Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
1975
Album Summary
Red Headed Stranger is the 18th studio album by American outlaw country singer Willie Nelson, released in 1975. Following the success of his recordings with Atlantic Records, coupled with the negotiating skills of his manager, Neil Reshen, Nelson signed a contract with Columbia Records, the label that gave him total creative control over his works. The concept for the album was inspired by the "Tale of the Red Headed Stranger", a song that Nelson used to play as a disc jockey on his program in Fort Worth, Texas. After signing with Columbia, he decided to record the song, and arranged the details during his return to Austin, Texas, from a trip to Colorado. It was recorded at low cost at Autumn Sound Studios in Garland, Texas. The songs featured sparse arrangements, largely limited to Nelson's guitar, piano, and drums. Nelson presented the finished material to Columbia executives, who were dubious about releasing an album that they at first thought was a demo. However, Nelson had creative control, so no further production was added. A concept album, Red Headed Stranger is about a fugitive on the run from the law after killing his wife and her lover. The content consists of songs with brief poetic lyrics and arrangements of older material such as Fred Rose's "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", Wolfe Gilbert's "Down Yonder", and Juventino Rosas' "O'er the Waves". Despite Columbia's doubts and the limited instrumentation, Red Headed Stranger was a blockbuster among country music and mainstream audiences. It was certified multiple-platinum, and made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. The cover of "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", released as a single before the album, became Nelson's first number-one hit. The title of the album became a lasting nickname for Nelson. It was ranked number 183 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and number one on CMT's 40 Greatest Albums in Country Music. In 2010, it was inducted to the National Recording Registry. In 1986, Nelson starred as the Red Headed Stranger in a movie of the same name, based on the story of the album. The album has had a strong cultural impact; the song "Time of the Preacher" was used often in the British television miniseries Edge of Darkness, and its lyrics were used in the first issue of the comic Preacher.
WikipediaWillie Nelson bucked the system and instead of putting out over produced Nashville drivel, made a simple, stripped down country record structured as a concept album. Red Headed Stranger is the story of a preacher who kills his wife and lover and explores themes of loss, guilt, and longing. It’s exactly what needed to be made at the time
What a great album, and what a wonderful voice. (I mean, it's Willie Nelson, is anyone surprised?) This is exactly the type of album that makes me glad I'm doing this project. Because while it's not something I'd seek out, and I don't universally adore every track, it's extremely worth the listen, and I would listen through it again if I'm in the right mood. The album is calming, and oddly a good balm for loneliness but without being whiny. It feels like a chat with an old friend: mellow, reassuring, maybe even a little bit commiserating. And, above all, worth your time. Fave track: Hands on the Wheel
Somehow, I've never heard a single Willie Nelson track, knowingly, up until this point. I love this! Understated playing, great storytelling and a voice that holds lots of appeal for me. He deserves to be known better on these shores than as the old boy who likes smoking big doinks. Superb!
I didn't think I'd like this, but I really enjoyed it. There's something about this type of 1970s country music, the trad and pseudo trad styles. Everything feels cosy and comforting, like you're sitting in a bar while yung Willie sings away in the corner. This is the kind of album that I would happily listen to again, if the mood took me.
GOOD dog walking music. It isn't too intensely Willie Nelson, it is the perfect amount. I like the balance between singing and instruments.
What on first impression feels unfocused, random, rough and incomplete you will then learn is the result and product of Willie's artistic control. Sparse and demo-like, it is never dwelling on one idea. Instead it is constantly moving onward with its narrative.
1st time of listening. Love Willie Nelson, his lyrical aptitude as a writer is clear from his back catalogue but what I like about this is that he has developed, through others songs, a wonderful, simple narrative about the red headed stranger. Love the title track and "Denver" and of course the recurring "Time Of The Preacher" "O'er The Waves" (Which to me is reminiscent of The Harry Lime Theme) and the honky-tonk Piano (Played, I believe by Willie's sister Bobbie) of down yonder. A tale of betrayal redemption and love and stripped down to the instruments with Willie's distinctive voice being the main star! Love it and rightfully in this list in my opinion.
Exceptional album, a classic. Tight, minimalist compositions, with strong songwriting from Nelson. Not a bad song on here. Fave Songs: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Red Headed Stranger, Hands on the Wheel, Can I Sleep in Your Arms, Time of the Preacher
Good grief this here is one heck of a beautiful album. The piano interlude on Just As I Am and Can I Sleep in Your Arms near blew me out of the dang water. Such a strutty little bass line on Remember Me. Outlaw country with a tender gentle heart.
I'd love to hang out with Willie for a day, get stoned and listen to him tell stories, perhaps a song or two. Shotgun Willie is my go to album but this one has gotten a lot plays as well. Albums like this make you realize not all country music is shit.
A perfect lazy Sunday album. Every track has a little surprise waiting to be discovered. It's a sign of everything wrong with the music industry that Columbia tried to re-produce this album because they thought it was too stripped down. Best track: Red Headed Stranger
Generally not my type of music but damn if Willie isn't incredibly talented. The closing track on this album was beautiful, just the piano and harmonica. The piano was really a standout the whole way through. The album tells a great story, and Willie is a master at his craft. Probably the only 5 star country album I'll have this list, but if any deserves it this is the one.
I love you, Willie. Thank you for keeping it 100% authentic throughout your career. Also, a little bump for a sweet song about Denver!
I always love tight, story-driven concept albums. Add Willie’s impeccable delivery, and you’ve got an instant classic for me.
I'm surprised Nashville hasn't built a Mount Rushmore of Country Music. Seems like something they'd be all freaking over. We'll do the easy work for them here in terms of selecting the 4 figures on Mount Country Music. Johnny Cash and Hank Williams are slam-dunk no-brainers. And I believe the third obvious choice is one Willie Hugh Nelson. They'd probably complain about having to put a bandana on his head, and they'll be jokes about how Willie should also be displayed smoking a joint, but no Mount Rushmore is complete with him. The argument could begin and end with the fact that Willie Nelson wrote "Crazy". Mic drop. And if that's not enough, allow me to present to you a concept album he recorded entitled "Red Headed Stranger". Great simple storytelling music that showcases what made Willie Nelson a legend, including the quintessential version of "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" where Ol' Willie even one-ups Hank Williams. As for that 4th person on the Mount Rushmore of Country Music...the internet would absolutely explode if it isn't Dolly Parton. Fuck that. I'd take Loretta Lynn or Emmylou Harris over Dolly. Also acceptable: George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, and an argument could be made for Patsy Cline. It'd be fitting to have her next to the pot smoking, bandana wearing hillbilly/hippie who wrote her signature song.
I grew up hearing this album in the background, but its spartan production and mature themes went over my head and I didn't appreciate it. I haven't heard it since my pre-teen years. Returning to it now is like discovering an entirely new album. The music is arresting and beautiful, the album filled with suspense, tragedy and heartache, and I loved it. While murder ballad albums tend to turn me off, this had a very different feel and focused on a range of emotions other than anger and revenge. It is surprisingly wistful. How fortunate are we that Willie Nelson had negotiated a contract that allowed him to release this album. It is easy to see how record producers would demand that more production be added to this album. I imagine that would have greatly diminished the power of this album. Red Headed Stranger is an affecting work I will listen to again and again.
As with the album Stardust, I am again struck by the deliberateness of Willie Nelson's music. Every note, every tempo, the order of the songs...all show a clear intent and purpose, nothing ad libbed or left to chance. Despite the murderous themes in the lyrics, I feel safe with Willie at the helm. This is music that makes me feel good.
Brilliant, a country concept album with a coherent story and great tunes. One of the reviews said it was "the Sgt pepper's of country", which sounds about right!
With a mixture of short tales and epic tomes, Red Headed Stranger is a exploration of infidelity, murder and desertion in a manner made sparsely and simply that can only benefit Shotgun Willie; any minute longer and it would have been sabotage. It is not surprising to know how this became a beloved album in Willie's canon and an enduring hallmark in country. The complex feelings of the outlaw, encapsulated by the songs that expresses his feelings that flowed through his heart; a tale as old and well told as time.
Murderers with pretty singing voices should be allowed to get away with it
Checks every box possible for a country album. It’s a concept album, underrated and beautiful guitar, good production, nostalgic, influential, album length fits the style of music, tells a story, there’s a flow to song order, great album cover, beautiful ending.
Even if you're not a country fan (and I'm most definitely not), it's hard to deny Willie his due. The man is a great songwriter and a legendary performer. This super stripped down album really showcases the emotional range of his voice and I couldn't be more here for it. Which is REALLY surprising given my aforementioned dislike for the genre. Great album.
Oh my GOD I am so taken with this album!! I already love Willie Nelson but due to my old way of listening to music excluding entire albums, I never listened to this album. I LOVE a concept album, and I love some good country story-telling. I don't always love it coming from a man but in this case it's golden. I am really excited by this story and I will definitely watch the film soon. I even love the instrumental tracks like Down Yonder coming right after Denver where he sings of a chance meeting in a tavern and then the dancing and with this music I can picture a saloon and a pair dancing to this music it's magic! I love thinking about the old un-finished songs which inspired Willie to write this whole concept album and tell this whole story, it's super inspiring. Also loving the simplicity of guitar piano and drums and his beaut voice.
labai grazu. Patiko paklausyt toki stiliu. 'Time of the Preacher' keliavo i playlistĄĄĄ
This is a very special album to me. It reminds me of my father more than any other album. I have a somewhat complex relationship with my father so having this as a positive association with him is a rare and bittersweet treasure. I remember listening to this and "Willie and Family Live" on many road trips with him as a kid. I would go so far as to say that this is the best narrative driven concept album of all time. The fact that it is also a country album makes it all that much more spectacular an achievement. Country has always been more of a singles driven market, but Willie bravely constructed an amazing outlier of an album that had more in common with the AOR of its time, weaving an enchanting tale of betrayal and tragedy. It has recurring musical themes that tie it all together and many instrumental pieces to allow it to breath. In fact, I think it is those instrumental pieces that are the reason this album is so effective. It forces the listener to have to emotionally engage with the music itself, rather than through being fed more narrative in the lyrics. The listener has to connect the dots in their mind. Willie doesn't overdo it or spoonfeed you. He gives you just the right amount of story to set the scene and no more. I feel that this is not only a stroke of genius, but it shows that Willie has faith in, and respect for, his audience. Listening to this as a kid in the passenger seat while my dad drive through the night, I found this absolutely spellbinding. Still do.
Willie is just plain awesome. A great voice and music. This is the kind of music I like to listen to on April day where it's not quite warm yet, and it's overcast and rainy. It just works somehow. It also sounds great in December...or any time.
the EIGHTEENTH album by willie wtf?! Also didn't realize this was "outlaw country". Shit is great great great
Sweet lord why can't all country sound like this. Not a blue jean nor a pick up truck in sight.
This is a quintessential Country album to listen to. Show the naysayers this album and they’ll soon turn around and be more open of Country!
Best album I have discovered through this journey so far. Great concept album with a simplicity to it. Dolby Atmos bring it to another level. Was on repeat all day. Super album.
Willie is such a good song writer. His songs are like a warm hug. This makes me want to write my own concept album.
This is a quintessential country album. Willie Nelson is one of my favorite singers for his distinctive voice and the songs are worthy of it. I especially love the title track for its storytelling, which is really interesting. A lot of the tracks are short and there are a lot of instrumental songs, too, giving it a nice, quick feel.
Great album from Willie with some amazing instrumentation. Classic country sounds. Love it.
So surprised by this one. Shame on me for my undeserved biases. From the soulful singing to the amazing musicality I couldn't believe I had discounted Mr. Nelson as country twang.
Concept albums aren’t only for psychedelic rock! Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain is one of the prettiest songs I’ve ever heard. I’ll keep coming back to this.
This might have been the best album yet from this project. I will be revisiting this many times in the future, which I can't say for most of this. Pretty close to perfect.
My only complaint is that some tracks weren’t long enough. He seemed to have about half a concept album and finished the rest with some filler tracks that could have really enhanced the album if more time was put into them. Everything else was perfect and I can’t imagine any other issues someone could have. His singing, as always, is beautiful. Instrumentation was tight and I even enjoyed the instrumentals. One of my favorites of his. This was Willie’s second album of the year and, to this day, it is common for him to release at least an album a year. I can only imagine if he took a break from pumping out album after album and took a pause to really craft one incredible album. 5/5
Lovely, subtle. Country albums tend to grow on me, but this one starts pretty well-liked. The entrances of new instruments are absolutely delicious. Very, very cool project. The shape of the narrative needs to be teased out a bit by me; Maybe I wasn't listening closely enough. Anyway, it earns its instrumentals while remaining relatively short, and I love that at the very least.
Was pleasantly pleased by this whole experience. Wouldn’t want to listen to it on repeat or anything, but I could see putting it on again from time to time. Made for some nice rainy day early morning tunage without being soul crushingly depressing. Although I do like soul crushingly depressing music.
un bon album country dans une belle journée de pluie. Cela a très bien fitté et j'ai adoré. 3.95
Well, I'm a sucker for a concept album, so the stage was already set for a favorable reception. The understated composition of every song belies the relentless and tragic story that unfolds across the entire album. I was honetly startled when the second voice came in for harmony on 'Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain', because it was almost like someone snuck in the room and interrupted while Willie was confiding a dark secret to me. And so it went through the entire album, until 'Remember Me'. It's an enjoyable song on its own, but it was jarring in it's place and in it's contrast with the mood of the album. All told though, it was a riveting bit of story-telling folded into musical form, which further enhanced the emotions of the tale and of the telling.
I haven't given Willie enough listens. I really dug the sparse instrumentation and lyricism here. The closing track in particular was simply gorgeous sounding.
Good ol outlaw country at its finest. Can't give it a perfect score because, well, country. But gotta love Willie.
Oh Willie Nelson was great this whole time and I never listened to him?? Incredible
For as long as I remember, from when I first started reading music magazines, the man/myth/legend of Willie Nelson, the pro-weed stance, the legal issues, his politics, has been written about more than the actual music. One of those people whose public persona overwhelms everything else, even the thing that made them famous in the first place. Have I heard a Willie Nelson song before? I think so, probably, in passing. Have I ever sat and listened to one of his albums from start to finish and then repeated the process a few more times because what I'm hearing is so good? Not until this very point in time. I like my C&W sparse, downbeat, and full of misery. Just like this.
Disc de country crepuscular, honest i emotiu on Nelson aboca tots els seus sentiments en una música força evocadora. El disc clau de l'outlaw country, i un dels millors del génere
Not familiar with Willie Nelson so excited for this album - interesting that it only has a run time of around 30 mins with so many listed tracks, song don't tend to be this short anymore. Time of the Preacher - Super pretty song Red Headed Stranger - Like this one a lot, got a good beat to it and makes you want to sway along. O'er the Waves - I can only describe this as Country Hawaiian and it nice. Down Yonder - Great track, very upbeat and makes you want to move. Can I Sleep in Your Arms - Another song that despite it's depressing lyrics, has a beautiful, hopeful sound. I quite enjoyed this album, very chill and pretty sad in both the sound and lyrics but has enough upbeat tunes scattered throughout. Not usually my style of music so hard to compare it but I'd happily listen to this through again - low 4 stars I think.
I have never listened to Wille Nelson but I appreciate this county style very much.
Concise storytelling. Sparse instrumentals and Willie's voice bring a wordly tone to this brilliant album.
Gorgeous songs, beautiful voice and sympathetic accompaniment. An album that could make me like country music. If I already were a country music guy it would be an easy 5 stars I imagine, but I'm a neophyte just learning the ropes; 4.25 🌟
I do like Willie. And Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain is a classic. It's a simple album, with simple messages in each song. It's easy to get lost that there's a story here.
Hello, I'm playing Red Dead Redemption, stop interrupting me! Obožavam ovakve (outlaw) country albume, tipa gdje bi mogo slušat ovo da se nalazim na nekom pustom zapadu - lagan album, lagana gitarica, mirno, melankolično, tužno u neku ruku, ali samo po instrumentalu ja bi dao dobru ocjenu. Jednostavno mi paše. Outlaw Country is the best genre, my best friend today! PROTECT WILLIE AT ALL COSTS! DON'T LET HIM LEAVE THIS PLANET!
Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash i Willie Nelson su sveto trojstvo country glazbe.
Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson (1975) A man called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in Montana (“Time of the Preacher”) loses the affection of his wife (“I Couldn’t Believe It Was True”) and commits the ‘justifiable’ homicide of both his wife and her lover (“Blue Rock Mountain/Red Headed Stranger”). Grief stricken, he departs, only to arrive in another town, where he again commits ‘justifiable’ homicide, this time of a yellow haired lady who, through greed and trickery, tried to take the beloved horse that had belonged to his late wife (“Red Headed Stranger”). He finally proceeds to Denver (“Denver”), where he finds solace with a woman (“Can I Sleep in Your Arms”) and apparently becomes her husband and (much later) a grandfather, who reflects on his misery and his hopes for the future in the company of his grandson (“Hands on the Wheel”), finding resolution and redemption in his dotage. This is the basic synopsis of the country western near-opera “The Red Headed Stranger”. Many of the details can only be surmised by listening through the spare lines of narrative, and imagining the drama as the tale unfolds over 15 tracks in 34 minutes. Your take might be different. But there are intertextual weavings and recapitulations that hold the poetry together throughout the album. Some of these are really fine; check out the last two lines of “Denver”. I won’t spoil it for you. What is most refreshing about this musical tale is the fact that it exists in the first place. The country western scene in 1975 was transitioning away from the loopy sequins and buckskin fringes (Think Ernest Tubb, Buck Owens, Porter Wagoner, etc.) toward the more mature ‘outlaw country’ of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and our hero, Willie Nelson. Albums of the earlier period were mostly mere collections of songs. But this album is different. More than a ‘concept’ album, it tells a story, chiefly by cobbling together songs written by others and held together by original lyrical material from the heart and soul of Willie Nelson himself. The narrative sort of falls apart toward the end (most of the action is on side one), but it still retains interest, progressing from tragedy to loss to grief to wisdom. The music is starkly simple, with limited instrumentation, well performed with the sort of authenticity one has come to expect from the inimitable voice of Willie Nelson. This very good album is what happens when a great artist persuades the suits to allow full creative control. The executives at Columbia Records reportedly didn’t like this record. I did. (It went multi-platinum, so apparently others did too). 4/5
I don't know much about Wilie's catalog or album history, but he's just good, old-fashioned, singer-songwriter awesomeness. Maybe I'm sentimental because I recently toured the Moody Theater (where they film Austin City Limits), but I really, really like this album.
Willie Nelson's music is so peaceful. I love his voice and the tone of his amplified nylon string acoustic guitar. I like that this record is stripped down to just him, his voice, a piano, drums, bass, and that's about it. "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain" has always been one of my favorite Willie hits. Though, "Crazy" is his crowning achievement as a songwriter, IMO. It was my grandpa Yuncker's favorite song and we would play it on the jukebox at Weaver's Tavern in Weidman Michigan, when we would go there for hot dogs and Busch Light. For me, Willie's music is honestly less about the songs for me than the laid-back and unassuming vibe. Loved this record and the loose concept happening. I've always just randomly picked a Willie record when I wanted to hear him. Now that I've heard Red Headed Stranger, I'll return to this one when I need a Willie fix. Wow, I made it through that review without mentioning weed!
Granddad here trees with the best of them 💨. A very pleasant album with one of the nicest voices around