| Yesterday's Wine | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 1971 | |||
| Recorded | May 3–4, 1971 | |||
| Studio | RCA Studio B (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 29:43 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Producer | Felton Jarvis | |||
| Willie Nelson chronology | ||||
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Yesterday's Wine is the 13th studio album and a concept album by country singer Willie Nelson. Nelson had been recording for RCA Victor since the early 1960s, and had released no significant hit records. By 1970, his recordings had reached mid-chart positions. Nelson lost the money he made from his song-writing royalties by financing concert tours that were generally unsuccessful and unprofitable. In addition to problems with his music career, Nelson had a troubled personal life. He had divorced his wife, Shirley Collie, and his Tennessee ranch had been destroyed by a fire.
After moving to a new home in Bandera, Texas, Nelson was called by RCA Records producer Felton Jarvis about the upcoming scheduled recording sessions. At the time, Nelson had not written any new material. He returned to Nashville, where he wrote new songs to use with others from his old repertoire. These new concept songs were recorded at the RCA studios in Nashville in just two days.
Considered one of country music's first concept albums, Yesterday's Wine is the story of the "Imperfect Man", from the moment he is born to the day of his death. RCA originally released the singles "Yesterday's Wine" and "Me and Paul". The former peaked at number 62 in Billboard's Hot Country Singles. The album failed to reach the charts, and a frustrated Nelson decided to temporarily retire from music, while still under contract to RCA Records. Later with his musical style revitalized, he returned to music in 1972.