 Shotgun Willie is a 1973 album by Willie Nelson . The recording marks a change of style for Nelson , who later stated that the album " cleared his throat " . When Nelson refused to sign an early extension of his contract with RCA in 1972 , the label decided not to release any further recordings . Nelson hired Neil Reshen as his manager , and while Reshen negotiated with RCA , Nelson moved to Austin , Texas , where the ongoing hippie music scene at the Armadillo World Headquarters renewed his musical style . In Nashville , Nelson met producer Jerry Wexler , vice president of Atlantic Records , who was interested in his music . Reshen solved the problems with RCA and signed Nelson with Atlantic Records as their first country music artist . 
