Red Headed Stranger

nice and calm

Første gang jeg hører ei hel plate med Willie Nelson, og for en positiv overraskelse. Nedstrippet og rått, og tvers gjennom en engasjerende lytt. Innertier!

Maybe the best Country I've ever listened to. Amazing from start to finish.

Absolutely an album you must hear before you die. Great music and necessary to understand American popular music and folk direction it took through the 70s and now.

A roommate had this album back in the day and I have always loved it. I had forgotten how sad the story is though. Willie Nelson’s voice so perfect for conveying the loneliness of a fugitive preacher. All the tracks are great. I ended up adding “Hands on the Wheel” to my Generator playlist.

This album is perfection from start to finish. It’s Willie’s 18th and is the 1st where he was given creative control. It’s simple: guitar, piano, drums, and Willie’s voice, and it’s just perfect.

love willie. one of his best. if you like this one check out: "shotgun willie", "phases and stages". or anything. i don't know if the guy has a bad album, but i haven't listened to all 100+.

Storytelling 👌

If you don’t like Willie, we can’t be friends.

I never thought I would give a Willie Nelson five stars, but this was great. I loved the story telling and the simple, beautiful acoustic music. No slide guitar. :-) five starts

This was great. Really playing within himself

Such a weird album for that time and genre

Willie

I remember seeing this album cover at my grandparent's house as a child. I had never listened to it before. As an album it felt like the audio version of looking at a portrait. There were a couple tracks where the percussion sounded like the hooves of a horse on a dusty trail. Remember Me is clicking, a little jazzy. The audio quality is insane. I've never heard vocals so clear in my head. I really enjoyed this album.

Solid stuff from ole Willie

I too am a red headed stranger

Classic country ohhh i'm obsessed

Never listened to Willie much, but this album is incredible. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, as I am not normally a country fan

really enjoyed this

I couldn't help myself and had to look up "Red Headed Stranger" on Urban Dictionary. And yes, it is exactly what you think it is. LOL Anyways, this is an easy 4*. I'm going to take the Dylan approach with Willie: he deserves at least one 5* and the question is which album will get it? I'm going to go ahead and shoot my shot on this one. Main critic being it left me wanting more...not necessarily a bad thing considering many of the artist on this list have a problem with editing themselves down. 4.25/5

Solid album. Loved it all the way through. Will definitely put this in a more regular rotation.

Don't fight him.

Time of the Preacher Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Red Headed Stranger Denver Can I sleep in your arms Remember me (when the candle lights are gleaming) Hands on the wheel

Willie Nelson has such an iconic sound. This is a truly fantastic album. This is a concept album telling a story. Every song works. Pitchfork: 9.3 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #237 Best Songs Time of the Preacher Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain Medley: Blue Rock Montana/Red Headed Stranger Red Headed Stranger Can I Sleep In Your Arms Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming) Bandera

This is a wonderful album. The vocals, the storytelling, the laid back instrumentation, everything on this fits together perfectly. I didn’t expect to enjoy this album so much.

Großartig

This is my second and final Willie Nelson album of the project. Unlike his other album, this album features original songs written by Nelson. It really does prove how good of a country singer Nelson is with his ability for storytelling(not as good as Johnny Cash, but who is?) and distinctive, resonant voice that sounds every bit as country as any other genre great despite being higher in pitch. The list's country picks can be hit or miss, but this is a hit for sure. Country is always best when it's stripped down and focused on lyricism, which this is.

Of course I’ve heard a couple tracks from this record, but I’d never heard it in its entirety. A true classic from a true legend.

Perfection of its genre. I would not change a thing. Proof that concept albums don't need to be 2:10:36 long wankfests.

Willie is an easy FIVE every time. Nobody has a voice like Willie Nelson and I love it.

Очень люблю кантри! Но Time of the preacher в 3 версиях не очень

The comfort food of music. Perfect on a holiday morning.

I listened to this through 3 times today. My dad is a classic country buff and this music was part of the soundtrack of my childhood. It feels like coming home.

I love Willie Nelson, I am shocked this is his 18th album and it’s from the 70’s?? Never heard it before, it’s dope!

This album is gentle, beautiful, and carries a sense of melancholy, as a lot of classic country does. When I think of Willie Nelson, this is the kind of music that immediately comes to mind. I loved this.

Stripped back instrumentation, tales of love, loss, outlaws and murders, all told by Willie in his unmistakeable drawl. Time of the Preacher, Red Headed Stranger, Can I Sleep In Your Arms and Hands On The Wheel are all fantastic originals, but the cover of Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain is just so amazing, I could listen to it all day. Truly a 5-star listening experience.

This man is a national treasure.

Narrative albums with recurring motifs are cool.

Perfect, basically.

Great album.

What a beautiful album

Love love loooove, felt like listening to a great storyteller by a campfire. Want it on vinyl, feel like it’ll sound best that way

All hail Willie. Absolutely no wrong moves, no wasted notes, perfection in lyrics. A story and saga that tells more story in 30 minutes than some singers can tell in entire careers. It’s everything I love about country music graced by Willie’s subtle touches. It’s a masterpiece, one of my favorites to have heard on this list.

Country's first concept album tells a story about murder, loss, escape, and a quest for redemption. Or so I'm told. Really all I hear when I listen to it is one fantastic song after another, and a lackadaisical vocal delivery that tells some intense stories with a sort of whimsy and irreverence. An excellent listen!

Through the ages, I remember.

I always wanted to listen to some Willie but never knew where to start. This was the perfect entry point! Such a lovely lil country album filled the brim with emotive stories full of longing, loss and love. It's simple and perfect.

Surprising. Pleasant background album, made me feel relaxed.

Buen country

Love it

Beautiful country mood music.

Never heard about him before but i really enjoyed this album. so classic, i felt like i was somewhere at farwest drinking at a bar or feeling blue home alone. it deserves to be on the list.

My favorite country music concept LP!

Willie Nelson is one of the finest songwriters of all time and this album contains some of his very best work. He’s also in his prime vocally and his delivery is perfect. Just a great way to spend 33 minutes

The way I understand country music, it's always been at its best when it's telling stories. It's not like there's much terribly wrong with it when it's not (I've listened to too many songs from the 90's and early 2000's to say otherwise), but the good shit has always been when the singer is also a storyteller. What makes this album in particular special is that Willie Nelson isn't telling a selection of stories here — he's only telling one. And that's sort of wild to me, y'know? I know that concept albums exist in country music (I'm pretty sure they do in nearly every genre), but until now I don't think I've come across a narrative concept album. Until now, I've only ever been aware of **thematic** concepts. Like, I know Johnny Cash has done one or two albums all about train songs. So it's interesting to consider a country album that has to live or die off of how exactly well it tells one, single story. It's also something to consider that this album could have been a single song. In fact, I think it **was** a single song before it got fleshed out to album length. Basically, it's about a preacher who discovers his wife cheating on him with another man. He kills them both in a fit of rage and passion and feels so guilty about it he skips town. He stops over in Denver where he meets another woman, with whom he spends the rest of his life happily married. It's not exactly a complex story. And yet, with the way Willie tells it over these 15 songs, it never feels padded. Like, this isn't just stretching out the material for the sake of it; it's truly expanded upon. There's time given out to dive deeper into the mindset of the preacher and get a bit more into how this is all affecting him. And it works! It works real damn well! Heck, even the purely instrumental tracks don't feel like throwaways; their place in the narrative is clear. There's never a moment where I don't feel some sort of sense of progression. And when you can do that even on the slowest songs on the album, that's really damn impressive. That's alongside how sparsely arranged this album is. For real, it's not just the story that's simple; the album's arrangement is very stripped down. From what I read, there was originally going to be more going on, but Willie wasn't exactly satisfied with what was being recorded. So he pairs the whole thing down to just his guitar and vocal, with some additional instruments sprinkled around for flavor. You might think this would get old and boring real quick, but leave it to Willie Nelson to make an arrangement that's this sparse engaging. And real sort of pretty in spots, too. I think a couple of singer-songwriters could've taken a lesson or two from this album, honestly. In spite of how overall simple the album is, it all ends up feeling so cinematic. It hardly surprises me that this album eventually got adapted into a movie, with Willie Nelson himself in the lead role. I hear it's not ... **great**, exactly, but it's a damn good testament to this album all the same — and to Willie's skills as a performer and a storyteller. I mean, I hafta give major props to Willie Nelson for pulling this off with as little as he did. There's no flashy tricks: it's just him and the story, and that's all you need. And while I, myself, wouldn't call this the best country album ever, it's sure as hell up there. Along with that Marty Roberts record, I'd say it's a very good example of what country music is best at. Not any of this list shit, or bro country, or those conservative country songs that chart on Billboard for exactly one week — **this** is country music. And I do. (And what I do is quote Brad Paisley songs, I guess. But if I can close this album out with any quote, let it be this memorable chestnut from 'Game Of Thrones': "There is nothing in the world more powerful than a good story." And when it's told well, like Willie does — damn.)

While not having as much bite as someone like Cash had at his prime, Willie makes up for it in having soulful vocals and a heart to match. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 10. That's one of the best country albums I’ve ever heard in my life. “Songs in the Key of Life” came out one year after this, and I’m struck by the difference in style; Stevie is bold, bombastic, & electric, with worldly music styles & some of the most complex production ever done to that point. Willie Nelson here, telling the somber story of this red headed stranger is… well, it’s basically his voice & a guitar, for the most part. Light percussion & piano, sure, and later in the album, some harmonica & other instrumentation that adds to everything, but overall, this is a very plainly told album. The difference is striking, just because they’re both equally as effective at speaking to the soul, at least to my ears. The overall story here is simple: the red-headed stranger (who happens to be a preacher) was devastated that his wife left him, so he killed both her & the person she’s cheating with, a crime done out of pure sorrow. He moves away, taking his wife’s horse with him, and killing the first woman who dares to even touch it. He finds himself in Denver, where he falls in love again at a saloon, and lives out his life with this new woman. That’s it. At face value, it’s a tale you could tell in a single song, and yet Willie Nelson manages to stretch it out to a full 34 minute album, one that never feels like it’s padding for time. Every track choice is perfect, with a vast majority of the album being covers, yet ones that fit with the narrative in a way that feels seamless & original. The album feels vivid & cinematic, partly due to how it manages to incorporate motifs really well. It’s no surprise that this actually ended up as a movie, even if it’s apparently just sorta mediocre. It’s an album that deserves to be listened to in one straight shot (with headphones in!), and one where I don’t think I can accurately capture it with words. At the very least, I certainly can’t capture how emotional of a pleading climax “Can I Sleep In Your Arms” felt like with words alone. That’s a track that needs the full buildup of every track before it to really hit, and it hit me like a truck. Granted, it might just be because I found myself imagining this whole thing playing out in my head, and Willie’s soundtrack to the pictures in my brain just fit perfectly. I really do think it’s one of the best country albums I’ve heard in my life, at least in terms of concept albums. There's probably an earlier one we’ve gotten that has more technically sound vocals or instrumentals or some other dazzling thing to it, but in terms of just telling a story… this is how you do it. This is a masterclass in storytelling. Anyone who claims to make “country” music nowadays needs to listen to this entire album, because this is the blueprint. I think it’s a 10.

willie the man

Wow, Willie Nelson cannot truly make a bad album. This one is fantastic. It's conceptual, it has a cinematic vibe, also, it has different sections, so well constructed with different melodies. It's a very dynamic album. There are many beautiful instrumental parts, other funnier ones... There's place for everything. And everything merges so well! There's a main theme (or "leitmotif") that gives a great sonic cohesiveness as well as the feeling of being immersed in a tale, which is also supported by how some songs blend into the next one. All the songs contribute to the overall result, being magnificent from beginning to end. It's very enjoyable and haunting, and magnetic. I've loved it so much. I've listened to other albums by Willie Nelson but this one is the best one of them for sure.

There is something about Willie that puts me at peace. No bangers on this album, yet it is a great ALBUM

Finally pulled an album I'm familiar with. This concept album is as heartbreaking as it is beautiful. Just song after song of quiet, heartfelt emotions that illustrate a sad tale. Sparse arrangements, but they feel so deep and rich. Standouts for me are the classic Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain and Remember Me. Remember Me feels like it walks right to the edge of Texas swing but doesn't quite step over. The older I get the more I appreciate Willie the lyricist.

What a fantastic mellow outlaw country album. There's something so captivating about the delicacy of the songs, so pared down yet doing so much emotionally. Feels like the perfect album to put on around a campfire. My only complaint is that I wish it was longer

Dope

I hate country but this smooth album with some familiar tunes was a great listen and would recommend for sure. Super surprised and its not even a song I knew but enjoyed all. great flow for this album

Muy del Norte, se siente muy kingsman

GOATED

A true American classic. Thank you, Willie, for all of your contributions to the musical world. A nice break in my usual listening.

Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain, Denver, Fantastic

Easy to listen to. Solid Willie Nelson.

Where does one even begin with what is almost certainly the greatest country album ever made? Not here. Whatever I say, however eloquently I say it- it will not do this work of art justice. A critic once called it the SGT PEPPERS of Country music & it very much is. If you have ANY love for country music IF you have any love for America (John Ford's America or otherwise) IF you like I think that love and hate are a lot more similar than we would like to believe HEAR THIS ALBUM it goes toe to toe with the greatest of American literature- Steinback, Hemingway, Faulkner, the whole lot. This is the kind of art that hurts. It makes you feel as alive as any work of art ever will- warts and all. It might not be the prettiest of paper but my God it hurts so good to see things so starkly, so bullshit free.

This is the sort of album that makes an artist a legend. Keep your copy of Stardust, I'd rather listen to this. It sounds like music played on the front porch as the stars come out.

This is a staggering beauty of a record - reverent classics mixed with dreamy little vignettes, sounding like it was recorded in a motel room on an answering machine. One of my favorites.

Three songs clocking in at less than a minute? Poignant and plain storytelling? I remember a quote attributed to Willie, "don't sing a song if you've got nothing to say," I think about it and apply it to many places in my life, and I love how he wields that idea on this album.

Excellent discovery.

This is rebellion at its quietest and most honest. Red Headed Stranger tells a story of love, loss, guilt, and redemption — a preacher driven to violence, then condemned to wander until he finds grace again. Willie never raises his voice; the arrangements are spare, the pacing unhurried, and the silence says as much as the notes. Even when the Stranger kills a woman for touching his horse — his last link to a lost life — it feels less like cruelty than the echo of grief. What amazes me is how much weight this record carries with so little ornamentation. It’s a Western fable, a spiritual reckoning, and an act of artistic defiance all at once. Few albums trust the listener’s patience and intelligence like this one does. True rebellion doesn’t always make noise.

I forget sometimes that I actually like country music. One of the better concept albums I’ve heard.

day 18: so nice and soft, gentle and calming. i love country like this, it brings sense of loneliness but a welcome one. willie has a perfectly nostalgic voice which feels like i’ve been listening to him for years, even though this is my first experience of his music. no big standouts but rather a collection of imaginative poetry, strings, cozy percussion and keys. i won’t listen to this all the time, but it feels special.

Loved this album a lot more than I thought I would

General Notes - I’m aware of Blue Eyes as one of Willies best songs, that’s about it - I also think Willie Nelson is cool as fuck so that will factor into my review - something charming about his guitar sounding almost out of tune (?) - this is moody but amazing, it doesn’t have an edge that this lyrical content would typically have for me. It’s a waltz where the emotion fluctuates. Track by Track: - Time of the preacher: whoever mixed these vocals is a fucking genius. -I Couldn’t Believe It Was True: pretty sick this is an interlude I didn’t even realize - Time of the preacher theme: hell yeah I like the theme, excited for what’s to come - Medley Blue Rock/Red Head: another interlude TS - Blue Eyes Cryin: fucking awesome, no other notes - Red Headed Stranger: interesting storytelling here - Time Of The Preacher (short version):I’m conceptually there’s a reason for this coming back so many times. Love the piano here. - Just As I Am: love how this album captures a feeling, all transitions are seamless. - Denver: I’m such a sucker for these little vignette style tracks. -Oer The Waves: ooh this rivals Blue Eyes, such a vibe. - Down Yonder: okay they’re really break it up now - Can I Sleep In Your Arms: holy shit this is sad. Amazing touch - Remember Me: a jaunt with a sad side. - Hands On The Wheel: romantic, wedding dance ts. Lyrics fucking hit - Bandera: end it with an instrumental piece, fuck yes.

This album was so good. I don’t know how I haven’t heard it before, I am now a Willie Nelson fan. All the songs were so good and it made me want to pack a lip and sit on a rocking chair looking over a prairie. You can hear a lot of the inspiration that this album gave other artists like Colter Wall and Tyler Childers

Willie in the pocket. Great late night album.

One of the concept albums that never really leave my rotation. A glorious story of betrayal, murder and redemption.

Classic. Have it on vinyl.

Willie is a legend. Do not even come at him.

5/5 Love the sound, the singing and the melodies.

It was the time of the preacher... What a fantastic opening line, and from an artist like Willie, you know that there's a story coming worth hearing. This album is perhaps the pinnacle of outlaw country music, full of longing, regret, rage, tenderness, and no short amount of fear. Song for song, it may not stand up against many of his best songs, but as a cohesive concept album with a righteous beginning and a satisfying conclusion, you'd be hard pressed to find one to paint a better picture of "how it is" outside of Ray Price's Night Life...oh yeah, Willie (co)wrote that song too!!

This album was pretty monumental for me. One of my first vinyl records, so really one of the first albums I listened all the way through. I thought it was like magic then, and it still is that way today. Willie tells great stories. The story of The Read Headed Stranger is so relatable in so many ways. The vocals and lyrics are superb. When Willie sings, "And with no place to hide, I looked in your eyes, and I found myself in you." It's simply incredible and emotional. "Now my hands on the wheel, of something that's real, and I feel like I'm going home."

Davvero molto bello inaspettato, la sua voce mi ha rilassata un botto ed è un tipo di country più soft che devo dire ho trovato particolarmente nelle mie corde

Ain't no demo

5/5 - Amongst Willie Nelson’s dozens of albums, I never would have found this on my own. This is 34 minutes of simple singing, guitar and some harmonica, and I was enthralled with the storytelling throughout. “Hands on the Wheel” was an immediate favorite.

Sorrowful but yet energetic songs, they found me on kind of a sad day and were really great.

Great album. Blue Eyes is an all time great country song.

This is not an album that I would have gone looking for. It has a lovely simple vibe about it. Willie Nelson's voice shines throughout the album. The story telling is poignant. My favourite track was Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain.

Every time I hear Willie Nelson I imagine Ron Swanson listening to these records to drown out the noise of his coworkers bitching, and I feel the same deep sense of peace and calm he did.

The algorithm has been weird this week giving me 3 concept albums, Red Headed Stranger being the third. This is without question the one that nailed and executed the concept perfectly. I wish I could speak more eloquently about music so that I could convey how much I enjoyed this album. On the surface level, it's just a nice sound that makes you feel like you're sitting around a campfire with an old friend. Focusing on the lyrics, you get a wonderful story told by a master storyteller. Easily the best album I've rec'd in a while. 5 stars.

This project has been my Willie Nelson intro. I got Stardust first. It was ok. This is art. If there was a music Louvre, this would be prominently displayed.

A classic. Already had 3-4 tracks starred from this one. Love his voice on this album. So smooth. 5 stars - a perfect country album.

I surprisingly liked this one, have never listened to Willie Nelson before.

I had to sit and listen twice because this was so beguiling. One of the only country concept albums, masterfully painted by a true songwriting genius, in a manner that feels utterly effortless, it just flows out of him. Willie is another of those all-time great singers, and this may be his greatest sustained achievement. A masterpiece.

Raw, a perfect country and western album

The ability to make such simple music so well is so unbelievable, I don’t even know what to say. The piano, guitar and Willie’s vocals was all he needed to make a classic. Perfect Country very short very sweet.

Awesome. So glad to hear this.

Damn you Willie Nelson, you made me cry on a plane.

It's funny to me that a concept album like this, with recurring themes and a strong narrative thread, would also have such a consciously stripped-down and rootsy approach; I'm used to 'concept albums' being necessarily grandiose, maximalist affairs. The concept in this case didn't engage me much, but I'm grateful that Nelson was able to deliver such a cohesive and influential reminder of how country music is really supposed to sound. This one's reflective, mournful, and stern, full of dust and rust.

A beautiful album that dreamily flows from one song to another. Nelson is a fantastic storyteller! Highly recommended!

What a fantastic album. I really enjoyed listening to each song and soaking in the lyrics and Willie’s voice. Other than a few of his famous songs, this is the most I’ve ever sat down and listened to the “red-headed stranger.” I like how they are definitely country songs but there is a strong folk feeling to the songs as well.

I've already listened to his album (6). Willie's the best, no one does it like him.

Willie is excellent

now This is country music. love it.

Banger

Love it

Absolute masterpiece of a country album.

i really don't think i had ever fully listened to much willie nelson at all, let alone a full album. and i think i loved it.

killer tunes

Amazing album. Have listened to it many times

10/10 Favorites: Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain Red Headed Stranger

I wore this album out when I was 19, which is amazing if you think about the fact that I was listening to UFO, AC/DC, Van Halen and Thin Lizzy. To move to a completely different genre like this Willie album speaks to how great it is. Each song is a story that lures you in and has a beginning, middle and end. What an incredible song writer Willie was. He is able to control the pace of the song, the loudness and softness of the song and the keys to create the moods that fit the words or the words to fit the moods of the song. I can tell by listening today, that I mostly listened to side one. I knew every word, despite not hearing it for probably two decades. Side two was a bit blurrier, but just as enjoyable. I'll not make that mistake again and it's time to look for it for my second go around with vinyl and listen to it often, including side two. Yesterday, I listened to St. Etienne and remarked about how the lyrics didn't do much for me and the repetition of the songs made it feel more like background music. Today was a perfect illustration of how a masterful song writer can bring the songs out of the background and lure you into the story and the melodies.

Classic Willie. Great lyrics, easy music. Makes me feel like a campfire and bourbon!

One of the greatest country albums of all time

Excellent /

Superb listen. The storytelling was clear and the lyrics were beautiful and aligned well with the theme. Reading into the making of the album a bit, the minimalist vibe with instrumentals plays really well into the album. Super well done, now a fan of Willie Nelson

Beautiful!

Willie! 😃

One word review: restraint It's amazing how sparse everything is on this album.

absolute perfection

A benchmark for the country genre and rightfully so. An album to listen to when you’re feeling lonely but don’t want a pity party. The arrangements are tight and as dynamic as a classic country album can get. At the center of it is Willie, of course. What a singular voice.

Yes!

Timeless iconic OG Willie Nelson. Nothing better. This is one of Willie’s best albums. One of my earliest memories is of my dad turning on some Willie Nelson (or Johnny Cash) and dancing in the front room.

Willie Nelson is an incredible singer, he’s a phenomenal songwriter, responsible for an absolutely insane number of country/western standards. He’s a legendary performer who’s still putting on shows to this day, and yet It’s almost impossible not to be blown away by his ability to weave a terrific concept album with not only a coherent storyline, but a coherent storyline that includes a number of other old standards written by others. It’s really an impressive feat, performed in the midst of numerous other impressive feats. This album is rightfully considered a masterpiece, and I think we’re all lucky to live in a time when we can listen to and enjoy it. 5*

Willie Nelson goodness, good for the soul

Love it.

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.

His first really big album. Still sounds good.

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

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

This is about as much as I’ll ever like country music this side of Johnny Cash.

This was a phenomenal album. I’ve never listened to Willie Nelson but now I see why people love him. This was so good.

This is so comforting. Not they lyrics/story, but the music. If all country music was like this, I'd be the biggest country fan. One of the best parts of this album also becomes a criticism of it, though: The album is very simple. There's not a lot of interesting instrumentation, tempos are all very similar (slow). It make the album intimate, and some songs sound like they were recorded out on the porch of a ranch house in the wild west. So, even if it draws a little critique, Red Headed Stranger would be much different if it were recorded any other way. Favorite Song(s): Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Can I Sleep in Your Arms

This record is another example of Willie Nelson being one of the great songwriters and storytellers in country music history. His simple yet descriptive lyrics paint a beautiful picture in such short order. Even the songs that are instrumentals also bring out big emotions despite using no words. Nelson is one of the best to ever do it, bar none. Notable Tracks: - Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain - Red Headed Stranger - Just as I Am - beautiful instrumental - Denver - Down Yonder - another great instrumental with ragtime influences - Bandera - one last beautiful piano piece to close out the album 9/10

Red headed stranger best storytelling ever

Immaculate vibes

Great concept album

Why don't more country artists smoke weed? That shits definitely working for this guy

No private session used on Spotify, not for Willie. I like this album for what is, its got the feel of saloon in Deadwood in the 1880s and then heading back to the outskirts of the town to sleep under the stars. I am not sure when I will listen to this album, but I will try and find a place for it. Perhaps if I lived in trailer with a neon Budweiser sign in it.

A simple story that stretches through the music of this concept album paints an emotional portrait of grief and redemption for the red-headed stranger. It's simple and raw and relateable. It's a human story that everyone will experience at least once in their lifetime. I'm surprised by the way that these songs pulled me in and carried me along. Willie was 42 when he put out this carefully crafted and unpretentious story. Damn.

I’d only heard one other Willie album before (stardust) and really liked this one. I imagine everyone on the Burlington hall would know how to play every song on this album- had a very Al vibe for me and reminded me of playing at Mike’s house. Loved the sparse instrumentation.

The intimate production matches the warmth of willie’s voice.

Nice chill vibe, cool how the songs are all connected. Tells a story from start to end.

When we first meet Dumbledore there is a reverent respect bestowed upon him by his peers. We never really see him battle Dark Magic or earn the accolades that surround him; meanwhile we're constantly given example after example of the power and evil of Voldemort in real-time. As inflated as Voldemort's character is, we know that he only scared of one wizard: Dumbeldore. Like Yoda, we meet him (in the original trilogy) at the end of whatever actions made him famous and renown, yet we know and believe that they were great without really seeing proof ourselves. This is how I know Willie Nelson; as someone who is lauded by peers and critics alike, whose reputation precedes him, and yet I have no real direct knowledge of him outside of the beautiful "You're Always On My Mind," playing Farm Aid, and having to do Taco Bell commercials in order to raise enough money to pay for all of the taxes he didn't pay over the years. And now I see him in his prime, great yet unpretentious. This is it. This is why he's one of the greats. From the instrumentation and the odd chord sequence in the opening chords, I can immediately tell I'm in for a treat. Though Willie jumps right back to an expected acoustic guitar for much of the first half of the album, it is clear that anything is on the table. Throughout, we hear an earnestness and a clarity in his voice, and his guitar playing and picking makes up in melody what it lacks in technicality. I love his choice of instrumentation. Aside from the typical dobro, lap steel, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle, we instead get teased with piano, accordian, and harmonica that threaten to show their face but mostly just pop up occasionally. Before there was the "country and western" genre, there was the "country" and "western" genres. Willie's country music sounds like it's no stranger (red headed or otherwise) to the saloon. Specifically, "Down Yonder" is exactly the piece you'd expect to hear after a gunfight in the saloon when the bartender wants to get everyone back at ease and instructs the piano player to play something upbeat, that is until King Adrock punches him in the face during a robbery and leaves with two ladies and a beer. A touch of jazz is present in most places we hear piano, and more evidently in the piano and guitar work on "Remember Me (When the Candle Lights are Gleaming)." It's not everyday you hear a country album with instrumental songs, but there are more than a couple here. And there's even little ditties like the under-a-minute "Denver" who says its peace and leaves, refreshingly without a clear verse or chorus. Similarly, "Bandera" lasts just long enough to voice a musical statement over a beautiful chord progression before sending us off to ride home in the sunset. I love how quiet this album is too. Modern production is a battle for loudness and to that end, is often overly compressed to the point of squashing the dynamics. There are parts on this album that invite one to listen in, to come to the music rather than having the music come to you. Kum Ba Yah.

I'm digging the classic country selections and this one is just phenomenal.

classic Willie

It's like watching a classic Western movie without needing the film. A 5 star or A rated concept album for me. Edit - 14.12.2025: Should be an A+.

Willie Nelson is in the top 2 when it comes to America's contributions to the world, and this is one of his finest albums.

Perfect

Such a sweet voice which doesn't match his appearance.

Dusty careworn songs of love and loss, drifters and desperadoes, beautifully played, sung, and recorded. When I listened to it for the first time, the next thing I did was to play it again. A balm for the soul.

My dad didn’t like Willie Nelson’s voice so we never listened to his music and I assumed his music was bad. But I thoroughly enjoyed his album and the melancholy feel to his songs. His instrumental work is sublime. Downloaded the album and will listen to it again for sure.

Lovely! 5/5

None of the songs really stand out on their own, but as a collective unit, it is a beautiful saga, with intimate instrumentation and soulful performance.

Outlaw country, singer-songwriter. Not much I can say about this album. It's calming and mellow, very straightforward and honest. It's subtle when it needs to be and all is placed where it is needed. It's damn near perfect. Would love to revisit. Strong 4.5/5

I listened to it once then listened to part of it again. It's good. I'm impressed. Lyrically and musically it transported me to a different era and location. The storytelling and some of the tragedy in the lyrics is what country music is supposed to be. Also, the instrumental bits are really good. Surprise 5.

Loved the whole album - album just flew by. Now a convert to Willie Nelson

It starts off as a really stripped back/straight forward country album. Just a man and his guitar. They add some backing players throughout and eventually the songs get a little fuller. However, none of it is done poorly. The songwriting/singing feels just what you'd expect of a name as legendary as Willie Nelson. His voice is unmistakable. Having only listened to "Stardust" where he was so well defined, it's interesting seeing such a humble beginning.

Country, eigentlich nicht mein Ding, aber Willie steht für musikalische Leidenschaft ohne Ende, bedingungslose Geradlinigkeit. Volle Punktzahl für den Outlaw!

Great album. One of my favorites. Always in my rotation. 5/5

Willie at his best with his first song cycle. He could capture the feeling with Trigger and his vocals the way no one else can. Story of love, loss, craziness and the fragility of man. This is a perfect outlaw album.

An American classic.

Beautiful album. The first half flowing perfectly into each other, like 1 side long song. Great story, great music, great all throughout, I had never appreciated it before but right now everything clicked, and it is in my upper echelon of country albums

A country master work

It’s Willie, for fuck’s sake

Amazing, one of the best country music albums of all time

I fell off the album a day horse for too long and it’s hard to imagine a better way to get back in the saddle. How long do we think the gods will keep Willie on loan to us? Whatever they decide, I’m glad they let us borrow him for a bit - his gritty grace is the perfect model for us to all follow. Fuck the Man, but love your neighbor and also maybe the ladies along the way, you know? It’s wild to me that he recorded this at my age and went on to keep it going for more than double the time. Willie for President!!

Yee Haw

One of the all time great albums. Willie free at last and showing what he can do when left alone.

LP

just good old fashioned 70's cowboy country. telling stories by a campfire country. I get images of driving through small farm towns in a banged up old reliable pickup truck as I listen to this. Willie is a great lyricist and you cant help but relax to his songs.

10/10 Willie Nelson will always be nostalgic for me

I loved this album! I know how famous he is as a musician but I never seeked out his music. He is such a fantastic story teller and he has a captivating voice. This album kept me fully engaged throughout. Very cool.

An absolute revelation!

Really liked this one

Lovely, heartbreaking and beautiful

Master class in Americana songwriting. An album that flows effortlessly

This album is perfect through and through, and was such a lovely pull on this Friday morning after a long week. Just beautiful and an absolute classic.

What a great piece of American history!! Poetic classic Americana country. Hands on the Wheel brought me to my knees. I found myself in you Willie!! ❤️

This album is like going to church. It can make the most tired soul feel alive again. Willie was blessed by the ganja gods, or maybe he is one.

Beautiful album

Willie!! Never a bad choice.

Flawless end to end. Keep your hands off the bay!

Pleasant quiet experience

Fire and ice.

Willie is so smooth. He can sing me to sleep any day of the week.

I love this album. It has its peaks and valleys, but it’s one of my favorite albums of all time. I listened to this album a lot back in 2002-ish after reading about it in some other greatest albums list. In 2008 I saw Willie perform and it was one of the best concerts of my life (in top three or five?). I splurged and bought a seat in the second row, and was close enough to shake Willie’s hand after the show. I also lucked out in that his legendary band members Paul English and Bobbie Nelson were still with him (for a fun(?) read search for the article Watching Willie’s Back by Joe Nick Patoski). As a kid I remember reading a storyline in the Doonesbury comic of a character dying but being happy that they were listening to Pet Sounds shortly before they “bit it”. What album would I want in that situation? Maybe Red Headed Stranger.

Dang, thousy albums! You’ve been on a roll lately. This is of course pretty much a perfect album. Not only does it got Blues Eyes Crying In The Rain, but many other terrific songs. Not bad, William Nelson, not bad.

Back in the aughts, I went to see Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. I went in wanting to see Bob, I came out a Willie Nelson fan. His set was one of my favorite concerts I’d been to. He took me so pleasantly by surprise, as I had no interest in him to that point. Anyway, I love Willie and I love this album.

This album was really good. Mini vignettes with great guitar

As a lover of country music, it’s crazy that I’ve never sat down and listened to a solo Willie project. This album is PURE country music. The instrument arrangements, the lyrics, everything. I feel like a lot of people meme country music now a days ever since the “bro country” era, but this album is absolutely iconic in all the right ways It’s really difficult to pick a favorite off this record, but I’m gonna go with Hands on the wheel.

Better than I thought when I started. I like the theme of one album with a story

Always respected Willie but this album was amazing.

This was basically the soundtrack of my childhood. My parents listen to this album all the time, and if I need a reliable smile from my father, I can just put it on.

Loved it.

Red Headed Stranger is often considered the greatest album in country music. In this concept album, Willie Nelson tells the story of a man who killed his wife and her lover. Some of the songs are simple simple and almost sparse - just Willie singing and his guitar. In others, Willie's band adds supporting instrumentation, including his sister, Bonnie, on the piano. The strength of the recording is in the compelling story Willie tells. The fable of the Red Headed Stranger was perfectly expressed in Willie's simple but elegant songs. The album was incredibly successful, propelling Willie to stardom that reached far beyond country music circles.

Love Willie. Love this album. Reading the backstory on wikipedia on how against the grain this was for the time makes it even better.

Day15 - glad we have willie and his music

Still listening to it, but enjoying it very much.

I love it for many reasons. I'm in a hurry to get to my next album, though.

Never heard before and legendary!

Goat 🐐

A-Love Willie Nelson and makes me feel connected to all my ancestors. Every single one. That's it. D- whole album played through nice and smooth, could hardly tell where one song ended and the other began. Bit in a good way, yaKnow?

Loved it.

Beloved classic

Willie Nelson, der einzige der Snoop Dog unter den Tisch raucht. Für mich der Chuck Norris unter den Musikern. Würde man es wagen Chuck Norris weniger als die vollen Punkte zu geben? Das Album ist solider country, kann man nicht meckern, finde die moderneren Sachen besser. 6 von 5 Punkten wegen Chuck Norris

This one reminds me of Pink Moon in a way. With the striped back instrumentals, it’s kind of like it except in the country genre. In fact, I like the instrumentals a lot. Lyrics as well. Even if it blends together a bit, this is still a cool little concept album!

Not an album I would’ve normally listened to, but it was really good. I like the experimental aspect of the album

I'd expect nothing less than the best from Uncle Willie and this album did not disappoint. I wish more modern country music sounded like the old greats but here we are...still grateful to have Willie alive and kickin' out new tunes. That aside it's tough to do a concept album well but this was one of the good ones. The story was coherent, the themes reinforced, yet didn't feel stale or forced. Would definitely listen again and prompted me to dig deeper into his catalogue than I had previously. Standout tracks: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Red Headed Stranger, Hands on the Wheel

"You can't hang a man for shooting a woman who was trying to steal his horse." Can't argue with that logic! Insane that Willie Nelson had this voice when he was young. He sounds like he's a bazillion years old.

Willie’s best. Outlaw country is where it’s at.

This is wonderful - love the narrative quality! I suppose it's no surprise that I'd find a concept album much more accessible than I find most country. They should do ten minute long songs about wizards, that's catnip to me, I'd be wearing a stetson in no time! 🧙 Fave tracks - love the repeated instances of "Time of the Preacher" - really ties the album together. "Hands on the Wheel" feels like a great conclusion, and really dug the instrumental "Bandera"...

A great album front to back.

I wish everybody could sing like Willie

so good

This was beautiful and made me feel very comfortable and relaxed. I especially loved I Couldn’t Believe it Was True and the closing instrumental Bandera. This gets a strong 4 stars from me. With a few more listens this would easily be 5 stars for me but alas we aren’t able to edit scores later on. So fuck it, you get 5 stars, Willie.

Good album.

Honestly that was way better than I thought it would be.

This is the first album on my desert island list. Absolute GOLD.

Just amazing. Calm, mellow, relaxing.

O melhor do country norte americano. Cara é mestre mesmo

And they danced with their smiles on their faces.

Круто прям 70-е

Great voice and emotion. Fantastic instrumental

classic, really awesome vibes