6+ hours of Willie Nelson's 1974 4th of July Picnic (DAY 1/3 part 1) (UNHEARD)

This 6 hour 30 minute tape features Jerry Jeff Walker, Augie Meyers, Rusty Wier, Greezy Wheels, Willis Alan Ramsey, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, B.W. Stevenson, Michael Murphey, Alvin Crow, Freda and the Firedogs, and other recording artists. This is part 1 of day 1. More coming over the next 3 days!
Excuse the bad audio i just couldnt do much to fix it. - I would recommend listening to BW and Michael Murphey’s set on full blast in your car or on a speaker to really get a feel for it! If you know which acts are the "?" feel free to help us out in the comments!
00:00 Jerry Jeff Walker and The Lost Gonzo Band
34:04 Augie Meyers
45:48 Rusty Wier
58:15 Greezy Wheels
1:04:20 Willis Allan Ramsey
1:48:45 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Leon Russell
1:57:30 B.W. Stevenson (Muffled)
2:47:43 Michael Martin Murphey (Muffled)
3:01:57 Alvin Crow
3:11:25 Freda And The Firedogs
3:35:37 ?
3:48:15 - 4:37:43 Weird Silence
4:37:44 The Flatlanders
5:22:38 ?
5:26:06 ?
5:29:47 ?
5:32:53 ?
5:48:49 Sammi Smith
6:04:29 Bobby Bare

[@HighwaterHank32]

Whoever flagged this has no soul. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@willperson7053]

Never been a first commenter before. Would love to have been there in 74. The last show ever at South Park Meadows Austin was a Willie 4th. I got lucky that night and got dropped off the next morning on the 35 feeder. Jumped the fence and my truck was right in the very center of the field was the last vehicle ever park there. Got to go to 8 picnics. Really enjoying listening to this one on the 4th !

[@MichaelSmith-ex4jd]

Awesome! Historical evidence of a bygone era and some of the best times in the Lone Star State.

[@timmy707707]

There is very little to be found of live JJW and the Lost Gonzos. Thanks for putting this tidbit up there for us buckaroos!

[@markz5505]

I have been waiting for this for weeks, like a kid waits for Christmas!

[@VintageWillie]

@@markz5505 there is more coming tomorrow and Saturday. I tried my best to fix the bad audio of the BW set and Michael Murphey but there was nothing I could really do.

[@BruceinKs]

​@VintageWillie anything is better than nuthin' 😁

[@frankleppert4913]

Does this mean you have the whole picnic 74??? Unbelievable!!! I just made a quick scan of the recording, this means birthday, Chrstmas gift all together :) 😍

[@VintageWillie]

@@frankleppert4913 I have 20+ hours from it. Definitely not the whole thing though As many songs are missing from sets.

[@brianrodgers3250]

Thank you so much!!! Happy 4th!!🇺🇸

[@petrahartwig6685]

❤❤❤❤thanks so much dear Willie you are the best

[@elbisnopserton9052]

Thank God for Willie.

[@jerrycoughlin-iq7lb]

Oh ,Colleges Station.Excellent nonetheless!!!!

[@mbrand19971]

Very historical moment in history which Willie began to get exposure which after he left Nashville he went back to Texas put a new band together which he pretty began to find his trademark sound and never looked back.

[@claywright1100]

Doug Sahm with Freda and the Firedogs doing a killer version of "Texas Me" - 3:12:03.

[@charminramirez3675]

Shittt, Doug Sahm kills it here, i didnt knew Sahm Played in the picnic

[@jerrycoughlin-iq7lb]

Is this in Gonzales?Wow!!!

[@charminramirez3675]

I really dont know any of the "¿?" musicians, if you have any information that could help me finding them ill be grateful, I also think that 4:37:44 band are the flatlanders, FEEL FREE TO PUT ANY CORRECTION, thank you for the recording Vintage Willie Nelson
00:00 Jerry Jeff Walker and The Lost Gonzo Band
34:04 Augie Meyers
45:48 Rusty Wier
58:15 Grezzy Wheels
1:04:20 Willis Allan Ramsey
1:48:45 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
1:57:30 Bw Stevenson
2:47:43 Michael Martin Murphey
3:01:57 Alvin Crow
3:11:25 Doug Sahm and Freda And The Firedogs
3:15:20 Freda And The Firedogs
3:35:37 ¿?
3:48:15-4:37:43 Weird Silence
4:37:44 Flatlanders
5:22:38 ¿?
5:26:06 ¿Ray Price?
5:29:47 ¿?
5:32:53 ¿?
5:48:49 Sammi Smith
6:04:29 Bobby Bare

[@waylonwillie5736]

Nice work! That is certainly Joe Ely and Jimmie Gilmore singing. They call out John Reed, who I believe played with them as well. Internet sources say that the Flatlanders broke up before 1974, but maybe that was not truly a breakup.

[@charminramirez3675]

@@waylonwillie5736 Yep i kinda heard the Jimmie Gilmore characteristic singing voice, do you have any clue on who the other musicians are?

[@ChrisReffner]

Is this audio only?

[@VintageWillie]

@@ChrisReffner yes audio only. Would've costed hundreds of thousands of $$$$ to film all acts back then!.

[@VintageWillie]

the weird silence is my fault. I was in a rush to get this out yesterday and someones set got deleted. I will put it in the video I upload today.