L.A. Songs: L.A. Turnaround
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (89307)
United States
October 11, 2026 11:18am CST
Wow, I’m late. I’m also hitting the Texas singer-songwriters a lot in these songs about Los Angeles hard and heavy! 
Let’s head back to L.A. via Texas again with today’s song.
L.A. Turnaround - Billy Joe Shaver
Totin’ a bag full of yesterdays and a mind full of donut holes
Billy Joe Shaver was one of the greatest songwriters that you’ve never heard of. He was an absolute legend in Texas “outlaw” music. Hey, the guy was missing two fingers on his right hand (a sawmill accident took most of his right index and middle fingers) and STILL played guitar.
This is from his debut album, which was produced by Kris Kristofferson (who helped Shaver get the record deal…which should tell you a lot about how respected Shaver was as a songwriter). That’s a classic of the “outlaw” era. He didn’t ever make the “big time,” but I think he was fine with that.
L.A. Turnaround
Written by Billy Joe Shaver
Recorded by Billy Joe Shaver
From Old Five and Dimers Like Me, 1973
L.A. LYRICS: title
You’re too busy living to think about dying:
Let’s head back to L.A. via Texas again with today’s song.
L.A. Turnaround - Billy Joe Shaver
Totin’ a bag full of yesterdays and a mind full of donut holes
Billy Joe Shaver was one of the greatest songwriters that you’ve never heard of. He was an absolute legend in Texas “outlaw” music. Hey, the guy was missing two fingers on his right hand (a sawmill accident took most of his right index and middle fingers) and STILL played guitar.
This is from his debut album, which was produced by Kris Kristofferson (who helped Shaver get the record deal…which should tell you a lot about how respected Shaver was as a songwriter). That’s a classic of the “outlaw” era. He didn’t ever make the “big time,” but I think he was fine with that.
L.A. Turnaround
Written by Billy Joe Shaver
Recorded by Billy Joe Shaver
From Old Five and Dimers Like Me, 1973
L.A. LYRICS: title
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8 people like this
7 responses
@ptrikha_2 (49915)
• India
11 Oct
Nice song with good retro effects.
It would have made life joyful for listeners back then.
Would sound good on long drives as well.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (89307)
• United States
11 Oct
As someone who’s done it, driving out west with country music is terrific.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (49915)
• India
17 Oct
@FourWalls
And if one gets to hear variety, all the better.
How is the Country Music faring these days?
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (49915)
• India
18 Oct
@FourWalls
So it is different now from what it should have progressed to!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (107893)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Oct
Argh! You have a knack for finding tunes I never heard of.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (89307)
• United States
11 Oct
No, I’m sorry, the Knack won’t be on this countdown. 
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (107893)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Oct
@FourWalls My sharona is disappointed.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (126064)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
12 Oct
Great song performed by Billy Joe Shaver.
1 person likes this
@Wrexxo (9897)
•
11 Oct
Billy Joe Shaver is such a good pick, and I love that he kept playing guitar after the sawmill accident. Kristofferson producing his first album says a lot about how respected he was. Never made it big maybe, but his songs are still around and thats what counts.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (48368)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Oct
He never made the big time, but at least I've heard of him, so it wasn't all in vain.
