Song Review: Willie Nelson with Freddie Powers and Merle Haggard - “Why do I Have to Choose” (“Austin City Limits,” Oct. 18, 1983)
He originally recorded it with Waylon Jennings. But on Oct. 18, 1983, Willie Nelson played it alongside Freddie Powers and Merle Haggard.
It is “Why do I Have to Choose.” And the performance video is the latest in Nelson‘s series of releases from his “Austin City Limits” appearances.
Not one of Nelson’s stronger compositions, “Choose” features an A/A/A/A rhyme scheme of choose/lose/blues/refuse and find/kind/mine/design and an easy listening/jazz arrangement that - save for a short solo on Trigger - just languishes despite the depth of talent on stage.
As a result, this is more about seeing the Nelson/Powers/Haggard combo - Powers and Haggard play rhythm guitar only - and less about hearing the song itself.
Grade card: Willie Nelson with Freddie Powers and Merle Haggard - “Why do I Have to Choose” (“ACL,” 10/18/83) - C+
8/23/21
