Willie Nelson’s “Touch Me” marks 65 years since it was recorded for Liberty Records on 22 August 1961. Released in May 1962, it reached No. 7, becoming his first solo top-10 hit and helping establish him as a recording artist after an initially difficult search for a Nashville record deal.

Before his breakthrough, Nelson had gained attention as a songwriter through songs including “Family Bible”, “Hello Walls”, “Night Life” and Patsy Cline’s crossover hit “Crazy”. Hank Cochran supported him after hearing “Touch Me”, while Harlan Howard later helped secure his Liberty contract; Nelson’s earlier duet “Willingly” reached No. 10, and his next solo top-10 success did not arrive until “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” topped the chart in 1975.