1:55

22

Remember the Good Times

1:34

23

Wake Me When It’s Over

1:56

24

Home Hotel

2:35

Moments Worth Listening For

The stark opening of the title track where the nylon strings buzz slightly against the frets in the silence.

The weary, almost spoken delivery of 'Yesterday's Wine' that strips the song of its usual outlaw bravado.

The way his voice cracks ever so slightly on the high note of 'I Still Can't Believe You're Gone'.

Reviews

AllMusic

Where This Album Departs

How does Who’ll Buy My Memories? The IRS Tapes sound next to the rest of Willie Nelson's catalogue?

Somber+3.8σ

Somber saturates this record far more than the artist's norm.

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