Funny How Time Slips Away

"Funny How Time Slips Away" is a song written by Willie Nelson and also performed by Willie Nelson. The song was included as a track on Willie Nelson's 1962, debut album, And Then I Wrote.

Cover versions

• The first charted version of the song was performed by country singer/guitarist, Billy Walker in 1961. His version peaked at number twenty-three on the Hot C&W Sides chart.^[1]

• In 1961, C&W artist Jimmy Elledge, single on RCA, peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. Elledge sent a demo tape to Chet Atkins when he was 18 years old, which resulted in a recording contract with RCA Victor. His first recording for the label, "Funny How Time Slips Away", was written by Willie Nelson and produced by Atkins, and sold over one million copies.

• In 1964, R&B and gospel artist, Joe Hinton had a major crossover hit with his version of the song which went to number one on the Cash Box R&B chart and number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in the U.S.^[2]

• In 1965, The Supremes included the song as an album track on their The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop album.

• In 1965, Billy Joe Royal included the song on the album Down in the Boondocks.

• In 1970, Elvis Presley recorded the song for his up coming concept album, Elvis Country (1971).

• In 1973, Al Green recorded a very soulfull version of the song on the album Call Me.

• In 1973, Lulu covered the song for her eponymous album.

• In 1975, county singer/guitarist, Narvel Felts, recorded a successful cover which peaked at number twelve on the Hot Country Singles chart.^[3]

• In 1976, R&B singer, Dorothy Moore recorded her version which reached number seven on the soul charts and number fifty seven on the Hot 100^[4]

• In 1982, The Spinners recorded their version which peaked at number forty-three on the soul chart and number sixty-seven on the Hot 100.^[5]

• In the mid eighties this song was played regularly in Green on Red concerts.

• In 1994, Al Green and Lyle Lovett performed a version of this song on the concept album Rhythm, Country and Blues.

• The Simpsons covered the song on the album The Yellow Album, released in 1998.

• Cybill Shepherd covered the song in 1999 on the album Songs from the Cybill Show, which accompanied her sitcom Cybill. ^[6]

• In 2005, George Jones covered the song on the Hits I Missed...And One I Didn't album.

• In 2010 Dave Matthews and Zac Brown performed it together

• In 2010 a duet recorded by Willie Nelson and Juice Newton was released on Newton's album Duets, Friends & Memories. The recording was also released as a single.

References