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.
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Reviews
el bueno de willie
Cozy emotional and felt like a soundtrack in the best way. I’d give 4,5 if that was an option.
Any other day - this wouldn’t have done it for me but I just needed this today. Romantic, soothing, melancholic He’s just a sad guy with a sad heart <\3
didnt expect to like country this much maybe its because ive been listening to it while driving and the setting was perfect who knows but at the end of the day i truly enjoyed it i am givinf 4 stars though because its not an album that i would listen anytime though
Ok, my first country album Time of the Preacher→9/10 I Couldn't Believe It Was True→8/10 Time of the Preacher Theme→9.5/10 Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger→8.5/10 Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain→9.5/10 Red Headed Stranger→10/10 Time of the Preacher Theme→9/10 Just As I Am→10/10 Denver→9/10 O'er the Waves→10/10 Down Yonder→10/10 Can I Sleep in Your Arms→10/10 Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming)→7.5/10 Hands on the Wheel→8.5/10 Bandera→10/10 best→Can I Sleep in Your Arms worst→ Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming) overrated→Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain underrated→Just As I Am overall→80/100 barely MUST HEAR Since it’s country music, I wasn’t expecting much, but WOW, this is peak! The sound is so simple and raw, and that makes me feel this more personal like listening to an older unc blathering, more than reading a novel. This album is dry but also mellow.
Good napping music
I bought this album many years ago based on reputation. It disappointed me a little. In terms of hits, there's only one. But over the years, I've come to appreciate many albums that don't have a lot of hit songs (Physical Graffiti and Exile on Main Street to name a couple). This is one of those albums. If you're looking for which tracks to play to see the greatness, there's no obvious choices. Nonetheless, it's an excellent album. (And it gets a small bump due to its influence; the sparseness was controversial in the music industry at the time.)
Country just ain’t it for me fam
Not a super huge country fan, but I actually didn’t hate this album. I can’t give it above a three
Not my style but ok
Absolute gas. It almost feels criminal to not have listened to this sitting by a fire, whiskey in hand.
a lil too country for me..
i can really see the beauty in this album, but i’m admittedly not acquainted with it enough to appreciate the nuances across the tracks and felt a little weary of the sameness shortly into my listen. the storytelling and lyricism are both gorgeous, very quintessentially american, but i struggled to stay engaged with willie nelson’s voice (the only classic country i’ve adored to now is johnny cash, and his rich baritone is hard to beat) and the restrained instrumentals. ironically, i ended up appreciating the songs more as poetry. i loved the lyrics but this just wasn’t for me sonically. i’ll need to sit on a farm porch somewhere as the sun sets to enjoy this more properly LOL
Number: 289 Familiarity: Aware (2) Rating: 4 Before: ======= 7th straight album from the 70's. First country one I've had though in a long while. After : ======= That was pretty good. I listened to it 2 times in fact. I'm not really a country music fan but if I ever want to hear some traditional country music again, this would be a fine choice. I like songs that tell a story. I didn't really pay attention though as I was working on some other stuff while the album was playing but I think is deserves a more thoughtful listen at some point in the future.
king
1 Willie Nelson album was enough for me. Slow country is just not really my jam Fave track: Just as I am
I was initially somewhat vexed to get another Willie Nelson album in the list. But was a bit surprised by this one - quite beautiful, and quite sad. And it sounds like Willie finally had full creative control with this one, and he backed it in fully despite some pushback. Hats off. 3.5/5
It was pleasant, but I am not really a fan of country. It was listenable as backround, but I would not say I liked it it in any way.
It's fine. Nelson's vocals are just about passable. The instrumentals weren't very interesting. 2.5 stars.
I’m not big on country, but this is really good.
One of the all-time great country albums.
Willie Nelson seems like a cool dude, and I like what I've seen from him personally (and also his cameo on the TV show Monk), but this music is just deeply not for me. It's not bad, just not my kind of music at all.
Beautiful guitar and voice. Prime sad drinking songs
This soothed my migraine :)
Underwhelming
Great album, 5
Saai 1,5 misschien
good album, good vibes. i liked it. there’s one song on there that sounds like running and being chased comedically around in cartoons
Loved
Kul, ikke min sjanger tho
Not really a fan, but had some fun listening to it.
A nice little early “concept” album, full of tales of the west and presented in Willie’s amazing weather-worn voice. 4
Some of the plink-plonking and clip-clopping was fine, but its just not my type of music.
Sparse, existential and full of vivid campfire storytelling, this psychological western was recorded in a cheaply rented studio and initially deemed unreleasable, before becoming the hit that cemented Willie Nelson among country music’s greats. It may not contain his best individual songs, but Red Headed Stranger remains his greatest achievement as an album, and one I’ve returned to on many hazy late nights.
Top-class cowboy music from strumming a guitar around a campfire to piano jams in the saloon.
Every song sounds the same
Good album. Classic Willy. Nothing stood out too much but all good song. 7.1/10
Interesting- most of it solo acoustic or very light background. Not sure I would listen again but nice country album
me aburrió pero buen instrumentsl
Enjoyed it - very mellow
Sorry Willie I just don't have a lot to say about this one
ah yes... classic
Like a movie for the ears. Willie Nelson's ability to tell a cohesive story with arguably one of the most popular storytelling genres is quite remarkable. Smooth country, smooth singing, solid all around.
Time of the preacher - 3 I couldn't believe it was true - 4 Time of the preacher theme - 3 Blue rock montana / red headed stranger - 4 Blue eyes crying in the rain - 4 Red headed stranger - 3 Time of the preacher theme (short) - na Just as i am - 3 Denver - 3 O'er the waves - 3 Down yonder - 2 Can i sleep in your arms - 3 Remember me (when the candle lights are gleaming) - 3 Hands on the wheel - 3 Bandera - 3
Shotgun Willie, the treasured Texas troubadour, strikes gold on this amazing album. Outlaw Country at its very best.
mid mais c pas thaaaat ass pour du country
clasico de country va bien para algunos dias
Holy crap that’s amazing. I’m not a big fan of country, the only contact I really had with the genre were the Beatles songs from Help and Rubber Soul. But this really made me want to go listen to more like it. Great storytelling and instrumentation. A real masterpiece by Willie Nelson.
Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain is so good. This is Willie at his best
I quite like Willie Nelson Very good once I actually listened to the lyrics and followed it, its nice how it has a coherent story even though its half covers that just fit really well. First album from this list that I have been listening to more than the once.
I think this was a beautiful album but wasn’t for me. Biggest pro was the storytelling this man does, absolutely phenomenal. Faves: Can I Sleep in your arms
It's a great album. 33min runtime, keeps momentum, interesting concept album and all round nice country record. 4/5.
yknow i respect Willie Nelson and all, but i don't think i would've ever gone out of my way to listen to an album like this if it wasn't for this challenge. his other album of covers i got (Stardust) was pretty cozy and sweet but this one... yeah idk. it was pretty hard to follow along with the story without my mind wandering off someplace else and by the middle of the album i was just completely zoned out
willie forever
Well it took a couple try’s but I found the best Willie album. It’s perfect.
Oh my god an absolute masterpiece??
buen country
Time of the Preacher 3.5 I Couldn't Believe It Was True 3.2 Time of the Preacher Theme 3.1 Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger (medley) 3.1 Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain 3.2 Red Headed Stranger 3.4 Time of the Preacher Theme N/A Just As I Am 3.2 Denver 3 O'er the Waves 3.1 Down Yonder 3.3 Can I Sleep in Your Arms 3.3 Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming) 3.3 Hands on the Wheel 3.2 Bandera 3.2 Score: 3.221428571
Kind of a strange album but I always like listening to Willie.
This is great! Just the kind of thing I like to come across in this listening project, because I wouldn't have sought it out on my own but really enjoyed it.
(5/7) smooth and pleasant, especially for country music
This was very comforting cozy music. Love Willie Nelson
This is just the chillest classic country album I could imagine. Well done, Willie.
Country. Welcome back to the mid west… cowboy.
I think I'm more of a 'one song at a time' Willie Nelson enjoyer; I feel like I enjoy his general vibe well enough but I'm always pretty bored after a few songs.
god I am so not into this. 33 minutes felt like they stretched forever. You won’t catch me gaffing about this album Favorite: Bandera
Fun story. Good job willie!
I thought I was gonna hate this but really enjoyed. Great storytelling. Was the perfect length. you surprised me willie.
Honestly beautiful. A quaint, concise album that has no shortage of lush instrumentation. Made me long for a simpler time.
Anything Nelson does with the guitar sounds so good. His voice is wonderful. I wasn’t so much a fan of the piano.
I do love a concept album. I really enjoyed how the context of the story being told recontextualized the covers. The main character killing three people, one of them over essentially nothing adds an interesting, sinister twist over everything. Can I Sleep In Your Arms certainly lands differently when the promise to "do you no wrong" sounds like protesting too much.
Oh hell yeah.
Man I haven't heard this album in a long time. My dad used to play this all the time when we would go on road trips. Actually it was likely more of a mix tape with a few songs from this album on it but I do remember that like it was yesterday. I feel like because of that, this record will have some pretty strong nostalgia that comes with it. I have always really liked Willie Nelson's voice. I typically hate country music these days, but sometimes a record here and there gets a pass. This is one of those records. It's about as stripped down and simple as it gets, lots of it is just Willie and his guitar. And when there are other instruments they are often buried in the mix and so quiet you really need to listen to even pick them out. I suppose this counts as a concept album, right? That's a pretty cool thing - I can't think of another country concept album. I don't think this is an album that I would really listen to much but I would definitely buy it at the record shop and maybe listen to it every few years. So credit to this record for being one of the only country albums I would spend money on. 4/5
Wow, what's happened to country since this?
Nice music, really.
I've never had the thought "I really must listen to some Willie Nelson" Now that I have heard this album, its certain that I never will!
Not big fan of country music but I really enjoyed it still
I loved it. Short. Cohesive. The tracks flowed together brilliantly. Willie’s vocals are great.
Not a country fan but I totally appreciated this album!
Great album and love all the emotion in his vooice
Me ha parecido un poco monótono. Me gusta la voz de Nelson, me gusta el country, pero hasta que no han empezado a aparecer más instrumentos (armónica, piano, etc.) hacia el final del álbum, se me ha hecho un poco repetitivo.
Nice listen. I always appreciate when an artist lets his music speak for itself. Not every song needs to be 3 minutes with a chorus, bridge, verse, etc. If the song only needs to be 90 seconds, that’s ok. No formulas, no algorithms, just a simple man with some simple songs
Willie and Dolly are the artists that really break the mold for country and folk. Good music, not sold out, just doing it for the love of the music
Good classic country. In the evening by the fireside, this is the type of thing I want to listen to but it isn't stand out to me. It would serve as great ambiance running under the sounds of gathered friends.
very cool album, would like to listen to more Willie Nelson albums.
2nd Willie album from the generator. I liked his covers album, I thought it was really sweet. This album was absolutely confusing, all the songs were basically 1 minute long and they genuinely felt like one long song. The best songs were ones that were standard length 2/5
I think the algorithm is pranking me now - yet another country album. However, this is so stripped back it almost falls into folk. He’s a good storyteller, I will give him that but the music isn’t massively doing anything for me. 2/5.
4.1. Love me some Willie. Good story telling
Quite sparse. The storytelling is the best bit for me. Nice but not an everyday listen.
Mostly great, with a few weird almost novelty/old-timey pieces that I wasn't keen on. I really enjoyed the titular track.
What a great album. Somehow manages to be a country without being too yeehaw. Soulful voice and some great tunes. I particularly like his version of Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain.
Very nice.
I love Willie
Cowboy music
4.5
It's hard to believe the suits at the time didn't want to release this album. Production has its place, but if you can say everything you need in just a Guitar bass and vocals and express an emotion this heard and deep, dont add a damn thing. Strings could not complement the emotion of this album, it would simply mask it. (9.8) ★★★★½
His voice is so emotional here, the songwriting is on point and it sounds ancient, even if it is not. 5 stars
Pretty good for a country album but still not that essential. A bit snoozy. The best track here was probably the raggy time piano instrumental. No fav big hits of his here like On The Road Again. If I had to pick one big Willie album for the list it would be Honeysuckle Rose because at least that has On The Road Again and also a couple of chicks on the album cover and also a film.
Red Headed Stranger is a fantastic track. I do wish there was some more instrumentation on this album.
4/10