Red Headed Stranger

Red Head Redemption 💀

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

Willie 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

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 haven’t had much experience listening to country but honestly this album was a really good introduction. It has such chill vibes and a comforting aura perfect album to listen to whilst reading in bed for the evening All the tracks were iconic so this album has to be 5 stars for me If all country music is this iconic then I think I’ve been sleeping on this genre

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.

A perfect concept album. Country western storytelling at its best.

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.

This is witchcraft: Nelson selects some other artists' songs, including a couple of famous ones, tops them up with four or five of his own, runs his matter-of-fact patter through them, and this 30-odd minute amalgamation becomes myth, and utterly his own.

He’s Country royalty at this point, responsible for changing the genre and for broadening the conversation about an outlaw’s place in the mainstream. This record is at the heart of that impact and that influence. Had Nelson been known for this record alone, he’d still be some kind of legend. It’s a simple but profound song cycle that’s certainly semi-autobiographical. It should be noted that Willie Nelson is a triple threat: songwriter, singer/performer, guitar player. His overall persona adds another layer—a combined aesthetic, one part from the Nashville machine, the other from the outskirts of Texas, one part stoner-hippie, one part patriot-cowboy. It’s why he’s embraced by so many from so many walks of life.

the EIGHTEENTH album by willie wtf?! Also didn't realize this was "outlaw country". Shit is great great great

Murderers with pretty singing voices should be allowed to get away with it

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.

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

first listen cool man sings stories at a campfire

I really wish I knew why country music doesn't click for me. I have attempted to listen to this before. It was fine, but I am unlikely to return.

The main thing i know about willie is he likes to smoke da 'erb. he seems like a nice guy but i if this is the kind of stuff he writes when he's stoned he should probably try a different drug. maybe i never smoked weed properly and the real weed professionals get so baked they time travel to the 1800s? Smoked so much that you think you're pre electricity.

This is country music to me, not that over produced pop thing. This is near perfect, you sit down with Willie and he tells you his stories. It’s like he is sitting there with you, it’s not an album it’s a moment in time. 5 Star.

I know of Willie Nelson, and have heard a handful of his songs over the years. Overall, I have a "meh" attitude towards his music: take it or leave it. But this album was a home run. It was stripped-down country, which is better than today's country-twanged rock sound. This was a calming, gentle album that was just good song writing and delivery. What a nice listen.

Melancholy country ballads, a classic sound with the godlike Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain as the ultimate example [EDIT: was low-key looking forward to getting this again, and it did not disappoint. Bumped up to the top and purchased - his voice and the material are perfectly suited, and even though the vibrato trick is basically the same on every track it gets me EVERY TIME. Could be the only country album you ever need, just great]

I love you, Willie. Thank you for keeping it 100% authentic throughout your career. Also, a little bump for a sweet song about Denver!

Red Headed Stranger This is a bit of a gem, if an album that's sold over 2m copies can be a gem. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a whole Willie Nelson album before, but I thought this was fantastic, a stripped down and spare concept album, with a gently evocative sombre charm. As well as highlighting his laid back and understated delivery, there’s a pleasing unsentimentality to it all, the tale unfolds through his own compositions and his arrangement of other’s songs, complemented by some lovely instrumental embellishments - the harmonica on Just As I Am and the little bits of Mandolin on Denver, and the piano throughout. Some great bass too, both in tone and playing. All the tracks contribute to the story, and even I’m not that keen on the ragtime of something like Down Yonder, there are some superb songs on here - Time of the Preacher (as it weaves in and out), Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Just As I Am, Denver, Can I Sleep In Your Arms and Bandera are all expressively brilliant, evoking a dusty time and place. I also love how clear the folk and blues elements that make up part of country music are in it, helping to emphasise that sense of place. It’s a brilliantly performed and crafted narrative album and it gets better with each listen, right on the border of 4 and 5. I’ll stay with a very high 4 for now. 🧑‍🦰🧑‍🦰🧑‍🦰🧑‍🦰 Playlist submission: Time of the Preacher

There is no need to pretend like Willie Nelson isn't one of the greatest and most influential country artists of all time. There is something very calm and relaxing about his music, perfect for a campfire night out in the American west. And with 'Red Headed Stranger' he not only created an album full of short but sweet and mellow songs with great songwriting but also an album that really cemented him as one of the most forward thinking artists in 70's country scene. At at this point he was well above his contemporaries even Johnny Cash (at that time). The album opens on the very Outlaw Country 'Time of the Preacher' that puts his songwriting and lyrics into the spotlight while still adding more guitar and effects throughout that add to the sound of a man in the Western-inspired outlaw imagery like most of the albums songs. It is a very sweet but interesting song with well implemented percussion. The similar 'I Couldn't Believe It Was True' mainly stands out with the country guitar solo in the bridge and the fast paced second half that has a very present bass work. It's a really good song, I like it a lot. The continuation of 'Time of the Preacher Theme' returns to the first song in a pretty great way. It has some nostaliga to it even if the actual song was less than two minutes before. It's pretty cute. The 'Medley: Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger' is very simple because it pretty much only has acoustic and bass guitar on it but that results in a pretty emotional story that doesn't take more room than it needs. I like it even if it doesn't really achieve the interesting highs of before. The albums greatest song, 'Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain' is easily the most sentimental and universally emotional song here with a great depiction of love in a very pure way. It kind of reminds me of "Pale Blue Eyes" by the Velvet Underground for some reason but that only adds to the greatness. A nearly perfect calm Country song. The title track 'Red Headed Stranger' extends the short intro we got to the song with the medley but this time it can shine much more. The songwriting is phenomenal, it flows and the different instruments that appear only add. Especially the very quiet but sweet piano in the second half makes this even more special than it already was. I think this would've been a perfect song if it was a little rougher around the edges and maybe even a little shorter but still, I love it. We get another but even shorter version of 'Time of the Preacher Theme' that works as a great interlude and adds in my opinion more to the albums flow than intended. The piano is much more present on 'Just as I Am' and drives this instrumental outro that closes the albums first half with a great and sentimental melody. This is more genius than others might give credit for. It feels like an outro which it is if you listen to it on vinyl and I love it when artists put certain themes to each half of the album and this is great example as seen by the Time of the Preacher parts. The second Side opens on 'Denver' which is another song with great songwriting that really flows through the song but I would've wished that it was a little longer because I really like the sound of it. Still, I think this is a great song. 'O'er the Waves' is has a very "Mexican" sound to it, if that makes sense and I do like how it plays and works as an interlude but if the previous track was longer, this would've shined even more. With 'Down Yonder' we get a little Ragtime piano and a song that sounds much older than it is but that just adds to the Western atmosphere that the album has. It is really fun to listen to like how will you not have the urge to dance to this! 'Can I Sleep in Your Arms' feels like an epic in comparison to the lengths that most songs offer. With over 5 minutes the song is nearly 5 minutes longer than the shortest song. But the song deserves that length as it is a more typical Country song with more musical and songwriting depth that make the whole time enjoyable while keeping the calm and "campfire" sound that is so great about this album. There is a little Swing and Jazz added on 'Remember Me' which I like a lot in combination with the Outlaw Country sound. It makes this not only a standout track but one of the most interesting songs here as well as one of my favourites. This really shows how he plays with more traditional sounds and genres on this second half of the album. Another quite "long" one is 'Hands on the Wheel' which is much more Folk inspired than most songs here. It is both structured and performed in a very traditional Folk style but with hints of the Country sound. The album closes on 'Bandera', a return to the definitve Outlaw Country sound with fewer influences but great songwriting. And even though it is another instrumental song, like on Side 1, it closes this Side and the album as a whole perfectly. This is the outro an album as wild and different needs. favourites: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Remember Me, Red Headed Stranger, Time of the Preacher least favourites: O'er the Waves, Time of the Preacher Theme (short version), Bandera Rating: decent 8

Hm. It's definitely country. I have tremendous respect for Willie Nelson. And this music just doesn't set my heart on fire.

No. 254/1001 Time of the Preacher 3/5 I Couldn't Believe It Was True 3/5 Time of the Preacher Theme 3/5 Medley 3/5 Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain 3/5 Red Headed Stranger 3/5 Time of the Preacher Theme Nr Just As I Am 3/5 Denver 3/5 O'er the Waves 2/5 Down Yonder 2/5 Can I Sleep In Your Arms 2/5 Remember Me 3/5 Hands On The Wheel 3/5 Bandera 2/5 Average: 2,71 Pretty disappointed by this. I was really bored towards the end. It was lacking some diversity.

Immediately recommended to our mutual friend, Geoff Hatt, as inspiration for his on-going country project, as this is a lovely sounding record. The guitar is clean, but raw with the occasional dissonance buzzing among all those I, IV, V chords. Willie's voice is sweet. The drums crisp. The piano bright. The theme recurs for too many times for a half-hour albums, but the overall effect was enough to make it stick out among country records, even on the one listen I had time to give it. 2.5 Old-timey country is fine. Pleasant, like a walk through a sunlit cornfield or a roll in the hay with an attractive cousin probably. I read that this is a ‘concept album’. Now I may be just a greenhorn, city slicking indoorsman but this isn’t my first concept album rodeo and I declare Willie’s ‘concept’ to be all hat and no cattle. That dog don’t hunt. You can put your boots in the oven but that don’t make ‘em biscuits. Whatever trace of a story there is here evaporates by the final few tracks and I say a sense of musical homogeneity needs to be achieved at a deeper level than plonking out ‘Amazing Grace’ with worse lyrics every other track. Floyd knows how it’s done. No sir, not your cousin Bessie’s boy, a different one. And your album cover is just as ugly as a mud fence. 2/5

A Nelson lo ví en alguna película y me impresionó tanto que aún creo que es lo más auténtico que tiene los EE.UU como música; el country y Nelson entre los mejores. Es auténtico desde su imagen. Chapeau.

I have never heard this one before and it might be the most relaxed, soothing, 10/10, 50 year old Country & Western concept album about murder I've ever heard.

As always, I loved this Willie Nelson album. The only previously track I had heard was Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, but the rest of the album was equally inspired and I really enjoyed listening -- so much that I played it all the way through twice. Just great vocals, great playing and great lyrics -- just great all around. Production quality was excellent and the performances were just perfect. Five stars.

It's Willie

One of my favorite discoveries from this list. Impeccable. Those nylon strings on Trigger help Willy deliver the sad stories of betrayal and longing. The silence between notes is as important as the notes themselves. Stunning.

True godfather of a sound, Willie kills with this release.

Absolutely a Hall of Fame album. The arrangements and vocals are unlike anything else.

Bang boom- an instant classic. This will be my new defense when dorks hate indiscriminately on country music.

Having a hard time coming up with reasons not to give this 5 stars. Probably a 4.5 but I’ll give it to Willie.

10/10 Amazing country concept record. The only country experience I’ve had before this is all the pop country on the radio and this blows it out of the water. Nelson is also supremely talented on the guitar, piano, and harmonica. Well deserved 5 stars.

One of my favorites!

A near perfect Willie Album

Classic

This is a great album. It's definitely not typical of the country music that was being made at the time. Willie has such a great voice for storytelling and I love the several quick interludes that bring everything together. So good!

Shame on me for not listening to a Willie Nelson album prior to this musical task at hand. What a nice listen. It’s not so much any particular song or set of songs, it’s the album as a whole. It’s just nice music to sit down, or in my case, drive to. This is definitely my favorite brand of country. 9/10

I’m in my grandfather‘s car. It’s either a Cadillac or a Buick, but whatever it is it has that plush brown interior and in between the driver seat in the passenger seat there’s enough space for a box that contains 8-track cassettes. He takes one of the 8-tracks out of the box and he puts it in the player on the dash and the sound that comes out is that of Willie Nelson. My grandfather died when I was nine years old so I didn’t really get to know much about him other than to know that he adored country music, wore very thick glasses (and this is what got him out of going to war) and he loved my mom and us kids so much.

I’m impressed. I guess I never gave his songs a real listen. His voice has a velvet layer and a strong character on top. What a great relaxing and interesting album.

Not a country fan, but Willie is a storyteller beyond compare and his songs of wistful longing are tough to beat.

What a masterpiece of musical storytelling. I was absolutely enthralled.

One of the greatest country albums ever released. Beautiful storytelling with beautiful music.

Very calming. I could listen to this guy sing the alphabet and not get bored

Yes, would listen again

Willie Nelson is the GOAT

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be… Willie is the best.

i like this song because i like the beat and the song is calm . i like the second song too but it sounds the same like the firs song . i recommend this album.

Willie! Ugh. Hard not to love a story where studio stooges were proven wrong when an artist's pure vision was realized. Love how stripped back this is. Makes me feel like I'm in open spaces listening on an old pickup truck radio even when I'm in a small office.

It was good

Legend

This album is so great - between the project's construction/track listing and beautiful storytelling/writing, it has such a cinematic or literary quality to it. Strikes a great balance between the 'outlaw' style of country that Willie was so integral in developing, and very tender lyricism. I think just as a tribute to the way that the album creates atmosphere it is deserving of 5 stars - its a truly complete body of work as opposed to just a collection of songs.

This is the kind of country that I actually love. It's rare, and there are only a few artists who can pull it off, but it's amazing when they can.

It's Willie Nelson. All that needs to be said.

Although not my preferred genre this is an absolute classic. Willie has a voice like no other.

I have a soft spot for old school outlaw country, and this is no exception. With simple production and instrumentation, aided from Nelson’s great voice, this is a landmark album in a subgenre of a genre that many of us, myself included, often dismiss.

One of the more interesting albums I've listened to. A real piece of art

Love Willie 🥰 such a lovely record

'Now the preachin' is over / And the lesson's begun'; 'Now the lesson is over / And the killin's begun.' Willie is a pure storyteller, and no moralizer. He lets things be, and like the great painters of precarious minds coming to their ends, he passes no judgement. I'm reminded of Orlando and Don Quijote, Othello and Leontes, and several characters who populate Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. Structurally, this record is brilliant, no song doing more or less than it needs to: four instrumentals, three tracks less than a minute long, one over five. And his voice, tho high and feeble, carries this album's impressive fire.

This really made my day. What a beautiful album. I've listened three times just to make sure I got it right. God Bless Willy.

i cannot tell you how much i respect Willie Nelson for producing an incredibly stripped back concept album about actually regretting murdering your cheating wife in the same year as CW McCall's Convoy / Long Lonesome Road. i'd heard "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" a bit back, and i thought it was alright. then i found out "oh no it's twice as heartbreaking in context" and now i don't know if i can even listen to it in isolation anymore -- i went from being slightly entertained to realizing that listening to it without hearing the previous song is almost sacrilege. god, what a great album. what a sad album. what a human thing in the age of the overdub and Muppet guest star singalong backup vocals. there are probably grizzled boomers out there who are holding back tears by the end of this record, and i don't blame them. if you've got a friend who doesn't like country, show them this album and then, i dunno, a Dolly Parton album too. and "Convoy" if you feel like an asshole.

This album launched Willie Nelson on the path of becoming a national treasure and it is a genuine listening treat. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-red-headed-stranger?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

The older I get, the more I love Willie. He just gets it

Hands on the Wheel such a great moment.

Did Willie Nelson released any bad albums???? Answer: no!

This album is all the best things about Willie with no fluff. Great singing, playing, and wordsmithing. Not an album whose greatness jumps at you, but the more you think about it and experience it the more it makes sense. A creative genius in his prime.

5/5. A perfect country album, Willie's voice is so soothing and sweet that even when he's talking about murder, you still feel entrapped in his stories. This is an interesting album because although it is mostly covers, they all are setup to tell a story. I've never seen this done before and should be how covers of songs should go. Although it is a short and loose story of a troubled man, it still feels complete. What a perfect album start to finish. 6 out of 5 if I could. Best Song: Can I Sleep In Your Arms, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Hand On The Wheel

Country music, mostly, sucks (except Johnny Cash). But this album was very very good.

Loved this!

Long live Willie! I haven’t made it through all of Willie’s ridiculously long discography, but this is my favorite of his.

ALERT not sure what happened but songs in the key of life is most certainly NOT four but a FIVE STAR album. I don’t know that happened, I am dreadfully sorry All albums will be 1, 3 or 5 stars, with no further commentary or explanation given. Played via streaming, re-listen.

Classic

Loved it! 5/5

Genius

Uh… yeah

Willie Nelson was the first artist that made me realize I didn’t dislike country. This is a great album

Beautiful album. I loved the little snippers of songs, especially the preacher theme clips. Can I sleep in your arms was just sensational. Definitely would own this album if I had the opportunity. Reading up about the album and the theme of the preacher who killed his wife and her lover and then went on the run makes it even more interesting

I listened to this album three times today, after not having heard it for several years. This was the album that convinced me to vote Willie Nelson for president. I love the recurring themes and story telling and overall vibe of this record. It’s nearly perfect-I will round up to 5 stars, even though it’s probably a true 4.5 for me.

Calmo, suadente, toccante.

Gran disco. De esos que pareciera imposible que a alguien no le guste. Genial buena vibra, que de un track súper nostálgico puede pasar a otro absolutamente feliz, para al final quedarse con ganas de echarse un grito de vaquero e ir a observar el horizonte al atardecer. Y lo mejor de todo es que tiene una versión country de Sobre las olas. Qué genio.

Well of course this is going to be awesome.

America’s heart

Perfect story and very nice album. I like it. Masterpiece.

aaaaahhh nem esküszöm meg rá, de sztem ez az az album, amiről Dylan a könyvében úgy lelkesedett, hogy olyan a production, illetve hát olyannyira nincsen, mintha a konyhában vette volna fel. és valóban. :D és nevetségesen szép is pont emiatt omg.

Loved it!

I have no notes.

When I tell people that I like some country music, this is what I'm talking about.

Listened Before? Y Yep, one of my favorite albums of all time. This one is a classic and I already have it in my library. This is a good excuse to listen to it today! Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Time of the Preacher

formative album for me, engendered a love for concept albums in me that essentially no one else has ever satisfied.

Personally the best country album

LOVED it. This came out about the time I saw him at one of his 4th of July picnics. Good times!

Fantastic country music that makes you feel like you're riding a horse across the Wild West

This album is lovely. It's not my usual genre but I really enjoyed having it on. What the heck? I'm giving it a 5.

5/5 very easy to listen to, old school country

Someone protect this adorable little stoner at all costs. Truly music that you feel in the soul and spirit. It will be a sad sad day for country music when this man is no longer with us.

Classic. Loved it.

I did not think I like country music, but this was really relaxing