Red Headed Stranger

I'm not a Willie Nelson fan, but this was an enjoyable listen. Chill and soothing. It is interesting how the album tells a story throughout, even coming back to the same musical theme repeatedly. Because Willie's voice is not my thing, I thought the moments of instrumental break were lovely, with my favorite tracks being the classic hymn "Just As I Am" and the energetic, fun jam "Down Yonder."

it’s nice but it’s not for me

Rart album fra country-genren for en gangs skyld.

My blue eyes crying in the rain, cause this album was iconic. Willie’s voice, storytelling. Makes me want to hike across America and touch grass.

It's alright

I’m not typically a country fan, especially of modern country, but the charm of old school country is undeniable. Same goes for Willie Nelson. 4/5.

Nice Storytelling. Will listen again

A little bit of slow, depressing, old timey country goes a long way. Pleasant enough to stick with for the short playtime, but I’m not likely to revisit, or remember the name, of most of these songs.

This was better than I expected it to be. All the songs are pretty short, some of them not really songs and more those sort of interludes you get in musicals. Some of it went a bit country for my liking, the kindof predictable country tunes and turnarounds that I find a bit meh. But a few of them were really good, I particularly liked the title track and the piano bit in the middle, down yonder, was a bop. I'm glad I've heard it, I don't think I'll search it out again, but something about it was quite good, I'm just not sure what. Oh interestingly as can I sleep in your arms plays there is a piano solo which is really nice and you wouldn't think it was a country track until the vocal come back in but then the same tune is so obviously country I wonder if I just really don't like the vocal style they use. It feels quite put on. Maybe that just the southern American accent (or wherever country originated), anyway another reason I'm happy to have heard this but know I'm not enamoured.

Felt like a lonely cowboy, riding my nag through the dusty canyons

Man needs a drummer

He cool is willie!

I mean I didnt really know where one song ended and the other began, thought it was one long song. Think id have liked that a bit better... 1975?! Surely it was from before that? Was good for what it was, I suppose. Shoulda called it 'Big Willie Style' 2.5

Super mellow

the band is really the star here, with a fantastic set of arrangements that make excellent use of silence and its implication, and individual highlights that are always well-paced and tasteful. the vocal style feels casual but never drifts into unsupported territory.

Out of all the country classics I have heard, Willie Nelson's music probably moves me the least. He has a great voice and storytelling abilities, but musically I find it forgettable. The backing instrumentation is way too minimal and sparse, which compared with the super scant song lengths makes up for a pretty in-one-ear-out-the-other listen. I appreciate the story line of this album, but it doesn't really make me enjoy the album more. It's pleasant as background music but that's it.

cool album its been days i kinda forget it now that im writing this 7/10 best song - time of the preacher

Not for me. But I can respect the craft and recognize the influence.

Very samey songs. Short songs most of them. Pretty decent though.

OK. 2/5

Just Willie and the songs. What’s not to like?

This album is deservedly a classic. It's Willie Nelson's silky sweet vocals against a gentle country background filled with genuine emotions and metaphor. "Now my hand is on the wheel of something that's real and I feel like I'm going home." It just flows, naturally, link a creek through a cornfield.

An easy five stars: one of the great American albums. I'm writing this in the ten seconds after this website's algorithm served this record up to me: I don't need a re-listen to confirm what I already know; I've listened to it hundreds of times already (but of course I will re-listen, because of love). It's also the soundtrack to one of the most wonderful uncanny TV scenes of the pre-Twin Peaks '80s, in the BBC miniseries Edge of Darkness. I'd give it a sixth star for that if I could.

Good, mellow music. Nothing I love but an easy listen.

Classic story telling country. I didn't realize he had as good of a voice as he does.

INSIDE YOU THERE ARE TWO WOLVES one snores like "honk shoo honk shoo." the other snores like "hooooonk mi mi mi"

Perushyvää kantria. Kuuntelin levyn pariinkin kertaan läpi, eikö jääny ärsyttävä mieli, mut toisaalta ei myöskään mitään vau-elämystä. Enimmäkseen harmiton.

Meni kyllä ihan super taustalla, mutta ihan hyvää (ja harmitonta) se oli, kai :D

Miten voi 33 minuuttinen levy tuntua venytetyltä? Alku oli musta oikein miellyttävää ja harmitonta läpsyttelyä. Ja esim. nimikkobiisissä oli jotain kiinnostavaa. Mut loppuun sit tosiaan jotenkin karkas mielenkiinto.

Harmitonta countryä. Kuuntelee ennen ku selkäänsä ottaa mut en tulis palaamaan.

Liked it more than I thought but not sure I'd go out of my way to relisten

It was good, but not amazing to me. Though I don't like a lot of country music, but the stuff I do like is the older country. This album was too slow for me though.

me pasa que, toda la música country, encuentro que suena IGUAL.

I really want to get into Willie, but every time it's offered I find it hard to swallow. This album fits that bill. Good, but narrow and samey in delivery. Seems like a very cool dude though.

Well, I was pleasantly surprised to find a country album that I didn't instantly dislike. But I'd never heard of outlaw country as a genre. That said, at times some of the songs sounded like incidental music in a western movie.

Some decent songs should probably give it another listen.

time of the preacher: 3.5/10 is this how cowboys go through heartbreak and betrayal..? I couldn't believe it was true: 3/10 whats the opposite of a lyrical genius? time of the preacher theme: 3/10 did NOT need a continuation, one is enough medley: blue rock montana / red headed stranger: 3.5/10 mundane, next blue eyes crying in the rain: 4/10 wow ykw at least there's a harmonica and a guitar solo, kinda saved it a tiny bit red headed stranger: 3.2/10 has a bit of musical contrast thankfully, but literally felt every second of that 3 minutes and 59 seconds time of the preacher theme - short version: 2.25/10 BROTHER AGAIN? THE PREACHER'S TIME IS OVER ALREADY just as I am: 4.5/10 I like the instrumentals, I was waiting for him so sing tbh but he saved us an earache denver: 3.5/10 sounds like any other song in the album o'er the waves: 5.3/10 the instrumentals are nice and remind me of the beach. ended too soon tho. ofc the only somewhat decent song is short down yonder: 4/10 I imagined people dancing in a medieval tavern while listening to this, such npc music tho lord help me can I sleep in your arms: 4.5/10 would've liked and ate up the lyrics if it wasn't country. I like the harmonic singing parts and the instrumentals at the end tho. however, so fricking long for what? remember me (when the candle lights are gleaming): 4/10 okay I guess, the piano and double bass is nice hands on the wheel: 2/10 can he pls stop making songs longer than 3 mins im so tired of listening to this. the same song over and over again. did not need to be this long so i minus one point bandera: 4/10 ON TO THE LAST SONG WOOHOO nice instrumentals and a nice farewell from the album ill never open again final rating (personal, not mathematical): 3/10 look I am just not a country person, half the songs sounded mid and boring and made me feel like I needed a horse and retirement to rate it higher than this. was lowkey hell to go through 15 songs, longest 34 mins of my life. will never open again, sorry willie.

I love this challenge so much because I truly wouldn't have sought out a Willie Nelson album without it, despite him being so beloved. I have mixed feelings about concept albums, but this one definitely worked for me after initially being thrown off by the early reprise. Just good classic country tunes, heavy on the twang and paired with a perfectly syrupy croon. Plain and simple in the best way. 3.5/5 rounded up Favorite tracks: Red Headed Stranger, Denver, Hands on the Wheel

Hot take - the best country album of all time is one you should listen to before you die.

This started slow and grew on me as it went on. I'll enjoy returning to this one for another listen.

Very much not my style, feels very formulaic (as in, no melody or chord progression goes anywhere unexpected), but Willie sings and writes very well within those limitations. Not something I’d listen to again, but it is well-made and feels a lot more authentic and heartfelt than some other old country albums I’ve heard.

Not bad but not special

интересненько мне понравилось даже но текст ниче не поняла почти тк опять во время готовки слушала + инглиш поэтому хз насколько мне зашло

This was really monotone and boring for me

This one cooks!!!

I think it's pretty good at what it is, but this storytelling country folk with Nelson's rather thin voice doesn't do a lot for me.

1. 4 2. 3.5 3. 3 4. 3 5. 4.5 6. 5 7. 2.5 8. 3 1. 3.5 2. 3.5 3. 4 4. 4.5 5. 4.5 6. 4.5 7. 4

A great album!

The redheaded stranger always tells a good story

Exactly what you’d expect from a Willie Nelson album. Conjuring images of starry nights in Texas by a campfire while he plays away. Very pleasant album, easy to listen too. Nothing groundbreaking here, though.

Lovely classic country album form Willie. The goat.

Мне очень хотелось бы знать, почему кантри-музыка мне не по душе. Хотя здесь прям традиционно, но однообразно. Willie Nelson "Red Headed Stranger", 1975,2/10 #слушал

I like a lot of what I've heard of Willie Nelson's music. But this album was kinda just... Fine? It wasn't bad by any means, but just did not grab me in the slightest.

Need to listen

SO great! Love this! Love all of the short short songs. And it had kind of a running concept which I love. Impossible not to like music

Willie Nelson so goated so so lucky that I worked at his concert and I was like 100 feet away from him still playing that guitar at 90 years old such a legend. Anyways this album was okay! I like the theme song a lot, and there are some nice tunes on here. Felt like a cowboy.

my first experience with a concept album.

Inget större Willie-fan men denna har ju gått på snurr rätt mycket hemma

The guitar work is stellar, but I can't help but feel I would appreciate this music more if I was from the southern United States, because this music elicits nothing personal for me. I feel like an old man.

willie tells a nice story

3/10… country / singer-songwriter / *1975

The OG goated classic

low 3 fair play to Willie for going so striped back with this, im just not in the mood to listen to the lyrics so this becomes a bit boring

very very nice. relaxing.

Would listen to this again. Some missed for me, but it's nice chill music tbh

Perfection.

Decent, soft country album. 3/5

After his period working with Chet Atkins as a largely Nashville songwriter Willie took up his real calling as an 'Outlaw' with the his big name pals in the Highwaymen, and produced this album about an outlaw himself, a kind of alter ego. Working with Jerry Wexler, he created an almost demo like album which ended up being appreciated as a 'stripped back' affair. It's a consistent effort with a seamless set of tunes, all written to a country style harmonic blueprint, and a satisfying sense of completeness as a concept. Never heard it before and was happy to discover.

Too many versions of the same songs on one record - especially for a standard edition. Enjoyed it, it's not my preferred genre!

Lovely easy, breezy arrangement of tunes from Willie. The softest of the Outlaw countrymen but in no shape the weakest. This is a dreadful story baked into these lovely prairie tunes. Willie's voice is mint and the warm production value on the classic country sound is perfectly suited for him. Probably 5 stars on merit and legacy but Willie's not my guy. Merle is.

It is fine, just not my cup of tea.

I now understand why Willie Nelson is a legend.

toting my guns fiddling my pianer inoffensive and lukewarm cuntree chill

Note to self: If I see a red-haired stranger walking past, give him a wide berth and just leave him be. This was a nice album. Willie has a unique and pleasant voice and the music was pleasing to the ears, but it was a little mellow for my tastes and, as per usual, I got a bit distracted during the second half. I was also following the story of the song, but I feel like began to fizzle out a bit—though that may just be due to my getting distracted. I'm glad I listened to it, but it didn't completely "wow" me.

yeehaw esse vai gerar muito na cajupi eu falei ontem que não curtia country mas pelo visto curto sim!! achei muito legal escutar esse álbum e fiquei feliz por descobrir músicas boas que normalmente eu não teria contato

Muito muito bom, quase dei 5 estrelas. Sou muito fã da voz dele, as músicas e melodias são muito satisfatórias, tudo encaixa, tudo faz sentido, é um álbum que desce redondo. Até ele, acredito que foi o que mais me deu vontade de ouvir repetidas vezes. Destaque para: - Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain

Classic Willie. It was pretty good. A high 3. Literally.

All I knew about Nelson is the weed part. I don't like country, but his voice, the stripped-back storytelling, the nice music that is not about trucks and beer and not obnoxiously twangy, all of it was lovely. Would have never considered putting this album on at face value, but glad I did! 5*

As far as country music is concerned, it’s pretty good. But plain and pure to a fault. A nice narrative and concept with no meat on the bones or production worth mentioning.

Time of the Preacher - 3.5/5 I Couldn't Believe It Was True - 3.5/5 Time of the Preacher Theme - 3.5/5 Medley: Blue Rock Montana/Red Headed Stranger - 3.5/5 Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain - 3.5/5 Red Headed Stranger - 3.5/5 Time of the Preacher Theme - 3.5/5 Just as I Am - 3.5/5 Denver - 3.5/5 O'er the Waves - 3.5/5 Down Yonder - 3.5/5 Can I Sleep in Your Arms - 4/5 Remember Me - 3.5/5 Hands on the Wheel - 4/5 Bandera - 3.5/5 I'm not the biggest fan of country but Willie Nelson surely does have the chops to make it worth something. The concept is interesting enough but it doesn't really capture my interest all that much. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: Can I Sleep In Your Arms, Hands on the Wheel

The Bach Minuet in G was a fun plot twist but something about Willie is so comforting even for non-country fans. Everyone’s favorite uncle.

Really great album. Willie's voice is fantastic and the old country sounds rings through every track. Some tracks sound too similar, that's why it isn't a 4 star album to me. Favorites were Red Headed Stranger, Bandera, Down Yonder, and Can I Sleep In Your Arms.

Willie is undoubtly, and with good reason, the voice of generations. A concept album is interesting and I might look up the movie. All that said, and rather quietly I'll say, I don't care for the sound of Willie's voice. I enjoy an occassional song, especially any duets, but not whole solo albums.

Not quite my style of country, but nice

I'm not a country person, but I guess if I had to pick, I like the Willie isn't "truck and beer" or conservative country.

This is inoffensive enough but I wouldn't have batted an eyelid if the year said 1955, rather than 1975

willie

Willie Nelson is a legend. Country is not my music.

iiii already knew i didnt really care for country, this p much seals it in. every track sounds identical to me here and its not helped by the short average length with every track basically having the exact same amount of pause between them as a regular verse, giving this weird feeling of everything being this one incredibly long track, much like this sentence. anyway yeah sorry this is just kinda very unnotable and nothing to me

Quaffable country music. Nice short songs.

I love Willie and somehow this is the first time I realized he came up in my part of Texas. I also didn't know people call him an "outlaw country" artist - I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I love it.

Not a country fan, but I couldn’t say anything about this. Pleasant enough to listen to in the drive to work

Ok willie

not bad mid

Red headed stranger Time of the preacher Bandera

Album #134: Red Headed Stranger - Willie Nelson Genre (W): Country, outlaw country Singles: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Remember Me I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: This was an okay album, but I found myself falling asleep near the end. I like the honesty of the lyrics and how straightforward they are. Favorite tracks: I Couldn’t Believe It Was True, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Red Headed Stranger, Can I Sleep in Your Arms

6/10

Okay but shouldn't be in 1001 albums

C'è di molto meglio.

Decí que no es lunes porque sino me rajaba un tiro acá nomás

bonus star for being called the red headed stranger, but also is just really good. It’s an interesting concept album, with songs that flow into each other and reprises and stuff. Plus there’s a song called Denver so that’s cool.

I enjoyed it more than expected, but overall, not my thing

Опять ебаная американщина из глубинки 2.5

Þetta er reyndar eins og allt sem ég hef heyrt með honum, en þetta er næs eins og oftast.

Not bad yeah

"Red Headed Stranger" is often considered Willie Nelson’s masterpiece, largely because it operates less like a conventional country album and more like a sonic Western film. ### Lyrics and Storytelling The narrative is deceptively simple, following a fugitive preacher on the run after killing his wife and her lover. The lyrics are sparse and elliptical, often relying on short, imagistic verses. Instead of explicit exposition, the story is conveyed through emotional fragments and internal monologue, leaving much of the narrative to the listener's imagination. This approach creates a sense of haunting ambiguity, making the preacher a figure of tragic pathos rather than a simple villain. ### Music and Production The musical arrangement is famously minimal, featuring only Willie’s nylon-stringed guitar (Trigger), harmonica, bass, and light percussion. Rather than traditional country fills, the production favors stark, open spaces that mirror the desolate landscape of the story. The inclusion of the hymn "Just as I Am" as a recurring instrumental motif serves as a sonic anchor, representing the preacher's lost grace and inner turmoil. This stripped-down approach gives the album its raw, intimate feel. ### Themes and Influence The album’s core themes include sin, redemption, the harshness of the natural world, and the solitude of the outsider. It subverts the traditional cowboy myth, presenting the West not as a place of heroic adventure but as a landscape for moral confrontation and psychological exile. In terms of influence, this record was a cornerstone of the "outlaw country" movement, proving that a major artist could reject the polished "Nashville sound" in favor of personal, uncompromised artistic vision. It showed that country music could be as introspective and dark as folk or blues, paving the way for artists seeking creative control. ### Pros * **Cohesive Atmosphere:** The minimalist production and recurring musical themes create a seamless, immersive soundscape. * **Narrative Efficiency:** The lyrics tell a complex story with remarkable economy, leaving a powerful emotional impact. * **Artistic Integrity:** It stands as a bold statement of artistic control, prioritizing mood and story over commercial formulas. ### Cons * **Unconventional Structure:** For listeners expecting standard verse-chorus-bridge songs, the album's narrative and structural flow can feel disjointed. * **Repetition:** The recurring instrumental motifs, while effective for atmosphere, might feel overly repetitive to some. * **Lack of Variety:** The consistently slow, somber tempo and stark arrangements may lack the dynamic shifts that some listeners prefer. Ultimately, the album's minimalism is its greatest strength, making it a timeless piece of sonic art that invites deep, personal interpretation.

Enjoyed it bigly, especially good my walk home at night. 3.5

Excited to get some Willie Nelson, great music, beautiful voice and great storytelling right there. If I think of what a good country should be, this is your guy. Strong 4 stars.

Classic Willie

I get they love for this album, I suspect if I played it one sad afternoon it might hit harder

Who doesn't like Willie? A lovely listen.

This is an excellent little album, I’m not keen on any other Willie Nelson stuff that I’ve heard, but I do like this one

I love this album l, feel like I go on a journey with him, so beautifully sung

Meh, it's an old country album. Dont get me wrong, Willie Nelson has a great voice and I can understand that its a very well intended concept album, but to me all the songs sounds the same. There's absolutely no build up in any of the songs and it's hard to connect and distingue some of it. Overall, im glad this challenge made me discover and listen to that record, but I dont find myself listening to it on my own.

1/5

Nope. Still not a country fan after this one. Every song eventually just sounds the same to me, blending together into a Willie Nelson soup until none of it is particularly recognisable. Eh.

Hmmm, nah! I'm not a big fan of Willie. Said the actress to the bishop...

I wish country had stayed on this path. Outlaw country is delightful

Really lovely, great harmonica sounds and Nelson’s voice is absolutely gorgeous. Bandera was honestly a standout. Might not listen again since not my usual jam but was pleasantly surprised!

mid 3.5.

cigarette emoji

WAY too short! It's great for how long it is.

Cover art credits for a cliche mundane sleeve as follows. Howard Fritzson art direction Monica White – artwork Don Hunstein, David Gahr - photography. This album has legendary status but not for the sleeve. Music is as expected but the lyrics are magical and very moving with Willie Nelson’s delivery creating something very special. Enjoyable if only listened to once.

This is the type of country I like. The heartfelt lyrics and chill instrumentals touched me in an unexpected way. A superb album which is now one of my favorites.

That sure was a Willie Nelson album. Uh huh. A country singer with a guitar just doesn't do it for me I guess. And that's really all that's here. Was it bad or irritating to listen to? No. Did I take note of any song in the album? Also no. It's passable.

Pleasant and simple country folk music. The weak production is buoyed by Willie's vision for condensed music that tells a tale and entertains without all the riff-raff and bluster of contemporary country music.

No notes. A brilliant album. Sparse. (the record company thought it was the demo). Fraught. Brilliant. A murder story. A rumination on the American frontier. A minimalist work of virtuosity. Musical dna for me. The time of the preacher. In the year of 01 It really doesn’t get any better. Absolute must listen. 50 million stars

Sparse

Stunning, wide open, sparse, simple, delicate it lopes along. He'd been playing at the edges for quite awhile before he got this together. It's a thing of beauty. I love it and I've always loved it.

It's 'Hey Joe -- The Concept Album'. I love Wilie's unpolished and straightforward approach. Great story-telling, great songs, simple and effective performances. UPDATE: My mate Dave rang me up to question me as to why I only rated this only four stars. He justifiably loves this record, and knows how much I like a straightforward unpolished recording with a few rough edges, and narrative country songs, and Willie Nelson in general. It's a fair question; why not five stars? And I had to think hard to explain myself. So let me be honest. I think it is because it is a concept album, and I just don't generally enjoy concept albums. The commitment to longform narrative structure often takes precedence over good songs and the plots can end up going to some very silly places (The Who's Tommy, I'm looking at you). Are these Willie's strongest songs ever? Maybe, maybe not. it's hard to separate them from the whole piece. I will concede that, if Marty Robbins' Gunfighter Songs album is like a collection of Zane Grey short stories, then Red Headed Stranger is a Cormac McCarthy novel. Mature, sparsely evocative, fatalistic, rooted in a melancholic realism. I appreciate that Willie is one of the few artists to take the classic American trope of "jealous man shoots his woman dead, runs to Mexico" and follows that through to what psychological impact that would have on the man's whole life. I can't think of any of the other cowboy murder ballads with that much maturity - not Marty Robbins or Johnny Cash or Neil Young or any of the many versions of Hey Joe. So, Dave, you've called me out, and I admit this album is very, very good. I own a copy of this record. I will nudge my score up to 4.5 stars. But I'm rounding down because I just don't really dig concept albums.

Meeh

Может однажды мне удастся послушать хороший кантри альбом который вызовет хоть какие то эмоции, но зайти в жанр через этот альбом не получилось. Мужчина рассказывает истории и перебирает струны гитары примерно 30 минут

country, US-American folk music

Not my style but must admit that the guy has a nice nuanced voice, very pleasant to listen to

Masterpiece.

Album #231 Willie Nelson: Red Headed Stranger It could have been the Willie Nelson, it could have been the wine… Willie Nelson makes the kind of music that a grizzled rustic man feels comfortable getting emotional to. Of course, only in the setting of sitting on the porch drinking whiskey and staring at the stars. It’s the kind of music that is quite familiar to you if you grew up in any sort of rural setting, not even Willie specifically, but this kind of country is just what you would hear in the background of any house or establishment that you visited. It is very comforting and relaxing music, albeit it doesn’t necessarily feel as profound to me as it probably does the average divorced dad; but I’m sure I’ll reach that stage at some point. Best Songs: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Red Headed Stranger, Hands on the Wheel Worst Song: Down Yonder Score out of 10: 7.5

I'm sorry Willie, but this bored the everliving shit out of me. I was pretty excited for it too.

6. avgust 2026. 13.41h opet uprkos svemu (cinjenici da ne slusam country a ni outlaw country kako pise na wikipediji) it was a nice album, svidja mi se njegov glas best: o'er the waves, bandera

1,9 Highlights: Red Headed Stranger, Remember Me

really thought this would be better? easily missable

Beautiful, I need to listen to this more frequently

Very cool album! I love that it tells a story from beginning to end. A lot of them sound like songs you’d sing around a campfire, real Americana-sounding stuff. I can see myself coming back to this one.

An Outlaw Country middle finger to the overly-adorned Nashville machine that through the years has perverted a great American idiom. Gorgeously restrained production that makes you feel like you're in the same room with Willie and his iconic voice. This is pure talent on display with no frills, bells or whistles. The storytelling is equally elegant with a simple, emotional through line told through recurring motifs and artfully chosen covers- all dispatches from a long lost radio program in the Texas hill country. The pace is slow but never lethargic, the tone is mournful but never sentimental and Willie croons beautifully without ever showboating.

I went into this expecting to hate it. It’s country. Too much moaning in 3/4 time. But he can play & there’s a folkish charm here. It won’t convert me, but it will help me be more accepting.

9/10

Third go around with country, what did I think? It wasn’t really my thing, to be honest. I feel like there were a couple things that turned me off from this album. Firstly, most of the songs are slow country ballads, which made it difficult for them to really stick because a lot of them sounded the same, making the songs kinda forgettable to me. Second, the length, 15 tracks and 33 minutes just seems weird to me. I feel that he could have expanded on some of the ideas that were presented on the album, instead of including songs that were literally under a minute long. Third, the amount of reprises in the first half of the album, Time Of The Preacher is reprised 3 times in the first 7 songs. With the room those other two reprieve take up, Nelson could have put two other songs, or even moved a song up and saved a reprise for later instead of right after the original, just like Red Headed Stranger, which is played twice, once short, once long. I also feel like the concept could’ve been explored more thoroughly, but that part was easier to understand. On a more positive note, the music wasn’t offensively bad and the whole thing was put together well. If I had to pick some standouts, it’d probably be Blue Eyes Crying in The Rain, Red Headed Stranger, Denver, and Hands On The Wheel, probably the most memorable four of the album. If you’re a country fan, I’d say check it out, but I probably won’t be spinning it again.

Outstanding

One of the great albums of all time.

There is something so soothing and nostalgic about an acoustic guitar and Wille Nelson’s croon

3.5 I liked this much more than I was expecting to!

Honestly, i don't vibe with country too much, buuut Willie is a relly good artist in the genre. Solid 3.

One of America’s greatest living singer songwriters.

Willie does more with 33 minutes than a lot of the artists on this lists did in an hour or more. Concise but impactful. The music is the foundation but the storytelling was way more important. Highlights: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Can I Sleep In Your Arms

One of my favorite country albums. Great story, and Willie's vocals really shine. Favorite track: Can I Sleep In Your Arms

Interesting story and easy listen. Willie and Morgan Fairchild in a TV movie in 1986? Didn't remember that one.

Willie Nelson is cool and these are good tunes, but it just didn’t rise to the level of anything more than “good” for me.

Just a really fantastic country album. Compelling narrative, doesn't overstay its welcome, and 'Can I Sleep In Your Arms' is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful songs I've heard in a long while.

uf esto me queda muy lejos pero me ha impresionado la verdad. buenísimo.

Soft songs and lovely feel along the songs, very good and easy to listen to.

RDR vibes I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics in some songs, but country is not my jam. Seems like an important album though.

normally not my kind of music but this works great as a concept album and it was a nice listen

So comforting oddly enough. I liked the style, didn't get bored. Soothing voice and sound. Made me happy. Wouldn't listen daily though.

This was the first time I ever listened to a whole album by this man. It was pretty much what I expected. It was country music.

Maybe my favourite bluegrass album of all time. The simplicity of the arrangements really let's the simple reoccurring melody shine. This album feels like watching an old western movie, you might turn it on and appreciate the vibe in an ironic sort of way but soon you get caught up in the storyline and become more invested than you expected... Willie Nelson made a lot of (questionable) music, and his quirky celebrity status probably outshines most of it, but I feel like this album should define who he was as an artist.

It's impressive that Willie Nelson can record several covers with a few of his own compositions thrown in and it comes out as a cohesive concept album that is entirely his own. I love the sparse instrumentation and arrangement of the album. I wish all country music was this good.

I know it's Willie Nelson, but I just don't care for slow country. 2.0/5.0: Disappointing

willies an icon for a reason

Great Songs: Can I Sleep In Your Arms Good Songs: I Couldn't Believe It Was True, Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain, Red Headed Stranger, Just As I Am, Denver, Down Yonder, Remember Me (When The Candle Lights Are Gleaming), Hands On The Wheel, Bandera Mid Songs: Time of the Preacher, Time of the Preacher Theme, Medley: Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger, Time of the Preacher Theme (Short Version), O'er The Waves Bad Songs:

Sadly very boring, despite he made other decent songs

I fuck with sad boi cowboy and hate how much people shit on country music on this list. For me it’s a 3 but to prove a point I’m giving it a 4

Classic country

william

I'm such a sucker for this type of album structure. A bunch of short songs. Love Willy, not sure I revisit the album but certainly some nice diddlies on here.

Willie Nelson has always been old to me. Very minimal album but a great listen

2/10 - Boring country music, there is good country and then there is this

Album cover has an "outlaw country" vibe to it. Simplistic and minimalist. I hear some back-to-basics elements like honky-tonk, the harmonica, and the storytelling cadence. It's very calm for pretty dark subject matter (that I only found out through Wikipedia-- more proof of being a melody guy). First few songs were in "E" so I was tempted to call it an "E" album until the next bunch turned into "D".

Was more pleasant than I was expecting.

I felt like I was in an old west saloon

optimistic willie has some better stuff cos he's very talented. loved bandera and remember me

#387 I don’t hate country music as others do and this was perfectly pleasant, although not really my thing in truth. Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Listen before you die? 🫳 Fave track(s): Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Rating: 5/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

01) Time of the Preacher - 7,0 02) I Couldn't Believe It Was True - 7,5 03) Time of the Preacher Theme - 7,0 04) Blue Rock Montana/Red Headed Stranger - 6,0 05) Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain - 8,5 06) Red Headed Stranger - 6,5 07) Time of the Preacher Theme - / 08) Just As I Am - 7,0 09) Denver - 6,5 10) O'er the Waves - 6,5 11) Down Yonder - 7,0 12) Can I Sleep in Your Arms - 6,0 13) Remember Me - 6,5 14) Hands on the Wheel - 6,0 15) Bandera - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,75 (68/100)

Willie should have called the album "Ain't No Demo," per his quote to the pissed record exec. Might be a five had he written all the songs.

I would have had this review written sooner, but at about song #3 I had broken out an old whiskey bottle from the cupboard, at "Denver" I made that call to the ex-girlfriend I should have apologized to a long time ago, and "Bonaparte's Retreat" was wrapping up when the boys picked me up to head out for a mechanical bullriding contest down on main street. A week in Laredo later, and I'm finally getting around to giving this five stars.

Red heads are called gingers in the UK. I like a ginger biscuit to dunk in my coffee. I find that they have the consistency to absorb quite a bit of coffee before they are likely to turn soft and drop back into your coffee cup. A five second dunk I find is the ideal time. 1/5 16/7/26

Okay, so I’ve been trying to go into all of these albums without preconceptions or bias, and this album demonstrated to me EXACTLY why I should uphold that. Because at first I was like “oh willie nelson.. here we go… outlaw country” lol. What I wasn’t expecting was a beautiful album filled with melancholy vocals, lovely piano, and messages of love and pain. WOW!! I even recommended it to my partner (although he didn’t seem interested.) I will keep it my little secret then. This album was great and made me want to sit on a porch alone in the dawn smoking a cig and pondering. Also when down yonder came on i repressed the urge to shout YEEHAW!! (For anyone reading this, I am NOT a country gal, I am a native Northerner lol) Anyways, it was great, what a journey.

Fine

great to discover but not my style (79 albums also??), very countriesque

Pleasant enough but pretty corny

I prefer my western music a little pluckier but this was good listening.

Meh. I don't hear emotion when I listen to Willie. It's fine in the background.

I'm not a big fan of country music, but something about his voice, the deep sounds, and the bass - it becomes very comforting. Hearing a high note from a harmonica or a piano in the middle of all those slow and deep instruments just feels so nice and calming. The songs flow well from one to another to form a cohesive story in which you can feel every emotion of the main character in both the melody and the lyrics, and join him throughout this little journey. Even tho it's not something i'd listen to every day, i have a feeling i'll come back to it just because of how warm and personal it felt - really good vibes from this short album. Favorites: "Time of the Preacher", "Red Headed Stranger", "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" gave it 3 starts at first but then i finished it and immediately wanted to hear it again, so i figured it probably deserves 4.

God he's awful

I grew up with this one. But i haven't heard it in about 45 years. Still remembered every note.

Concept Album That Never Really Grabbed Me I went into this album knowing basically only one thing about Willie Nelson: he likes to smoke weed. Beyond that, I knew he was a country celeberity, and country music is not my taste at all. From what I got. Red Headed Stranger is a story album about a preacher (?) who murders his wife and her lover, then goes on the run. The storytelling is economical (I'm a big fan of this term, learned it today) and you can appreciate the art even if the music doesn't click. But for me, every song just kind of melded right into the next. "Time of the Preacher" is a good opener, sets the stage. 4/10. "I Couldn't Believe It Was True" actually can stir some emotions. Relatable in some ways. That sting of being broken up with. 5-6/10. "Time of the Preacher Theme" sounds identical to the first track. Basically a repeat. 4/10. "Medley: Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger" is great. Very quiet song for being about murder lol. 6-7/10. "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" is pretty good but honestly only got a bit of emotion out of me. Strong-er entry. 6-7/10. "Red Headed Stranger" is the most emotional and lyrically strong track. Apparently Willie didn't write it tho, but it's really good. The piano adds something the other songs lack. 7-8/10. "Just As I Am" an instrumental, sounds like a lullaby. 3/10. "Denver" is too short for anything really. 4/10. "Over the Waves" just instrumental filler. 2/10 "Down Yonder" sounds like straight saloon music. 4/10. "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" is a 5/10. I like Willie's voice and the strumming is nice background music, but I just need a little more. "Remember Me" is a 5/10. Nice melody, solid, but needs a little more to stand out. "Hand on the Wheel" is pleasant and has a good message. One of the more musically interesting tracks (swinging rhythm, warm). 5-6/10. "Bandera" is actually kind of gorgeous and struck a real emotional note with me. Going in my secondary playlist. 8.5/10. This must have been before Willie found weed. The album is way too stripped-down for me. I appreciated the concept and story more than the music itself. I'm sure there are other Willie albums more to my taste, but I won't be returning to this one. Rating: 5.5/10

God bless Willie.

Time of the Preacher - 8/10. Very good. I Couldn't Believe it Was True - 9/10. Great. Time of the Preacher Theme - 8/10. Very good. Medley: Blue Rock Montana/Red-Headed Stranger - 8/10. Very good. Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain - 10/10. Outstanding. Red-Headed Stranger - 11/10. Beautiful in its simplicity. This one goes to 11. Just as I Am - 8/10. Very good. Denver - 8/10. Very good. O'er the Waves - 8/10. Very good. Down Yonder - 9/10. Excellent. Can I Sleep in Your Arms - 11/10. The use of Red River Valley in the bridge is haunting. Stunningly beautiful. Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming) - 9/10. A bit jazzy, which is not what I expected from the rest of the album, but that's not a complaint. Hands on the Wheel - 10/10. Amazing. Bandera - 9/10. Simple and clean. Outstanding. Overall Rating - 4.50/5 (9.00/10). Stripped down to the barest essentials. An absolutely incredible album.

2/5 Something about country, I can't get into. Pretty boring

Country sad Love song vibes

Embole, corchazo asegurado

..

I've actually never heard this album before. Absolutely loved it. Also, now realize that Lucas Nelson's Entirely Different Stars includes some of the music from the last song on the album titled Bandera.

love ity

Sillien ääni on mukavaa ja soinnikasta kuunneltavaa. Levy oli sopivan letkeää tähän hetkeen.

Musical sketches, stripped down. *Medley: Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger, *Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain, *Just As I Am, *Denver, *O'er the Waves, *Can I Sleep in Your Arms, *Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming), *Hands on the Wheel, Bandera.

Raw, stripped down pop Ameican excellence.

Pleasantly surprised to find this an enjoyable and relaxing listen. Liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Really enjoyed the understated nature of the production, and Willie’s voice is magnificent

I could listen to his storytelling and voice over a campfire all night long

What an album. Pure country

I wasn’t really vibing with this too much but the last track was quietly beautiful.

4/10

this album put me to sleep

No go!

Gutes Country Album, aber leider nicht mein Genre

I like Willie Nelson and I like his voice and style. But his more traditional country tunes are much better than this collection of ballads. I like the title track Red Headed Stranger, but the rest sort of blended together. Not offensive. 2 stars

Nice to listen to but nothing particularly stuck out to me. Rating: 3

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

Meh

Beautiful album. Tapestry of melodies. Love the piano.

It's like sitting around a campfire with your fun uncle and his guitar

Review - a good country album but weird how it's flagged as this big concept album etc but a lot of the songs are repeated throughout - easier to do a concept of you hit the same story beats repeatedly. Still good songs and performances, need to listen to more Willie Nelson. Score - 6.5/10 Need to listen? YES

grappig, rustige country. wel heel erg veel van hetzelfde

This must have been before Willie Nelson found weed.

i really like this, I already have a song saved from the album but the rest was pleasent to listen to.

It doesn’t seem like a full fiver to me, but I can’t in good conscience go any lower than 4.5. And we all know that rounds up

This is more Johnny Cash than Steve Earle, but this is still pretty average stuff. As much as I can appreciate the themes and cohesiveness of the album, I really just don’t like it that much. He’s not very interesting, the music is not very interesting, and so there’s just not much here for me. Not to say it’s bad, but it just does absolutely nothing for me. Favorites: Time of the Preacher, Red Headed Stranger, Remember Me (When the Candle Lights are Gleaming)

65

Súper country y excelente guitarra. Interesante escuchar el over the waves en la guitarra!!!!

Definitely a classic. Yeah. It really is. Hard to actually listen to a whole album of it uninterrupted. I just like a bit more back beat with my piano figures. But Willie has such a perfect delivery, perfect stripped down production, beautiful acoustic guitar. And he WAS an industry outlaw. Go Willie go! 4 Boolean: true

I enjoyed this! Pleasant old-fashioned country vibes from Willie

Simply good ol’ boy country twang. Just a guy and his guitar. Nothing really stands out, also not really my jam but probably good for what it is. DNF (3)

Day 321 Country is a style of music I know almost nothing about but I’ve always enjoyed the stuff I’ve heard from the ‘outlaw’ country artists, so I was surprised how boring I found this, I’m sure there’s other albums by Willie Nelson that are far more to my taste but I won’t be returning to this.

With all due respect to Willie, I don't like it.

Pretty much what I could have expected, I guess. Quite nice, mellow country music. Probably warranted a closer listen than I gave it; but I liked what I was tuned in for, despite this style generally not being my kind of thing.

He's got such great guitar tone. Not my thing, but I definitely appreciated the artistry.

It was a collection of songs. They played. And then it was over before I knew it. It was weird it’s like I blinked and it was over. Honestly I’d have to listen to it again but I didn’t hate any of it.

Now I have to listen to the 17 before this.

Classic songwriting from Willie Nelson. Because of Spotify glitches, I had trouble listening to it all the way through, and instead listened in pieces, which is less than ideal. This is the country music I remember hearing (mostly on TV) as a kid. It wasn't played at home, but because of its prominence in the 70s when I was a kid, it's the style of country I think of as "real" country. :)

This album brings me back to when I was around 7 years old hanging out in Grandpa's shop. His radio was always on and tuned into some old school country. Between that and Paul Harvey, it was the soundtrack to my dad and grandfather's projects making things or fixing things. Willie was amongst my earliest favorite musicians even though I didn't know it at the time. If anything, this is the warmest of nostalgia to me. Listening to it now just strikes the right chord in my brain.

Probably a 3, but giving it a 4 because how pleasantly surprised I was.

Just not my cup of tea.

i actually really enjoyed this. great guitar playing :)

The IDEA of Willie Nelson sometimes seemed better than actually listening to him. But this was pretty decent…

A great album by a great artist. Even if you don't like country, this is easy to appreciate.

nao gostei. não é aquele country da dolly parton. é um bem cowboy mesmo, a base de violão e o flow do cara é igual o album inteiro. a unica parte interessante são os solos de violão em algumas musicas. 3/10

I've lived in Austin for 20 years and I feel like the pitchforks will be out if I don't rate this at least four stars

I found this OK but not something I would listen to again

It’s well executed but country music is just shit.

Good ole Willie. This was actually a pretty tight album, really enjoyed.

*тяжелый вздох* Снова здравствуй, Вилли Нельсон. Да, ещё один альбом, мы снова встретились. Да, это спокойненькое вдумчивое кантри от седобородого деда, концептуальная запись, фильм по мотивам, минималистичные аранжировки *зевок* ... Ну не люблю я кантри... Пожалуйста, спасите...

Great storytelling and music, this one has been one of my favorite country albums for decades. Willie is at some of his best here.

Short and sweet. I like all the piano. Nice music to do a puzzle to.

Great story album with smooth guitar play and Willie’s iconic voice.

A great storyteller that needed to have more albums on here. It is like sitting around the campfire and listening to a musician

It’s Willie Nelson how can you not love him. It really feels like he’s just sitting with you and singing some songs around a campfire which is awesome. He is a world class storyteller. Not as good as Stardust but that’s just my personal opinion.

Really nice, mellow listen. Willie’s storytelling is growing on me

그냥 그랬다. 분위기는 나쁘지 않았는데 그렇다고 좋지도 않았다. It was just like that. The atmosphere wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either.

This is so hard to rate because I feel like I didn't have a ton of favorite songs on here like I do with other favorite albums but the whole of this album is SO good. 4.5/5. Rounds up because I'd listen again in a heartbeat

Sleepy, pleasant, Willie.

Flew by, didn’t even notice it finished

i dont like country but i can appreciate this album. it felt like a tale my grandfather is telling me

Nelsonin musiikki on niin rauhallista että en edes huomaa kun se alkaa tai kun se loppuu. Kuuntelin sitä työn ohessa taustalla eikä kertaakaan rassannut.

even the worst Willie record is a 5/5 &this isn't the worst. 100/5

country. ballads. covers. willy.

More pleasant than I thought it was going to be. Good voice and guitar work. Nice variety of instruments rather than being SAME SAME SAME.

Not the most interesting country out there but there's some rather emotional tracks on here

5 stars for my grandpa who loved Willie Nelson

Bom folkisinho

Americano demais pro meu gosto.

God damn, this is some good country. Willie Nelson can sure get some toes tappin, but his real strengths come out on the tender ballads on this album. Gentle, slow, but still engaging due to impeccable arrangements and emotional storytelling. This is the perfect soundtrack to a campfire in the desert, or a retreat deep in the woods.

I will never be a country person but this wasn’t bad. Simple but effective. Some nice instrumentals scattered throughout.

Lovely and earnest! He really manages to pull you into his songs and stories, and even if there's nothing too crazy going on instrumentally, I like that he often just lets the guitar speak for itself. Not an album I'd consciously reach for, but it's pretty good! Standouts: Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain • Just as I Am • Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming) • Bandera

My favorite genre of country music is "cowboy tells you stories around the campfire" and surely this is one of the strongest examples. I never hear enough people praise Willie Nelson's voice and I really applaud his restraint on this album and how he lets the music breathe.

As a general rule I don't like country, and I don't like music where the main idea is to tell a story. But for every rule there's an exception, and Willie Nelson is amazing.

Country music... Not at all my taste.

Good

I'll always have a soft spot for Willie Nelson because my grandpa likes his music (and he met Willie!) as does my step-dad. And I quite enjoy his music myself. I like his singing voice and the simple, wholesome quality of the music. A cool thing Willie Nelson did recently was duet with Orville Peck on a queer cowboy song called "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other".

You know why

+ ok…

Struggled with whether to give this a 3 or a 4, but I'll be generous today. It's super simple, but in a really great way -- very intentional, peaceful, and a neat concept. I especially love some of the instrumental tracks; there's something so soothing and heart-ache-ing-ly beautiful about them, e.g. "Just as I Am." Who knows how much I'll revisit this, but for now I'm quite the fan. Fave tracks: - Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain - Red Headed Stranger - Just as I Am - Denver - Can I Sleep in Your Arms - Bandera

If I have to listen to country music, I prefer this over the pop crap being produced now. I also have to give Willie props for the movie inspired by this album and Barbarosa, another great performance of Willie's.

I’d listen to a lot more country if it sounded like Willie.

I can appreciate Willie and enjoyed the album but he isn’t someone I want to listen to on the regular.

:) Soothing

A little slow but I enjoy this type of country!

Nothing stands out, and it drags a bit towards the end.

Good guitar work. Story was hard to follow.

Great stuff

I do not like country music. Willie Nelson is fine. Thanks for listening.

way better than i thought

First country album in this journal. Good, but another case where I think the lyrics are important to its impact. It really didn't help that the first of such albums put me off it with talking about masters and pretty girls, so while I'm not going to do lyric analysis factor context and history into my ratings, I will try to listen more attentively again in the future

A new favorite

an entirely first listen. overdue, honestly. i love this sound, i love his voice, its right up my alley. i dont know what else to say tbh. glad i finally heard this. favorite tracks: Red Headed Stranger, Can I Sleep In Your Arms, Hands on the Wheel

git

I love Willie and I love this album. I also love the restaurant in Nashville named after it.

I like Willie, one of the few country singers I can stomach. This is an enjoyable album, it's mellow, his voice is relaxing, but in all honesty it's not ground breaking or a must-hear. I kinda felt like it was a singer songwriter onstage rattling off his latest in front of a small crowd in a country bar. The songs kinda blended together and the sparse instrumentation kept it somewhat monotone. "Blues Eyes Crying In The Rain" is the highlight and people agree (92M listens on Spotify). "Red Headed Stranger" is a good story song. I think the song that surprised me the most was "Can I Sleep In Your Arms" - it's a lovely song, great piano work and I don't think I've ever heard it before. It was all good, nothing mind blowing but I certainly wouldn't mind hearing it again. It's a new album to me so I'm glad I got a chance to listen to it, I wouldn't have given it a try without this prompt. 3 stars.

It's a bit down tempo for me, if I'm going to listen to country I like the more upbeat stuff. Nice enough to listen to.

Good traditional country music

yeehaaa

No me gusta el country no me gusta el concepto no me gusta nada

as minimalist and compact as it is emotional and evocative a great storytelling piece about loss, despair, and redemption, told through lyrics that are vague yet clear enough, and vocal performances that use pauses, spaces, or enter out of beat, giving a natural, almost conversational feel this minimalism also translates into the economy of musical resources; a mix of guitar and piano with sporadic and soft percussion demonstrates that a simple melody and a few chords can convey more emotion than much more ambitious productions