Red Headed Stranger

Likte det mer enn æ tenke æ kom til å gjøre. Fint og sparsommelig arrangement, er gøy når det plutselig er litt mer instrumentering. Gøy med mellomsporet Down Yonder.

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!

Gikk inn i en langvarig depresjon halvveis inn i plata.

Koselig musikk. Stort minus at alle låten e helt lik. Vippes opp til tre stjerne kun fordi det e Willie Nelson.

Hørt på reise, men det passet bare ikke. Jeg tror man må ha fyr i peisen på ei hytte uten dekning for å virkelig få utbytte av denne skiva. Syntes egentlig det er fint, men sanger som Down Yonder gjør at det er noen automatiske skips.

Kjedelig country, alt er helt rett frem.

Maybe as a British millennial I'm just not qualified to comment on this sort of music, and I know country is not exactly renowned for it's experimentation but...this is so unbelievably dull, it's just the same fucking thing. Over and over. Songs (or the one song which is repeated as nauseum) is not bad, but it gets the lowest possible rating just for how lacking it is in scope, ambition, dynamics.

This isn't the first Willie Nelson album I received review, and once again I find myself wondering whether traditional folk music like country even belongs on this list. Be that as it may, I consider “Red Headed Stranger” to be a perfectly tolerable country album, whose best moments are reminiscent of Johnny Cash - albeit without his charismatic voice. I can easily imagine “Down Yonder” as part of the soundtrack for a Western parody. Otherwise, I can't see much of relevance here. Incidentally, the Wikipedia entry claims that the instrumentation is largely reduced to guitar, piano, and drums—which is somewhat of an outrage given the importance of the bass on this record.

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

Gas

Solid record. Was lucky enough to have a copy of this on vinyl from when my Dad gifted me his collection. I find some of his other work to be a bit more compelling than this. 4/5

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.

Perfect litle song cycle about being Willie.

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.

Leaning low 3 but could be convinced to go a little higher. Grew on me on a second listen but likely won't revisit

I went back through Willie Nelson's discography while listening to this album because I've heard his popular stuff but not any of these songs. Something happened to him in the late 60s/early 70s, and he looks like a completely different person. Like he was a normal, basic white dude, and then one album later, suddenly he's fully Willie Nelson. Otherwise, this was nice but pretty generic old school country.

2.5-3.0

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.

I’m not sure if I “get” Willie. I’ve got tons of respect for his career, idealism, independence, playing, etc. But I’ve never fully gotten the mystique. This is a beauty, though.

Du soleil et Willie Nelson, j’aurais pas demandé mieux! Un album que je vais conserver pour mes prochains roadtrips! Je mets 4 étoiles juste parce que c’est assez simpliste, on sort pas de la grande créativité tant dans les paroles que musicalement. Mais j’ai adoré l’écoute entière de l’album. Mes préférées : Bandera, blues eyes crying in the rain, Time of preacher theme

C'était très apaisant après avoir dû passer par Napalm Death... Mais peut-être un brin TROP apaisant. Difficile de garder les yeux ouverts un matin après avoir eu un cours et avoir peu dormi. Mais tout de même, belles chansons dans l'ensemble et Willie est et restera toujours absolutely goated. Chanson pref : Just as I am (?) Mention honorable : Time of the Preacher qui revient 3 fois en 15 chansons. Tour du chapeau!

j’avais de la misère à respirer au début cause I was afraid he’d call me a slur, mais quand j’ai appris qu’il était de gauche je me suis détendue. oui j’ai des préjugés envers le country, mais je travaille ACTIVEMENT à les défaire et comrade Willie here is playing a huge part in that journey 👊 chanson préférée : me suis surprise à taper du pied à ‘Can I Sleep in Your Arms’ donc je vais y aller avec celle-là

Sorry Mr. Nelson, but I just don't like country.

Love Willie Nelson. I think his country style is a lot more palatable and relatable than most of the genre and listening to this I find it interesting that Willie is not an archetype but a one of a kind performer

A nice listen, I didn’t connect with it in a strong way.

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+.

Ehh

Not bad but not my style of music at all

Storytelling 👌

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

4.2

old country > new country. with that said, i can't really relate still. i can see where this is someones bag just not mine but its cool willie is a goat forsure

140726 23:30 3.5

Do I love this because I live in Texas now

Willie Nelson is another artist who, no matter his actual age, always looks like a 70-year-old man.

His voice is easy on the ears

surprisinly i liked the idea of a concept country album, i liked this songs (Time of the Preacher, Remember me when the candles lights are gleaming, Hands on the Wheel)

Time of the preacher- 6/10 I couldn’t believe it was true- 5/10 Time of the preacher theme- 4/10 Medley- 4/10 Blue eyes crying in the rain- 4/10 Red headed stranger- 3/10 Time of the preacher short version- 0/10 Just as I am- 2/10 Denver- 0/10 Oer the waves- 0/10 Down yonder- 0/10 Can I sleep in your arms- 4/10 Remember me- 1/10 Hands on the wheel- 3/10 Bandera- 2/10

Usual western tropes. Lonesome guy on a hoss, getting pissed about by his true love. Tuneful enough, but tired themes.

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

Mukavan letkeää country-musiikkia. Mikään biiseistä ei jäänyt erityisesti mieleen, vaan ne vähän kuin sulautuivat toisiinsa. Eikä sen tarvitse olla huono asia. En ollut varmaan ikinä aiemmin kuunnellut Willie Nelsonia.

I know of Willie Nelson, and feel like I know what he sounds like, but I don't think I could name any of his songs. This is going to be the first album in a few days that's completely new to me. • Time of the Preacher is a very nice opening track, and I already know what the rest of the album will sound like from this. I really like his voice • I Couldn't Believe It Was True sounds really familiar, I don't know if I've heard this song before or just something that sounds very much like it • It's interesting how interwoven the songs are, by the seventh track you've already had Time of the Preacher, Time of the Preacher theme and a short version of the latter, as well as Red Headed Stranger already making two appearances. It's making the album feel really cohesive, like I'm listening to one continuous song. • I really liked how the short Time of the Preacher Theme led into Just as I Am. The second half of this song has by far the most instrumentation yet too, there are two guitars, a piano, a bass and drums. • Down Yonder is such an upbeat track compared to everything else so far • Can I Sleep In Your Arms is the longest song on the album by a decent margin, but it feels like it earns that length • I really like the guitar in Bandera This album was an absolute treat to listen to. The story it told throughout its tracks was told really well, and the instrumental tracks helped keep the pacing from feeling too rapid. I don't see myself revisiting any of the tracks on their own, as this feels like an album you can only really appreciate as a whole, but as a complete album it was really good. Favourite song: I Couldn't Believe It Was True

Mournful and forlorn, this is Outlaw Country to a T. Willie waxes poetic; covering a majority of the time, a handful of classic country tunes set to loose concept of a man who regretfully murders his spouse. It's a rather short listen, but the way this record is composed sounds like something coming out of a jail cell inmate who was given a guitar and a harmonica. It's very lovely stuff, and absolutely a must-hear.

Country BAU (Boring As Usual)

country music is too boring for me

Love me some brother Willie. Crazy this was his 18th album. And wild that he's written so many country songs but some of his most famous are covers. Love the voice and sound.

Me siento bien vaquera y country con este álbum, me voy a un bar de Denver a buscar pelea porque mi querida me dejó yeehaa

Not my style

I am not really a country music fan but it was pretty decent.

Une bonne country très intéressante à découvrir

Good album, I’m starting to enjoy country

Loved this album. Listened to it twice. Definitely love younger Willie.

This was great. Really playing within himself

Love Willie. Not quite as conceptually interesting as other albums, but enjoyable

Such a weird album for that time and genre

Willie

It was nice and short. All of the songs kind of blended together. I found it quite boring. I only knew Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain. I just don’t like country music.

I like Willie and he and the other musicians sound fantastic. The women killing thing kind of drags this down.

Time of the Preacher - 4/5 I Couldn't Believe It Was True - 4.5/5 Time of the Preacher Theme - 3/5 Medley: Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger - 3/5 Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain - 3/5 Red Headed Stranger - 5/5 Time of the Preacher Theme - Short Version - 3/5 Just as I Am - 3.5/5 Denver - 3/5 O'er the Waves - 3/5 Down Yonder -4/5 Can I Sleep in Your Arms - 3.5/5 Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming) - 3/5 Hands on the Wheel - 3/5 Bandera - 3/5

I enjoyed the album. Not an immediate choice for me to listen too but would listen again and again.

An album as remarkable and commendable for it's concept and context as much as it's content, so thankfully the content is as good as it gets. Sublimely understated compositions masterfully performed. The only thing keeping me from a 5 is the sequencing and repetition which I think will gel better for me after a few more listens.

"He's wild in his sorrow". What a great lyric. His voice is genuine and grabs you. I can't imagine putting this on but maybe I should think on why it doesn't occur to me. Good album and worth having on the list. I kind of wish I liked it more. It feels like it could take the right person somewhere special

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.

canciones de cuna prefiero escuchar mazapán el único uso real de esta música es para acompañar la violencia de fallout me gustó bandera, se gana una estrella

booooooooooooooring af boy

3.5

Solid stuff from ole Willie

Lekker album voor de achtergrond. Zou m zo weer opzetten

Sans plus

I too am a red headed stranger

This is #day564 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to crossing out yet another artist, as this is my second and final Willie Nelson record. Should I remind you that country is still among my worst genres on this journey? Well, I just did. At least this was kind of more enjoyable than most of the country represented on the list. Still, this is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day565.

Mouais, pas horrible mais pas mon style

Yeee ah cowboy

C'est sympa, le genre d'album que j'aurais pas écouté par moi-même mais qui passe bien en fond

It's country music time; will try to keep an open mind! Generally don't mind country in short bursts, and luckily this isn't a long album. Time of the Preacher is a nice opening tune, and overall this sounds pleasant enough; it's not bad per se. But it started getting repetitive around track 9, Denver. So I didn't hate this, but equally wouldn't care to listen again.

Powerless to describe this as anything other than "Cowboy Country", it's quite pleasing to the ear. Nelson has a great voice that's complimented well by the acoustic guitar. Each song is differentiated by it's lyrics up until "Just as I Am", which had a gentle piano break that was both welcome and beautiful. "Down Yonder" was a fun instrumental, with the piano taking to lead; I can understand, too, why Nelson did not choose to have lyrics to this song, as his voice is more suited for the somber, slow type of music. "Can I sleep in your arms" was beautiful and hard-hitting; Nelson's voice really soars on this track, and the gentle bass sells the whole thing. Then came the harmonica, which sent shivers down my spine. Just a constantly unfolding delight. Also really loved "Remember Me", "Hands on the Wheel", "Bonaparte's Retreat" and "Red Headed Stranger". I really enjoyed this album, but the 4 instead of the 5 due a lack of variety, even just in pace for most of the time. It gave me the same vibes as McLean's American Pie album, only McLean didn't do a job as great as Nelson. I also understand this is his 18th Studio Album! From all the way back in 1975. Want to pay my respects here, too, for that sheer creative output; great stuff.

No está mal, simplemente no es mi estilo. Pero, en mi humilde opinión, debe ser un gran clásico del country.

I was so close to skipping it all together. I’m not a country girl yet 😔

Classic country ohhh i'm obsessed

Good

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

I don't think I've heard this much concept in a country album, so I'll give this one points. It's an enjoyable record with songs I can get with. From my understanding, it's a story about a preacher who kills his unfaithful wife and her lover. The dude kills another woman for touching his horse and then gets off scratch-free because it's THE OLD WEST. Then he goes to Denver, finds another woman and has a nice life. That's a pretty nutty but amusing story and I think it's done well enough. At least Willie Nelson isn't boring. Points for creativity (7/10, 4/5 on this scale)

Classic! Willie is a legend and his outlaw legacy will live on forever. Not much of a country fan but I do enjoy a good outlaw artist. I actually really enjoyed this album. Stand out songs: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain Red Headed Stranger Denver Down Yonder Remember Me Hands on the Wheel Bandera

I'm not a country listener, but I do like Willie Nelson as a person for a lot of different reasons, and I'm glad I gave him a chance. He is extremely talented on the guitar. This album had a fun surprise for me, a Bach Minuet my children learned to play on the violin when they were little. He also has a really nice voice that doesn't have the twangy country style that grates for me. I was very pleasantly surprised by this album. 4/5 stars

Kinda lame. If you're a fan of slow, ramblin' country, Willie's your guy. Unfortunately not enough happens musically, or lyrically, that would bring me back to this. Just sounds lame.

It's a nice folk album. Not sure I would own it but I liked it.

Just Willie, a guitar, a piano and drums making the best country concept album there's ever been.

I listened to this record back when I reviewed Atardust a few months back. As a whole, I like this album more than that one… even if it didn’t spend ten straight years on the billboard charts. That said, I can’t say I’m particularly enthralled with either. Sleepy country ballads just aren’t my jam.

Pretty excellent

this is so arthur morgan core. didn't really find much interesting about this though.

If I were a fan of this style of music, I'm sure this would be a lovely listening experience. The concept of the album being in the vein of a Western outlaw is cool, but it gets boring by the end. Honestly, it could be a two or a three, but I'm leaning towards a two for now.

really enjoyed this

I liked this somewhat and for sure appreciate WNband all his contributions to the industry. Just a bit slow for my taste. Another one that needs a 10 point scale but I’ll give him the round up to separate from all the other 3’s. 3.5/5

Really enjoyed this. The songs were brief and to the point, and the album overall survives due to its minimalistic production and instrument approach. This is in the sweet spot of Willie which I think rounds out a bit better on his 1978 album Stardust.

Kept waiting for Time of the Preacher to show up a 4th time. Honestly, I could have missed it because these songs are EXTREMELY similar. I understand the Willie love, the guy is iconic for multiple reasons. But this mostly bored me

Solid album. A little simple and slow but something very authentic about Willie that levels this up. 3.5 and giving the nod up to 4.

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

it's 3.5

Time of the preacher - melancholic, soothing, lovely

Not really a fan of the song about the anger issues guy that shot a lady because she tried to take his horse. I was kinda bored through the whole album.

There's nothing really wrong with this album, but it's very much not my thing. It did help to make me sleepy enough to rest though, which is nice. The score of two is for some nice production and for being a sleep aid.

To było bardzo przyjemne doświadczenie, myślę że będę wracać do tej płyty

Great instrumentation (particularly piano work), and I love Willie's voice, but the genre just isn't really within my tastes.

stvarno dobar i lijep kantri album! ne bih ga nikada ovako iz čista mira slušao, ali baš je lijepo i čil bilo

Jeff: Like AC/DC, once you've heard one, you've heard them all. Simran: I didn't hate it. I wouldnt listen to it again.

OG Willie, not the rebel cowboy, but the gospel one. Love the callbacks to the time of the preacher theme throughout 4

No muy fan del género. Música muy tranquila y sencilla, no por eso mala música, al contrario, hacer que algo sencillo suene muy bien puede ser retador. Aún así, no es el estilo de música que me gusta escuchar. Lo que me gustó: las letras, son muy poéticas; la forma musical de cada pista es muy buena y ordenada, son como sonetos; el uso de pocos instrumentos y aún así tener un sonido con mucho carácter; no me cansó el disco, la verdad tiene una duración decente y cada pista es disfrutable ya que no es empalagoso con el estilo. En fin, buen disco

Laid back pleasant album.

Boring

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

5/10

Saved? ✅ Would listen again? ✅ Would recommend to anyone? 🤔 Would buy on Vinyl? ✅ So nostalgic

Don't fight him.

He has a voice that you want to spend time with. You could happily listen to it tell you stories for days like a comforting grandpa retelling tales from his youth. Perfectly pleasant without the feel of being groundbreaking. Although I don't know the genre well enough to know whether it might have been.

Compared to some great albums on this list, this felt a bit like a Ferrero Rocher. Small, delightful, not particularly satisfying, but good at what it does. Hearing 2m and sub 2m songs makes a nice change - I just start nodding my head and *poof* its gone. Lyrics are more on the 'outlaw' side, which I always appreciate. Too sweet to give less than a 3, too insubstantial to give more.

Música para señores de rancho. Para levantar la pala con café negro en la mano.

All you need is Willie & Trigger. 4

Terrific album.

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 fkn Nelson Actually a pretty good album Doubting between 3 and 4 but because it’s Willie a 4

Pleasant easy going country album, all very well put together

I mean, pretty much anything Willie does is gonna be pretty enjoyable. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt like I’ve NEEDED to listen to Willie Nelson, but I’ve been glad every time I’ve taken the opportunity to. This record is really no different. 7.5/10

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

First Willie project I’ve listened too and I liked it

I had no idea what I was expecting going in, but 1. it was not this and 2. I liked what it actually is a lot more than I expected to. I actually sorta hate most country and I think had basically never heard (or clocked that I was listening to anyway) a Willie Nelson song other than On the Road Again. So I was pleasantly surprised by this! Apparently it's also mostly covers of old country tunes, as well. Makes sense, it sounds like it. I especially liked the little honky tonk break that was Down Yonder. The rest of the record is kinda samey (not in a bad way, it's short enough for that) so it was a pleasant little surprise in the back half.

Blue Eyes is a Top 1000 song for me, I love Willie's general "pace", if that makes sense, but nothing else snapped enough for me to be like "yes, a 4 it is", so here we are

"Don't boss him, don't cross him, he's wild in his sorrow." It really seems relevant to keep in mind that murdering someone for attempted horse theft was considered ok back in the wild west? Anyhow, this does seem like a great album within its genre and from this time period. A 3.5 for sure, makes me want to hang out at a camp fire.

Before I listened to this album, I maybe knew 4 Willie Nelson songs. I looked at the track listing, and saw none of the songs I knew, and I got worried because I don't care for country music. If more country music were like this, I might actually like it. I usually like my music a little more produced than this, but by keeping it spare, it really helped bring out Willie's lyrics and unique voice. This did a lot of things I'm not used to in most country music: 15 songs (many tend to stick to 10, maybe 12), shorter songs... several under 2 minutes, and songs that seamlessly transitioned into other songs. For such a simply made album, there's a lot going on under the surface. Several songs just seemed to float into each other effortlessly.

Country and classic but the licorice and toon are surprisingly catchy and really good I love the harmonies and this album could get me into country

Ah Willie. Such a wordsmith. Folks forget what a good guitar player he is. Not just a three chord country guy.

This is what country should sound like. Willie sounds genuine when he performs these songs, and they are not lacking emotions. Great album.

Really good. I think it has a lot to do with song length. but I really enjoyed it. nothing really sticks out in my head, but the album left me in a pleasant mood.

Boring and slow

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.

Respect for Willie but not for me

Don’t mind Willie, just wasn’t feeling it today

La country c'est pas mon truc... même si RDR2 m'a légèrement réconcilié

5/10 When I think of country music, Willie Nelson is the kind of stuff I'm thinking about - not the pop country stuff that pops up on the Billboard 100. That being said... This is good country, but I don't really find it very interesting. Nothing really grabbed me. It's a little too stripped down. His voice is terrific though, pure country. Good for what it is, but not for me.

Großartig

Ausführung gut, aber überhaupt nicht mein style

Favourite Songs: Red Headed Stranger

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.

Telling my kid that Willie Nelson was the Snoop Dogg of his day

didn't listen to it all because it's too country for me... i don't think it was bad, it had some dounds i enjyed, but overall, not my thing

Just a country.

Good album. Willie has a great voice and the songs are well written. The pared down instrumentation and the mellowness make this an understated album. It's good but nothing grabbed me and made me want to listen again.

I respect Willie Nelson, but I'm not a country fan. This didn't click with me.

I'm really tired of concept albums, but these songs are very lovely.

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.

Oh hell yeah. Don't trust people who don't love Willie Nelson.

Now this is what I’m talking about when I say I like *some* country music. Great writing/storytelling, and great vocals. Willie Nelson’s voice has always been so soothing to me. Lovely album.

Willie Nelson’s music is not my cup of tea. But I do recognize him as an American icon who deserves every respect.

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

Powerfully sparse. Beautiful soul.

Swell.

What a pleasent album that sounded great. 3,5 stars that'll happily round up. Best song was Time of the Preacher.

Wow! Willie Nelson has a lovely voice.

I'd like to give this a second listen and see if it strikes me differently. I thought it was good, not great.

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

Just walking down the middle of that slow sad country road eh? I like Willie Nelson, and I like some of his music, but this didn’t quite connect for me. It was okay, maybe a bit bland? His voice is just class, it’s beautiful, and the music certainly does set a mood. 3.0/5.0 Best Song: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain

Really wanted to like this album, but it was exceptionally mid. They are perfectly pleasant country tunes, but nothing that really gets you excited.

Not bad but it is kind of self similar throughout. There were times I thought I had it looping or something some of the melodies were so similar. It's good for those downtrodden moods for sure.

4.5 stars When I saw I had a Willie Nelson album I was not looking forward to listening. I’ve never listened to an album of his, but I didn’t reckon there’d be anything for me to like. My experience with Country on this list has been boring, uninteresting, and forgettable. But I found myself every few minutes questioning myself. Is this not bad? Wait, do I actually like this? Is this great? And the answer kept being yes. Stripped down, repetitive in a contemplative way, this brief concept album has great story telling, good music, effective delivery, and was a memorable ride. I kept thinking about it afterward and put it on again. This is a winner and a revelation. One of those instances of this thing doing what it’s supposed to do!

Like reading a western!

Great album 4.

Love the folky country vibe!!!

He had a really nice voice, and I like the brevity of the songs. They all kinda blend together which kinda gets old over time

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

Agradável.trilha sonora de episódios faroeste do pica pau

I'm not a huge country fan. There's a few exceptions, but the majority of it just doesn't really speak to me. This is one of those exceptions. It's simple, and not overdone like a lot of the Nudie suit wearing types of artists. And Willie's voice is just awesome on top of that. Give me more of this.

I’m not gonna say this made me like country music. The quality here is about songwriting. The things that make me take issue with country music is absent from this quite beautiful record. My main takeaway today is actually how much I enjoy Willie’s vocals, and how unexpected it is that Red Headed Stranger comes across as a concept album.

Southern charm bottled in fifteen tracks. A lot of simple songs played extravagantly. I found myself expecting but not getting emotional resonance from many of the songs here, despite feeling their honesty. It’s somewhat of a paradoxical concept, but I think it’s rooted from the simplicity of the songs. I went to make it clear that they are simple but not technically dull. However, there also was not a strong tether that I could latch onto and feel heavy emotion from. I have a measure of appreciation of a song like Hands on the Wheel, but I feel like it wasn’t dynamic enough and dragged on. Despite only being slightly over thirty minutes, there are moments where you can still feel the minutes of some songs, which represents a structural problem to me. There is joy in the lightheartedness of the album, and it is something to play to make your day a little sunnier, but there was a deeper element that I found was missing. Faves: I Couldn’t Believe It Was True, Bandera, Can I Sleep in Your Arms, Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming)

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

I've never been a fan of Willie Nelson's voice, but his authenticity often makes up for it. The songs on this are solid and Willie is a national treasure.

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.

Not for me but still somewhat fun! I felt that the songs were all quite samey but an album like this is always gonna be that way. Favourite track - Can I sleep in your arms. I liked the simplicity of the lyrics, yearning, universal feeling etc etc

Un poco monótona la primera mitad. Si se ve lo influyente que fue para el country posterior, igual me gustó, pero no es precisamente mi género

Overall: 6/10 Not a bad way to spend half an hour. I've always though Willie has a nice voice for specific types of country, and it's definitely the slower stuff here that I enjoy the most. I also like the repeating motifs of this album, they really make it feel like a cohesive piece of work. I did find myself getting a bit tired of his style near the end, and if this was any longer I probably would be giving it a lower rating, but it's a solid album in a genre I still don't have a ton of love for. Fav Song: Red Headed Stranger

2.3/5. A nice easy album to listen too but nothing amazing

I'm not into Country but this was a surprise. Short songs flowing into each other to tell the story. A good Sunday morning listen with a coffee.

#255/1001. This sounds like a country album from Willie Nelson, and the best songs sound like they could be on the Muppet Show (which of course is a praise of a highest level).

It's a mix. There are some twangy ballads, some even-keel instrumentals, and a couple of sillier upbeat instrumentals. It feels like Willie inviting some friends over on a warm afternoon, trying out some different styles, and sending it off to the record company without worrying about sequencing or consistency. There's a gentleness to all of it that holds it together.

***A good,easy listening album

Good sixties album from one of the kings of C&W

Great songwriter, singer and guitarist. This is simple and beautiful. Go, Willy, go!

Nunca tinha parado para ouvir um álbum country de verdade, foi uma experiência muito interessante. Ele é muito calmo e relaxante de ouvir. "Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain" e "Time of the Preacher" são as melhores para mim.

First country album of this list for me. Feels homey and nostalgia to me.

The most intimate and stripped back album I’ve listened to on the generator so far (#23). There’s a transportive and pure beauty to the minimalism that’s so characteristically Willie.

Easy listening.

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!

😃

Ganske fine låter på denna

Pas fan

It's beautiful. I'm getting all verklempt over here—quintessential twangy country. Perhaps no one does it better than Willie.

Not my thing, but enjoyed the album driving today.

The mellow and slightly dishevelled sound of sitting on the porch drinking rotgut rye as the sun goes down.

Følte lowk at jeg har hørt på samme sang i en halvtime og var på sirkus når jeg hørte «Down Yonder». Misliker det ikke men hadde nok ikke satt det på for meg selv. Føler også dette hadde passet bra i en Fallout ørken scene.

javel // koselig høydepunkt: Down Yonder, Can I Sleep In Your Arms?

Surprised to see Willie Nelson pop back up so soon on here but it’s always welcome. Country music is something i’d never seek out usually but i think if im in the right mood i’d chuck this one Bandera lowkey gave me some animal crossing vibes half way through, thought i accidentally switched tracks

No me gusta el country

8/10 – Very Good

I usually do not listen to country but this album fascinated me. Very bare instrumentation and melancholic voice. I had limited time today to listen to it carefully, but In the future I'll return to it paying closer attention to the lyrics. 3.75/5

I really struggle to enjoy country and western. Buy if I was a fan .... I guess this album would be fantastic. I liked the stripped back arrangement and Willy's voice is 100% genuine. He's great, I just wasn't keen on the vibe.

이지리스닝 노잼 아재같음

Alright, I've gotten 5 repeat artists in a row now. I wasn't really expecting this to happen so soon in the new year, but I also kinda was. But, at the end of the day, that isn't a bad thing when the albums in question are very good. Fortunately, most of these albums have been very good, and Red Headed Stranger is no different. I may not be a huge country fan in general, but I love me some Willie Nelson. Of the two albums he has on the list, I would say that I personally prefer Stardust, but I can see why one would feel the other way, as Red Headed Stranger has a lot to appreciate as well. I find this album's pacing to be super interesting. Many of the songs are short, and the album feels more like a song-cycle than just a collection of songs. This is pretty cool and it seems as though this album was kind of an innovator in that regard for country music. The general concept is neat, though its the general atmosphere of the album that really keeps me engaged. There's something about Willie Nelson's music that just feels... cozy. Again, I'm not really a country person, but the way that the acoustics and Willie's voice blend together just feels nice to listen to. I do prefer my country music to be on the more mellow side, and albums like Red Headed Stranger provide just that. Admittedly, this is one of those albums where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but that doesn't mean that the individual songs are boring. There are some great tunes here, with the back-to-back "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and "Red Headed Stranger" really appealing to me. The song choices are pretty good, and the instrumental performances are quite pleasant. I think I've found my answer for "Who is your favorite country artist?" I can't imagine that I'll get asked this much, but if I do, I'll be sure to mention Willie. Strong 4/5.

Certainly a Willie Nelson album. If you like Willie then you probably love this album as every song sounds like Willie Nelson singing while playing guitar. 6/10

ehh nar thank yar

I dont really care much for country, solid record tho

El bueno de Willie no puede faltar aquí. No soy experto en su discografía ni falta que me hace para apreciar la calidad de este disco. Acústico, acompañando su voz de guitarra, piano y algo de percusión. Can I Sleep in Your Arms es un perfecto ejemplo. Inspirado en Tale of the Red Headed Stranger, es un álbum sobrio y desnudo, normal que en Columbia pensaran que eran demos en vez del resultado final. Rick Rubin tomó buena nota... Incluye Sobre las olas, un vals del compositor mexicano Juventino Rosas Cadena, o Down Yonder un Honkie Tonk outlaw revivalista como también hicieron Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings o Kris Kristofferson entre otros. La joya es la versión de Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.

Country's not really my thing. I don't mind some of Willie's works. This was just OK for me.

Country en estado puro, solo voces, guitarras y algún piano. Bastante bueno. Temas cortos y muy agradables. El álbum es muy coherente aunque podría resultar repetitivo, pero no baja su calidad en ningún momento, no tiene temas de relleno aunque muchos suenen muy parecidos. 6/10.

Country is not necessarily my thing. But I really enjoyed the slower, calmer country. I felt like I was sitting being serenaded by a campfire or slow mo montage on a horse back home to my family.

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.

I love Willie, but this album is boring as hell.

It was very short, but good

even though it was pleasant, i have no idea why it's on the list, to me it wasn't formative in any way. i generally like country music but in here my problem was that everything sounded like one long song, maybe due to short duration of each song but i don't know, i just wasn't satisfied

Pretty good, not Willie's best

Its background music - no song really grabs you by the balls

Simple, stripped back storytelling. I always love a concept album. Sounds like I'm in an old timey saloon listening to a man tell his sad story over a bottle of whiskey.

this album is so sweet. it nearly put me to sleep. favorites: red headed stranger; can i sleep in your arms

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.

Country, outlaw country. I appreciate the stripped back sound, storytelling, and flow of some of the tracks.

Great for feeling nostalgic and kinda messy

I'm not a fan of country music but am discovering that I'm a fan of Willie Nelson. He's a great interpreter of songs and the emotion he's able to invoke is fantastic. Good album! Favorites: I Couldn't Believe It Was True, Red Headed Stranger Would I listen to it again: Yes

This is the country music i could get behind. However, it seems like there are a few fully mapped out songs and others are just deconstructions of the same lines or sounds

As always, I'm way out of my comfort zone with country music. I like Willie Nelson's voice and lots of the song writing. On this record, I really admired how many of the tracks are less than 2 minutes long, or even under 1 minute. Absolutely no fucking around here - just cranking the song and moving on. I don't have this feeling with many genres or sub-genres (even the first time I hear them), but something about country music tells me this will always be someone else's music, and will never mean much to me. 3.5*

Pretty calm tunes, were a good fit for the book I was reading.

Hey, that's this old guy from Monk!

Nothing like a little classic country story telling. Very chill vibes and very enjoyable

possible it's good but not for me. 01/20/2026

So close to being a 5. Great old cowboy story and songs. 4.5/5

an interesting concept with really good singing, but even clocking in at a mere 33 minutes, this felt dreadfully slow. it's nice! but slow. maybe i'm just too much of a coastal-elite urbanist city slicker to appreciate outlaw country, but also even for as nice as wilie nelson's singing is, i do generally prefer female vocalists as a side note. this whole album is quaint and charming, but that's about it for me. my only real in roads to country, aside from country-influenced artists who i like (eg, faye webster), is my late grandmother's obsession with garth brooks. it all sounds nearly identical to me.

I spent a lot of my teenage years in a rural island in Canada and people there were very proud of being from the "country" and I god damn hated it. My hour-and-a-half school journey on the bus played exclusively country music, and every friend of the family I was forced to visit would give the same spiel nearly everytime about how "new country sucks, but that old country? That's the good stuff." Then they'd get drunk on piss water beer and listen to albums like this. You'd think that would mean I've grown a deep hatred of albums like this but it has instead created a perverse nostalgia. So despite this being an album I do have to mark down for being so damn slow for the most part, I did still find it kind of charming. It's far from the best country album I've heard, again it is just too slow for me, but it has some pretty nice singing and a concept throughline that almost kept me engaged! Almost!

This man is a national treasure.

I liked it, was a little slower than music I usually listen to but it was nice

So good!!

A few great songs

Narrative albums with recurring motifs are cool.

it just all begins to blend together and I hate to say it but the vocals begin to sound quack-ish. not enough edge

Normally I love a concept album, but something about the genre of this one makes it feel a bit like a caricature of itself. I feel like I’m inside a western. I’m sure it’s for someone, but it’s not for me!

6 - AVERAGE

4/5 easy listen. Old country and tells stories.kinda cool that the first couple of songs go into eachother you don’t even realize the next song is on

A loosely defined concept album about a preacher on the run after murdering his wife and her lover. With simple arrangements and minimal instrumentation, it feels like sitting around a campfire listening to someone tell interconnected stories. It works perfectly—and having 'Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain' is reason enough to own the record all on its own.

3.5

what a nice little album. absolutely loved and WILL be listening to from now on! love me a little cowboy country tune. although, at first, i didn't entirely enjoy, i came back to it later in the day, and i completely understand the hype. what a good album.

This was the palate cleanser I needed after yesterday's album. I don't even like country very much, but at least this album has personality. Truthfully, I don't have much to say about it. It's very easy listening. There's something about Willie's voice that speaks to me. Strong 3

Class

full minimalist cowboy monk

I wonder if he's ever smoked a joint

Dang Willie could write a song

Great album overall. It captures a melancholic feeling that I really felt when listening to the songs. I didn't know country music can make me cry.

A beautiful voice but the songs never really grabbed me I'm afraid

sounded all the same to me

was pretty decent, another classic. i usually don't listen to old country like this, so it's not really my style, but i thought it was really well written. i liked can i sleep in your arms and time of the preacher and its recurrence throughout the album. 6/10

oh boy…

Schon nice

Very nice minimalistic songs. And even for non-country fans like me a good solid album. Was a huge success as it came out although the record company was very sceptic about it. Good choice for this list.

not my tempo but i enjoyed parts of it thoroughly

Felt like watching the beginning of Sinners ; loved 'I couldn't believe it was true' + 'Red-headed stranger' + 'Down Yonder' + 'Bandera' !

This was actually a pretty amazing album. I don't have a history with country music. First listen: this is ok, but why is the first song reprised twice later in. Bit of research and a deeper listen the 2nd and 3d time and wowee, it all makes sense.

Such a unique voice. So easy to listen to

Took a while to get the layout of the story being told bur overall a nice album.

This puffs for you Willie

Perfect, basically.

enjoyed this more than i thought i would

Not really into country but it was a good listen.

Classic but boring and all songs sounded the same

Too ‘murica for me

Solid country album. I like a bit of Willie and it was interesting to look back a bit into his catalogue. Made me go back to his first album, which i also really enjoyed.

One of my favorite country albums

very quick, not totally my vibe but I did enjoy the casual listen

Really nice

I didn’t expect to enjoy a country concept album about a man who killed his wife and her lover, but this album surprised me. The story is interesting and well told, and the music is calm and easy to listen to. Even with the dark themes, the album feels very chill and relaxed. It was another new experience, and I ended up enjoying it a lot.

very chill, songs flow into each other so nicely. Short and sweet

Very country twangy, and I liked it way more than I expected.

I’m not generally a fan of country music. This album however I found side 1 quite compelling. Side 2 was not so much to my taste. A little too ho down…

Great album.

Interesting to read the history of this and also the creative control meaning it stayed in its original form and then 💥. Let’s see… Maybe hadn’t fully noticed the quality in his voice before. A relaxing, sweet mosey through this story and journey. Settling in a way. Enjoyed it being a concept album and his talent. Didn’t grab me in a 😱 way, but more than pleasant enough (3.5)

I don’t how long the regular version of this is as I ended up listened to the Expanded Edition which had 19 tracks - although still only came in at under 43 mins. The songs are certainly not long ones are they! It was fine, but not something I’d go out of my way to listen to again.

Can't really see what the fuss is about this album. Not a big country fan though.

Didn't set me on fire but ai do enjoy a country ballard

What a beautiful album

I really liked this one

Willie!!! Of course Willie is a classic artist in pop culture and someone who has reshaped country music in his decades long career. I know the hits, but again haven’t really sat down and ever listened to an album. Time of the Preacher This is one of my favorite genres/styles of country music - the true storytelling of it all. This sounds like an epic set up, like a true villain origin story. I take it to mean that this preacher really didn’t know what he was talking about prior to his love leaving him and was basically talking to talk, but after going through this breakup he had to get serious and start learning what his life is going to be like without this love I Couldn’t Believe It Was True Aw a lil breakup song. He can’t believe his love is no longer there but seems to want the best for her, even if that’s without him. He seems to still be reeling from the shock of the breakup. Time of the Preacher Okay he seems to be moving out of sadness now and maybe into anger? “The lesson is over and the killin’s begun” so he went from preaching to learning to killing now ??? Yikes. This one def feels darker. Blue Rock Montana Uh oh, aparently this long lost love went off with another man. And he killed them both????? Damn Willie. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Aw this one is sad. Does he feel bad that he killed his old lover? I can see this song working as a way to reminisce about his lost love because she left him but also now being dead he may be mouring her. The guitar in this one is beautiful. Red Headed Stranger Ok so HE is the red headed stranger after he killed the love of his life for cheating. Each chorus explaining how everyone basically just needs to leave him alone in his grief. Uh oh, now a new woman is getting involved…and is also now dead because she “crossed him”. Time of the Preacher v2 Is this story finally ending while not really ending? Basically saying life moves on. Another gorg guitar. Just as I Am - Instrumental Denver Oh okay so he’s fine now in Denver, he’s moved on? He’s talking about smiling with this new woman now (similar to how he killed his old lover in Blue Rock Montana) but now is able to smile again after she hurt him. O’er the Waves - Instrumental Down Yonder - Instrumental Can I Sleep in Your Arms This one is wayyyy slower. Very sweet, he’s basically begging this new woman to love him after he’s picked up the pieces of his old lover screwing him over. He seems to be opening up again. Gorggggg piano at the end here. Remember Me (When the Candles are Gleaming) He WAS faithful and loving to this woman until she did him dirty. Now he’s saying that all of that is null and void basically. The vows from before mean nothing and he’s moving on. He almost wants this woman to remember him and remember their time together because it probably was good at one point and he was good to her; almost wanting her to sit at night and think about them (even though she’s dead now?) Hands on the Wheel This one is such an open love song, it’s beautiful. “With no place to hide, I looked in your eyes and found myself in you,” He feels like he has a more intentional grasp on this relationship after living his life (he is now an old man) and knowing his life was meant to be with this new woman he found after his mess of grief and pain. Nelson has SUCH an emotional voice for this song it’s heartbreaking. It really feels like the closer for this album and this story - like he’s made peace. Bandera - instrumental Listening to this, this feels like a time for reflection over the red headed stranger’s life and how he is finally at peace and life does continue to go on. From preaching to learning to killing to healing, while not exactly in those exact terms (don’t kill people), this album can be used to accompany the span of many human emotions after pain and finally come to a place of acceptance. Overall - 6.8 Wow what a quick album!! I didn’t give each song an individual rating because most were like a minute long, but I really liked this album. Super cohesive and emotional delivery from Willie. There is clear imagery used here to build the world of a 1901 western and I really felt pulled in. It’s also a masterclass in arrangement as many of these songs were not written for this album, but were covers that have been made to fit into the story here. I can’t see myself reaching for this body of work in terms of re-listenability, but I love how simple and beautiful these songs ended up coming together.

Repetitive/themed but I see why it made the list. Rhymes were fun.

pleasant country music

Fun listen, just not my type of music

Simple but it's a genre that gets me every time

na początku buja główką ale jest tak nudne pod koniec to gówno brzmi cały czas tak samo

The vibes are really bobbing exactly what you want a Willie Nelson album to be like.

Just fine

not my style but some songs stood out

Not too shabby country, all things considered!

Can you really make an outstanding country record is that possible?

Not something I would pick up on my own but it was a light listen and it was quit fine. I generally preffered the instrumental tracks over the ones that contain vocals. Favourite songs: Down Yonder, Can I Sleep in Your Arms, Bandera

Short songs on a short album that has hooks and doesn't overstay its welcome. Top tracks: "Down Yonder," "Red Headed Stranger," "Hands on the Wheel"

--Time of the Preacher...like drinking cool iced tea --I Couldn't Believe It Was True...toe tapper --Time of the Preacher Theme...dark --Medley...ho-hum --Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain...sometimes a classic arrangement is classic for a reason --Red Headed Stranger...I feel like I'm playing New Vegas. That's a compliment --Preacher Theme (Short Version)...very short --Just as I Am...sweet piano interlude --Denver...nice little bit of storytelling --O'er the Waves...a fun tropical diversion --Down Yonder...some mighty fine pian-ee! --Can I Sleep in Your Arms...beautiful --Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming)...for some reason I'm disappointed this isn't sadder --Hands on the Wheel...nice but a little long for how samey things are starting to get. almost done --Bandera...pleasant instrumental outro

very slow yet relaxing

Not the biggest fan of country music, but this is not as bad I imagined it would be. The songs all sound the same though. Stand-outs - Down Yonder - Can I Sleep in Your Arms

So classic Willie, loved it