joel

I spent much of the ’70s floundering career-wise. I recorded some terrific singles for Private Stock Records, When label head Larry Uttal signed me, I had high hopes for what we could accomplish together, but my recordings never received the promotion and support I felt they deserved. I reunited with Lee Hazlewood in 1978, recording an album’s worth of material. Unfortunately, without the support of a record label, the project never materialized. I was disappointed, but I was getting older and I was more focused on my family at that point, so it didn’t bother me as much. In 1980, I signed with Elektra Records, releasing one single, “Let’s Keep It That Way,” b/w “One Jump Ahead of the Storm,” and recording countless demos with Billy Strange as I tried to find something people would like. We recorded in a dingy little house studio in the Valley that the label owned. I can still see my kids running around that filthy place! Then, in 1981, Jimmy Bowen, who was then vice president of Elektra/Asylum Nashville, came to the rescue again, putting Mel Tillis and me together. Jimmy knew what he was doing because the chemistry between us was immediate and electric. We had a fabulous time recording our album. Mel & Nancy was released 45 years ago this week! It’s one of the best records I’ve ever made, and a fan favorite. I hope someday it will be available again for everyone to hear. It’s an album I’m incredibly proud of, and I’d love for it to have a second life. Mel and I had something special, and that music deserves to be heard.