Red Headed Stranger

I hadn't heard Willie Nelson before this and was surprised by how great a voice he had. I'm looking forward to hearing more, though this album's format wasn't my favorite.

I feel like I’ve listened to Willie Nelson my whole life, but this might be the first time I listened to a full record from top to bottom. I enjoyed it immensely. 3.5.

Litt gammel country. Passet fint å høre på dette albumet mens vi fyrte i bålpanna.

I’ve heard the name Willie Nelson. However, I hadn’t listened to anything before today. Unfortunately, I do not like country, but I will give this one a 3 despite that because Willie seems like a stand up guy!!

Ok here are the complaints right up front, three tracks are the same song, there are 5 interlude tracks, two tracks are “red headed stranger”, with a total of 15 songs under 33mins. Now this isn’t a complaint about how short the album is, I typically prefer shorter albums. The complaint is that of those 15 songs there’s actually only like 7 original songs, that’s kinda crazy. Like so much of this album is very clearly just ambient tasters. I do like the vibe but as a whole it makes the album feel alittle too cohesive and it just flies by. It’s another album where I listened to it several times over because I wouldn’t catch the ending, and it just flows seamlessly that you don’t even notice 8 songs just went by. Honestly this is a classic country, and I’ve always struggled with country, I found most of the tracks on this album to be pretty boring and lackluster, I feel that the last Willie album I got (Stardust) was wildly superior to this album in every way. But that being said I really loved “hands on the wheel”, “Denver”, and “I couldn’t believe it was true”. I think Willie Nelson is a timeless treasure with a lifetime of hits and awesome collabs. But this album specifically I think is one of his most overrated. Not bad, not great, just overrated and pretty good.

Fun album to listen to…classic country.

271/1089 - Sounds like country music

i blinked and it was half way over. it was okay but like wow this was a brief album

Very relatable and remembered so me songs I’d forgotten about. Lovely to hear the way back of WN.

The Austin man himself! Vulnerable, somber, yet hopeful throughout. Feels like an intimate conversation with a friend.

I am not a fan of most country music, but I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I've never listened to Willie before now.

Not usually into country but this was actually pretty good.

This ain't Waylon and I'm not nearly beefed enough to "get" this kind of wacky music

The instrumentals on this were really good and the other stuff was good

El anterior disco de Nelson me pareció una maravilla. A ver este. No está tan bien, pero da gusto escucharlo.

Quite a nice listen. To me a bit samey but what do I know. Good though.

Better than I expected

Not bad at all! Country doesn't always translate very well outside the US, so usually it goes over my head. But this is an album that is put together with a lot o thought and intention. Even if a lot of these songs are covers of old tunes, they are arranged in such a way that the whole thing flows like a narrative concept album. Key tracks: Time of the Preacher

tja

7/10

The title track makes me feel nostalgic for a time I never knew.

Sweet and melodic, but nothing groundbreaking 3.4

Good album, nice texts, little monotone

Good background country album for that rare moments in my life I need a country album.

I’m never gonna be a big country fan but it wasn’t bad

Willie's great. This was a nice listen - though I'll admit it didn't stand out enough for me to want to listen on repeat. Would enjoy it perfectly well if it came up in the wild!

So smooth. Not many better with just a guitar and their voice. Album was OK

Wanted to like it but it left me underwhelmed. Wasn’t captivating enough. Distracted by other things though

Je ne suis pas un fan de country mais je dois dire que c'était un album musicalement intéressant et relaxant. Ce n'est pas mémorable pour moi mais j'ai apprécié la découverte.

I mean it’s Willie, and pretty short. Nothing wrong with it but likely won’t listen again

Not bad Willy

Honestly could've been worse. I'm not a huge country fan, but I found Willie's voice to be quite soothing

hmm. Interesting, good voice. Really good voice.

6/10

A fine traditional country album. Real folksy and inviting. Like a reminder of a bygone era.

I have to laugh at the fact that the song "Red Headed Stranger"--about a man who is acquitted of killing a woman for trying to steal the horse of his lost love--was written by a woman. Of course, Willie Nelson made the lost love an unfaithful woman. He kills her and her lover. Poor red headed stranger. I was about to call this a soundtrack-to-a-nonexistent-movie, but it turns out they did turn Red Headed Stranger into a film starring Willie himself in 1986. According to the plot synopsis, it does appear they left out the part where Willie kills a woman for trying to steal his horse.

Country is fine. I don't like Willie Nelson specifically. Just want that fact known. 3 stars for the music. 0 stars for Willie.

Not a fan of country but I like Willie. This was easy to get through.

Felt like Willie was singing by a camp fire at a ranch as people went to sleep one by one. Little too slow for me through the album although his voice has a soothing feel to it and the simple melodies were easy listening.

The music is easy on the ear. A lot of love songs - I guess he’s in love with the red headed stranger. I really liked the piano on the last song. Not my cup of tea but I get why people like his music. 3 stars.

Good, not great, album. Remember Me was a highlight, but the whole thing is nice relaxing easy listening, without the distractions of breaking new musical ground or experimenting with a new sound.

Not bad. Didn't mind the folk twang and his voice. Definitely a time and place kind of sound.

Um estilo pouco explorado por mim, sem critérios pra avaliar.

Background music for a western. It is good. 3 stars

My first exposure to Willie. Great voice and vibe.

Enjoyed it. I normally don’t like this genre but Willie is on his own tier.

“What a warm, pleasant album,” I thought while playing this in the background as I worked and ate dinner. *Reads Wikipedia entry about the story* I guess not so pleasant after all… I enjoyed listening to this throughout the day and I wouldn’t mind revisiting it, but I don’t know if this would go up to a 4 for me after getting to know it better. Random side note: I went to school with a guy named Willy (with a y) Nelson, well before I’d ever heard of Willie. I remember teachers etc. being like, “Really? That’s your name??” I’m sure that wasn’t annoying for him at all…

One of the few country artists I am familiar with and can actually appreciate due to his role in the highwaymen(and his solo career I guess). This album had some great storytelling and acoustic guitar, both of those things is basically what the album consisted of but it was done well, especially with Nelson’s iconic country vocals (second only to Johnny Cash), their was a few instances of other instruments like piano, drums and harmonica, this was especially true for the instrumentals, which were probably my favourite of the album, mainly due to the fact that it had more of a focus on engaging instrumentation as it lacked the vocal aspect, the album length is a nice change of pace as well, clearly not bloated and focused on telling what he wanted to tell, although it did sound a bit like generic country sometimes and was a bit repetitive with the way he delivered vocals and the guitar as well despite being played really well, had that country twang to it which made it feel more of the same, although Wilke Nelson was one of the innovators of this style of music so I guess it’s fair. Favourites: Just as I am, O`er the waves, Down yonder and remember me. Overall, 6/10.

The Nelsler Damn he really played the same two songs six times Can I sleep in your arms tonight? I sure hope so this song makin a gangsta eepy

A more serious C&W singer but some good instrumentals. Wouldn’t seek out more really

Didn't mind this one! Can definitely see the inspiration from the Marty Robbins album I got earlier, but in the same vein I can't see any of these standing out in particular. Just an enjoyable twangy listen.

Great instrumentation and storytelling/songwriting. Each track flows pretty well into the next. It's kind of like one big track. Favourite Track(s): Medley, Can I Sleep In Your Arms Least Favourite Track(s): Denver

Cowboy country. Harmonica. Saloon type stuff. Enjoyable.

Fine to good. I like Willie and this era of country music, but this album just didn’t speak to me. I did like Down Yonder and Can I Sleep in Your Arms. 5/10, 3 stars.

It was a fun album to listen to. One that you can’t help but dance to.

After the album concluded, Billy Strings popped into the queue, which I liked a lot more.

don't like country; good listen tho

🎵 Album #51 / Willie Nelson – Red Headed Stranger (1975) 🗯 Two concept albums in two days — yesterday’s was a screenplay, today’s is a ghost story. Where Mike Skinner packed A Grand Don’t Come for Free with chatter and detail, Willie strips everything back to the bone. Red Headed Stranger is as sparse as country ever got: voice, guitar, piano, the occasional brush of drums. Columbia thought it sounded like a demo — turns out it became one of the greatest outlaw country statements ever pressed. The story’s bleak — a preacher-gunslinger wandering after killing his wife and her lover — but the delivery is haunting in its understatement. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain is the obvious classic, and the rest feels like parables told at closing time, half-whispered over an empty glass. Verdict: Respectable (a classic in country lore, but not essential for me personally) For fans of: Townes Van Zandt, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, storytelling with all the edges showing

Necesito que la corten con este country que es igual en todo tiempo y lugar que se haga Nota: 2.5

Camping near a river

Good ol' cowboy sound

Not an album I would normally listen to but a lovely concept album and a great listen!

I've never loved country, but if I'm gonna listen to country, make it this country.

Very simple stuff. Mostly just a guy and a guitar. I'm not that into country, but this was okay.

I like the concept for this concept album, and I'd like to like Willie Nelson more, but while this grew on me after a second listen, I still had trouble connecting with it.

I don't really know Willie Nelson the performer, just Willie Nelson the persona. Obviously this isn't my genre, but I didn't hate this. The songs are perfectly short -- one good idea, not drug out, like a good punk album. I didn't have time to get sick of songs before he was on to his next idea, though they are all cut from the same cloth. I appreciated how lively and present it was. "I Couldn't Believe It Was True" felt like it was recorded in my living room, in a good way. Still, I was ready to move on halfway through, which is only like 15 minutes of music, and I can't imagine pulling it up again. Yet another example of a very good version of a thing that's not for me.

We disagreed on this one, he liked the instrumentals better than the vocals but I'm a much bigger country fan than he is. Splitting our votes (me 4, him 2)

His EighTEENTH album? Mr. Willie Nelson really was churning that music out. Honestly, this album's really lovely – in a melancholic way. Makes me want to take an ol' pickup down one of these dirt roads and have a good cry.

3 out of 5 WILLIE! I am not a country fan but he is legend. Fire one up, and kick back to some outlaw country. Few songs were really slow but was pretty good overall.

Still need to finish but 15 songs in 33 min is wild. I like

He’s better on collab albums

Decent enough. Willie is ight

“We got both kinds of music: Country and Western!” Growing I always associated the two genres without really having a context. When country hit in the ‘90s I assumed that’s what it was all like. Now I know different: this album may be the best example of western …ever. The entire time I wanted to look up at the open sky from the range, tip my Stetson back, sip the whiskey and listen the fire crackle. I don’t really have a context to speak against this album but I can say I didn’t hate it. Songs like Denver were fun in due to our native roots, while Down Yonder was a knee-slapper and a Dosie-Do! Red Headed Stranger was very singer-songwriter along with the opener Time of the Preacher. I know this album was produced in the 1970s but it feels like an Americana time capsule in kind of a cool way.

Random thoughts: * I have never listened to a Willie Nelson album before. Of course, I'm familiar with a few of his big hits. * This was a nice listen while I folded laundry. * There were so many short songs on this one. I'm not sure I understand what Willie was going for. * I did enjoy to hear a shout out to Denver! I wanted a bit more to grab on to but it was short and sweet. * Apparently this is a concept/them album. They even made a movie with the story!

Slow paced old country

This one was weird, like Willie and Austin TX. I wanted to rate this a 2 for all the repeats of Day of the Preacher but kept being surprised by other quiet triumphs.

Quite a cool little concept record, with recurring moments throughout. Won't put it on all that often but happy to have listened.

Easy listening. Reminds me of those old Westerns I watched l, as a child.

3.0 - Ok

I’m sorry Reilly this just isn’t my taste

This style of music will just never be my thing. It was pleasant enought though

Pleasant but nothing popped out at me. Looking forward to listening to one of his more lively ones

This album is from a genre I'm a complete foreigner to, country music. Immediately off my first listen I was captivated by Willie Nelson's voice. Country music is often times too slow or too melodic to me, but Nelson's storytelling kept me captivated throughout the whole experience. From when the Preacher man kills his wife to where he realizes he will never have the love he once knew. As someone who doesn't listen to any country music or tried to, this album thoroughly impressed me and has opened my eyes to delving more into the genre. Although I wasn't hooked on any one specific song, I see myself going back to this album again and eventually growing more attuned to the style of country. A pleasant change of pace in the music I normally listen to and a wonderful album experience. If I were to pick three of my favorite songs it would be Can I Sleep in Your Arms, Time of the Preacher, and Red Headed Stranger

A bit yodel-country for me, but clearly an important work. 3 stars for influence and longevity.

Willie sounds crushing but the arrangements are pretty friggin' meh.

I listen to this a lot

I really enjoyed this! Not traditionally an outflow country super fan but glad to have heard this

This is nice. Willie Nelson definitely deserves to have some albums on here, and this is a great one to add to the list because "Red Headed Stranger" is one of his most iconic songs. That being said, it's pleasant, but not particularly exciting or groundbreaking. I enjoyed the album, but didn't love it. It almost feels a little like filler on a list like this, but it's Willie Nelson, so I can't hate.

Not a fan of country. The storytelling and instrumentals are good. 3/5

Certainly not a bad album, but not my favorite of Willies. A nice calming listen though, and one that I think would be great on a road trip.

Hey, a country album. I’ve heard quite a few albums on this list that ape a country influence, though I think this may be the first true country album to grace my ears. It’s been a long time coming. I’m looking forward to hearing this one. Huh. This album is a mixed bag. The sound is inoffensive and likeable, but the music goes by real quick and fails to leave much of an impression. It’s also crazy to me that, despite already being on the shorter end of album runtimes, nearly half of this album is made up of five different versions of the same two songs. In any case, there are some good points to this album. I especially appreciate the atmospheric use of silence in some of these songs – especially on “Just As I Am” and “Can I Sleep in Your Arms”. On to the music itself. “Time of the Preacher” is alright. A very pleasing acoustic guitar performance, and I like the songwriting/vocals. The title track is good. The full version loses me a little, but I like the abridged version included earlier on the medley track. “Just As I Am” is a very nice instrumental track – likely my favourite song on the album. I enjoy the lonely and tranquil atmosphere, as well as whatever instrument kicks in at the end of the track (the name escapes me right now). “Down Yonder” is a fun jig. Can’t fault a little tavern music here and there. Willie Nelson is a name that vaguely rings a bell, though I don’t think I’ve heard a single song of his. His discography is nuts. I can’t think of another musical act that has 77 albums to their name on top of all the other wackadoo stuff that he’s gotten up to. I’d say he’s worthy of making it in here on those grounds alone, though I’m still gonna check the book anyway. A huge deviation from other country albums of the time. “...a loose concept album about a lovelorn murderer’s adventures”. A big player in the “outlaw country” genre. Yeah, this album appears to have its fair share of accolades. I respect the inclusion

Can see the influences to other singer/songwriters. Listenable.

Nice record, really soothing and pretty

Made me want to cry into my whiskey. Great storytelling from Willie 😭

I see them all time.

"Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" was Willie Nelson's first chart-topping single. It appears in this short concept album inspired by The Tale of the Red Headed Stranger. This is early Outlaw Country Willie, and while I did enjoy it, I found myself consistently looking at the track list, because some of the songs seemed to meld into each other.

Nice, I like how it maintains its vibes, how short it is, and the overall feel.

There have been a myriad of accusations surrounding this album cover and I’d like to clear them up. People say that when this portrait was taken, Willie was inebriated. Sure, he looks at though he is gazing past our dimension into worlds beyond our comprehension, and yes, it appears that what he sees is a clear message of the reckoning that is to befall humanity, but I like to think he was just a little shy. Willie is a known teetotaller and wouldn’t dream of using a mind altering substance. Anyway, take it away ya big crazy nut. Time of the Preacher - Pretty sweet little song. I want to laugh about screaming like a panther, but that vocal melody is so catchy. Whoa. In the year of ‘01? Did Willie predict the US invasion of Iraq? I Couldn’t Believe it Was True - Better start believing, pal. Hell, I might start believing here. I love a good folk song about some hussy breaking the poor narrator’s heart. Nobody says hussy anymore. Shame. Time of the Preacher Theme - Well, we’re back. I wish I was making this up. Pretty funny concept, genuinely. Medley: Blue Rock Montana/Red Headed Stranger - Another simple folk song that feels like I’ve heard it before. In a nice way, not in a repetitive garbage way. For a medley, it’s pretty damn short. Willie doesn’t get paid by the hour. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain - This is probably the worst song so far. No huge slight against it, but it’s just more of the same, and feels sappier than some of the other stuff. Too modern. Red Headed Stranger - Man. Wasn’t this part of the medley? What the hell is this track list? This is a weird song. Apparently the lesson is to not try to steal horses from the red headed stranger or he will kill you and walk away without punishment. Isn’t Willie supposed to be the red headed stranger? Whatever. Moving on. Time of the Preacher Theme - Short Version - Uhhhh? I am starting to question the sobriety of this man. Maybe he isn’t the staunch anti-drug pioneer I believed him to be. Just As I Am - BOOOOOOO. Denver - Ah yes, one of the world’s great metropolises (metropoli??) Denver. Do you wish to encounter altitude sickness AND roving gunmen? Come on up to Denver, they don’t call it the mile high city because of the mountains! Down Yonder - hoooooo weeee. I’ll take a sarsaparilla. Heavy on the parilla my good man. I am dying of tuberculosis - the musical. Can I Sleep in Your Arms - This is a sweet song. Today, masculinity has been boiled down to being a weird porn-brained loser who always has to be some borderline abusive dominator. It’s funny, because in the “good old days” when “men were men,” there were way more songs that had this kind of messaging. Atta boy Willie. Warrior for the smashing of bizarre, unattainable gender norms. Remember Me - A slightly less jaunty trip to the saloon. A fine song. Just fine. Hands on the Wheel - Yes, the world spins. WHOA BAR. Spinnin’ (Outta control) by Big Willie feat R.H. Strangers. Why don’t we give Stan a a turn with the wheel. Can’t hurt at this point. Good song. Bandera - A smooth instrumental closer. By smooth, I mean emotionally devastating. The inventor of Big Willie style™️ came to play on this one. By play, I mean bang out about three songs, throw in some outtakes and call it a day. Is this thing breaking any new ground? I don’t think so. Is it enjoyable? Besides the emotional weight of everything destroying my Monday morning, i can say it was pretty good. I think I’ll take a shot of your finest brandy, and think about a lonely desert plain where I wander like a lost desperado, searching for nothing in particular and finding much of the same. 3 HIGHLIGHTS: I Couldn’t Believe It Was True, Can I Sleep in Your Arms

400/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

I'm usually a fairly big lover of a lot of older country songs/ artists, but this album really didn't leave much of an impression on me. I feel it may have to be one I revisit and pay more attention to next time. I did enjoy it, it definitely wasn't bad, but without giving it more attention a lot of it blended together for me.

It’s ok

Ome Willie vertelt een bak verhalen. De meeste in driekwartsmaat (hoempapa). Heel af en toe een keer vierkwartsmaat en ook zit er een instrumentaal intermezzotje tussen. Ik ben niet zo kapot van country-achtige taferelen, maar dit kan ik dan wel weer hebben. Voor een keer, voor even. Het geheel duurt maar 33 minuten en tegen de tijd dat ik het gezien heb is het ook wel weer voorbij. Is het heel hoogstaand? Neuh. Valt het me mee? Ja. Ik hou het op 3 sterren. Als het mogelijk was had het nog een halve ster extra gekregen.

Cool concept but I can't see myself listening to this again tbh. I like Willies voice I think it sounds very fitting for this album. 6/10 Favourite: Can I Sleep In Your Arms Least Favourite: Denver

The songs tend to sound alike, but the instrumentals for a couple of the last songs are quite beautiful.

Música que escucha Arenita (Yee-haa).

sad but nice

Platonic ideal of a country album

Not the worst album, very pleasant voice, but it's just too country for me, sorry Willie. 3 is an absolute maximum I can give.

Not as gripping as a so-called best album of any genre, but cool concept. Country. American/English. 15 tracks. 33:30 runtime.

Not familiar with this album Favorite song: can I sleep in your arms

Some country

Not my genre but it was enjoyable. I would like this if I liked country. Strong 7/10

Went into this album expecting very little and was pleasantly surprised. Modern country sounds nothing like this and that’s a real shame. His voice is beautiful and the simple instrumentation worked really well. There wasn’t an obvious single but as an album, it was an enjoyable listen.

Don't think I've ever listened to a country record in full before, though I can't say I didn't really know what to expect. Having said that, I was indeed surprised by the short length of the tracks. Big change of pace, especially considering a lot of the albums I've listened to recently have had rather long songs. [Side note before listening, I have a feeling I might not have so much to say about some tracks lol.] I am empty brain with little appreciation for lyrics, so the story behind the album didn't do much for me. Having said that, I didn't have any issues with any of the tracks, though after a while they kinda just blended together anyway. Not sure if that's my opinion of country as a whole or if it's just the way this record is structured lol. I enjoyed the listen, none of it really bored me or put me to sleep zzz, though I feel like it's value is mostly in a full listen of the record, moreso than almost every album I've sat through, while I tend to listen to my music in shuffled playlist goo-goo-gaa-gaa form, and also again the tracks didn't super wow me either. As a result, I don't feel like it's fair to rate it lower than a 3, but equally, in an attempt to rate it on a scale that's fair with other albums and in-line with my own personal resonance with the record, I also don't feel like I can rate it higher. Time of the Preacher is a nice, calming intro with a particularly nice instrumental. The guitar and piano compliment eachother nicely, with nice vocals to tie it together. A lot of the tracks here are short, and sound relatively similar, though it's hard to say whether that's just me or if that's really the case. Hence I don't have much to say about many individual tracks, but it's cool how well they flow into eachother, there's clearly a lot of value here in revisiting the record. Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain had a particularly nice melody, I thought, and the use of the harmonica added a nice atmosphere to the track. I'm sure there's some rhyme and reason to it but it made me laugh that there's three different versions of Time of the Preacher on here. Something about the instrumental break in Remember Me revived me a bit, despite being further on in the record. FAVOURITES - Time of the Preacher (I guess, since it came up three times it feels rude not to lol); Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain; Remember Me LEAST FAVOURITES - None?

Normally I'd talk about each track individually, but given the sparse arrangements here there isn't so much I want to talk about. In general each track gives off the country vibe appropriately and I think the simplicity does it favours here, you can easily imagine sitting around a campfire hearing these songs. Later into the album it feels like we're just being given more of the same, this combined with the fact I don't love country to begin with means it wasn't the most enjoyable time. Though I would like to point out that this album is very consistent, whilst I'd find it hard to point to many high points it is even more difficult to think of any low points. Time of the Preacher - I like the singing and guitar Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain - is understandably the most popular track, its decent Red Headed Stranger - as it goes on it end up being on the fuller side compared to other tracks with piano dancing with the guitar. Probably my favourite track. Just as I Am - quite a nice instrumental, growing into something beautiful mainly due to the piano Denver - super short one but I love a lot of his vocals here and the guitar is good too. Down Yonder - love the super fast bouncy rhythm, the piano is great. Best - Time of the Preacher, Red Headed Stranger, Just as I Am, Denver, Down Yonder

Fun little country album but alot of time of the preacher

I liked this, nice sound, great voice and lyrics. A little samey.

Interesting storytelling. Probably won’t relisten. This type of country relies so heavily on lyrics for me as the music itself all sounds too alike. glad to have listened

Good ol' classic Willie Nelson. Easy listening, my kind of country. Listened while I made dinner. Good vibes. Nothing spectacular though, most songs sounds the same.

First time listening to Willie Nelson. I enjoyed it. Favorite Track: Just As I Am

Good listen. Did not know anything about the artist before listening.

langsam, klassischer Country. Auch schön, aber monoton

Good short country album first couple songs were really fun!

Quite enjoyed this but couldn't say that I remember much about it. Solid Seventies country singing & songwriting.

yeah like about what I expected. Some ok cuts but just not entirely my thing. I was hoping I'd like it more but it was just okay

Ordentliche Country Platte mit viel Gefühl und kurzweiligen Titeln.

I don’t know if there are many comparisons made between Willie Nelson and Neil Young. To me, their voices both come through in the same register, both are all-American storytellers. But man, Willie Nelson is to me what Neil Young is to seemingly everyone else. There’s more conviction in Willie’s stories, more firm deliveries. A very recognizable voice that isn’t shrill half the time. The “Medley: Blue Rock Montana” song is one of the many songs that feel like restful pit stops on a long highway journey. This album didn’t give me the same WOW factor that stardust did, but I don’t think that’s the point. These songs seem to be more like short, quick portraits or companion stories. If that was the goal here, “Redheaded Stranger” is a success.

I'm not a country guy, but it's hard to hate Willie

Not a huge fan. It's not bad, just terribly boring and sleep inducing.

Willie’s vocal delivery is much better than I anticipated. Lyrically he tells a story with the best of them. Instrumentation provides a nice clear platform for the lyrics without ever standing out too much.

I thought it was good. I like western folk and can now hear a lot of his influence in other artists. But I was not wowed

war am anfang garnicht überzeugt aber dochdoch, schon bärig

didnt distract me so probably boring.

It's a good classic. The songs are not bad, just not for me. Bandera at the end was a good finish though.

I feel like the songs were so short! It's good, just too fast. Wanted to hear the songs develop more.

C'est bon, mais un peu plate. J'ai eu l'impression d'entendre le héros américain de Patrick Normand. Même genre de belle voix d'ange qui nous sirupe des ballades aux oreilles. Ça manque de graffignes.

With a commanding, yet gentle timbre to his voice, thoughtful and introspective lyrics relating to the trials and tribulations of life, and some questionable sequencing, there's a lot to love about Red Headed Stranger. I'm simply not a fan of the mixing, however. I'm ok with sequences of short songs if they all play into a larger whole, but that's simply not the case here. I wanted more songs like the title track and "Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain", because as a consequence of their extended length, they allow for Nelson to shine vocally and instrumentally. The instrumentation on this record is like coming home to a warm fire after a long day in the cold; it puts your mind at ease, while at the same time commanding your full attention. It's also full of little piano and guitar licks throughout, so despite the low-tempo of this album, you're never bored. The 3 star rating simply reflects the fact that this kind of music isn't for me. But I can definitely recognize the genius of this album.

Enjoyable and easy breezy. Not my favourite genre of music but still interesting.

I found this to be a much more enjoyable album than the earlier Willie Nelson suggestion. There was a lot more variety to the feeling of the songs than on Stardust. Instead of an onslaught of melancholy, there was some pep in Willie's step. The sadder tracks were still there, but they were broken up by different vibes over the course of the album. The songs also flowed well, and the album breezed by (most songs weren't even 3 minutes long). It didn't feel like a drag at any point. Even so, I still wouldn't say it was something I particularly loved. I can appreciate the musicianship. While the songs weren't overly complicated or made of unique arrangements, they were full of feeling and used the components effectively. Willie's voice is also just right for the stripped-down mix. The album's simple nature makes sense when it feels like the music is trying to take you to somewhere else. Like you're out west, passing time on your journey, and all you have is music and the environment around you. I think I may like this album more if I listen to it again. I just don't know that I have that strong a desire to do so. It's possible that I'll grow into this one at some point, but for now, it just doesn't resonate as a special album. Overall: 2.6/5

Ahh good old Willie Nelson! This was a very interesting album not one I've heard but I do enjoy me some Willie!

Didn’t wow me, but didn’t annoy me or overstay its welcome

It grew on me at the end there

3 out of 5. My grandfather loved Willie Nelson and this made me feel a tiny bit closer to him.

This Willie did not pique my interest.

A decent enough album but it was just a bit bland for me 3 ⭐️

Surprisingly good! More "O Brother, Where Art Thou" than pure country music.

Jag hade aldrig någon aning om var i albumet jag var, väldigt spännande

Not a huge Willie Nelson fan. Good though

I dig Willie - I did have to check and see if the record was over several times because of the repeated theme song throughout.

Nice music, but what's going on with this "album"? Several short songs, many versions of the same songs, some hidden under different titles. What was the thought process here?

Didn't pay enough attention to the (seemingly continuous) lyrics/storytelling to appreciate this fully

Not as good compared to stardust

Minimalist Country that weaves a story together about a cheatin’ wife, a gun, a horse, a bar, and a vengeful husband. It’s not bad but someone please help me understand what the fuss is about. I’m grading it 3/5 with hopes that someone can tell me why it deserves that rating, or a higher one.

This album is the soundtrack for every soul-sick cowboy haunted by the past and his own poor choices. And you're unsure at the end whether he's found redemption or an empty church. There are no heroes, only villains and victims in the old south/west.

Hell yeah partner 🤠

Now I know where to go for Willie

County is one of the genres I don't see myself getting into. I certainly don't have a hate boner for it like a lot of people seem to, but the vibe nor the sound of country don’t appeal to me at all. This album is fine. But it's definitely not something I would relisten (or even listen on my own time in the first place). It's quiet, chill, and relaxing and is decent background music. If you enjoy this kind of vibe, then it's good, but it's not something I'm looking for in music.

Not bad this.

An album I'd never find in my own. Some of the best things are left undiscovered.

I like this album but I do find the theme to be a bit over done.

I was surprised how much I liked this voice, but the album was just okay to me.

Absolutely acoustic, with a wonderful voice of someone who lived a life. Moving, minimalistic approach to country with some nice storytelling. Just wish there was a little less of monotony

Good country album. Great storytelling. Not my usual go-to music, but fun all the same. Willie is a legend.

As a huge fan of Springsteen’s Nebraska it was very cool getting to listen to the blueprint Nelson laid down in the Red Headed Stranger. For me, this is country at its best. Melancholy lyrics sung with enough reverb to make you think old Nelson was the last man on Earth. Nelson’s songs evoke vivid images of empty abodes and bustling old west saloons. While not my favourite genre, there’s certainly a lot to appreciate here in Nelson as a singer and songwriter. Three stars ✨

Lindo disco. En contraste con la música folk de Bob Dylan, el trabajo de Willy Nelson me resultó mucho más relajante, tranquilo. Pero tal vez las letras me llamaron menos la atención. Su voz me resulta mucho más amena en comparación a Dylan.

I'm not a Willie Nelson fan--he's typically too country for me. This one is a little better than most of his other stuff as it has a folkier feel. Probably still not something I'd go back to, but better than other Willie Nelson stuff I've heard, for sure. 3/5

Breezy album, part of me wishes it was longer. Quintessential country.

It sounded exactly like I expected

Am aware of Willie but have never listened to a complete album. It started well and I thought hello - this could be a 5 - but then it just drifted and meandered and became a western sound track and left me behind.

Quite a pleasant affair, evoking saloons, the mid-west and Americana of the past. The doleful harmonica here and there smacks of the prairie, alongside the up and down clip clopping basslines. 'Can I Sleep in Your Arms', and 'Hands on the Wheel' are particularly nice country ballads. The saloon bar honky tonk of 'Down Yonder' and the gospel/blue tinged 'I Couldn't Believe It Was True' as the exceptions, I prefer the lilting side of the album rather than the more breezy numbers (such as 'Remember Me' or 'O'er the Waves'), which come off as a little clichéd and trite. That being said, Willie's cool-as-ice delivery injects a nonchalance to everything. The other big positive is the stripped back arrangements which means this doesn't sound dated like much 70s country.

I like Willie... but this list has A LOT of Willie, no? haha

Not a big country music fan, although I like the concept of ‘outlaw country.’ Should probably be stoned to thoroughly enjoy this.

Willie the GOAT, first half of this album kinda weak but the rest bangs.

Far from my usual cup of tea, but enjoyed it more than I expected. "Down Yonder" was great, and I enjoyed the nod to "Home on the Range" in the middle of "O'er the Waves".

Nice enough for what it is, although I doubt I'd go back to it it's a solid country album

Obviously it wasnt up my alley as its probably one of the most American country album with a Texas/Alama mix of an accent, but hearing rag noise throughout the album as piano melodies really gives this an original vibe

What did I do to deserve such an honor? I got two Willie Nelson albums in a row.

Not at all for me.

3/5

Old time country not as bad as I would've thought. Chill vibes

Vocales crudas de un vaquero melancólico. Primer disco que me hace extrañar a mi ex, eso no lo veía venir. Rola favorita: Red Headed Stranger 7/10 Bueno. Canciones simples con lírica especial, o tal vez solo estaba triste.

zoned out

I'm torn on this one. On one hand we've got great story telling over authentic country music and of course Willie's great voice. I really wish they would have polished this up a bit from a production standpoint. Sounds like a demo and found myself adjusting the volume frequently. Half the album are covers of other so gs which I always knock off a star for. Good sleepy listen but not my favorite work from him.

Enjoyed this

Willie is so calm and smooth, I really enjoy just vibing with the sound of his music and listening to the stories he tells.

Fine enough. Was it Willie Nelson? Yes it was.

classic country AF

Slow and sleepy Willie Nelson, but pleasant nonetheless.

This was the slowest and sleepiest country album I think I've ever heard. For it to be this bare bones and have this much impact is pretty telling.

Fine country album. Didn't love it. Didn't hate it.

You really feel Willie's country roots here, totally captures the slow goings on of dusty old town lost in time.

Great country album

Sounds very smooth and relaxing. A very pleasent album to listen too, but I don't think I'm coming back to it anytime soon.

I don’t know enough about country. But it definitely sounded country to me

this was aight

Tiny folk and country milestone.

Not really

13/03/25 I get it and understand that it's good, it's just boring.

Surprisingly better than I hoped. This is how Country music should sound like. This is the sort of thing you would go to see performed in a barn, sitting on haystacks. I bet there wasn't a single glossy cowboy boot anywhere to be seen when this was recorded, and certainly no line dancing. It's still not my thing, but I get it.

Imagine settling down by a campfire on the prairie, millions of stars in the clear night sky, smells of grass and dirt, cool night air... And a big fat Willie Nelson joint to pass around. You're so baked you don't even object when someone pulls out the guitar and starts playing simple tunes overlaid with stories of preachers, pretty women , betrayal and horse thieves... But here I sit on a Thursday afternoon in my office and I'm not quite vibing, though I wish I was. Maybe I need to head out on the weekend. Three tin stars.

good

This was fun! A cool story. I about dropped whatever was in my hands when I was getting ready when they were talking about shooting that couple (at least that's what I thought they were talking about). I believe that was "Melody Rock."

the first song is okay i kinda like the sounds of the instruments and his voice but i don´t like how slow it is. the next song is okay it is the same as the last song i don´t have much more feeling about it i do like that is is faster than the last song. the last song is a little better it is still the same as the first song but this time i like how slow it is and i like how loud and quiet it is at the same time. overall i would recommend it to my grandpa.

I’ve heard worse.

Sehr entspannend, Countrymusik halt

There's something about that country guitar twanginess that I find really off-putting. I wanted to like this album more than I actually did.

Simultaneously very nice and very boring. 2.7/5

This fella’s alright

Hard not to like Willie Nelson, at least a little.

Not really my thing, but Willie's got a great voice. I do like that the full album tells a story, and pretty much any song could be put in a western. The main melody that repeats across the album is great, but I think I'd rather listen to it in smaller doses. Time of the Preacher Theme was probably my favorite, while I wasn't as much of a fan of some of the faster paced songs like I Couldn't Believe It Was True or especially Down Yonder.

The sparse production lets Willie’s voice shine, and the story becomes more prominent. Unfortunately, most of the album is in the same tempo and except for Hands Behind the Wheel (which is fantastic) and the title track, no songs really stand out.

Very sleepy album. Relaxing but also boring. I really don't understand why Willie Nelson is famous.

It is good and pleasant to listen to but probably not something I will return to. A weak 3 rating for this one.

At times, boring, at other times, a sensible country-folk album with some heart.

I'd forgotten what a young Willie sounds like.

6/10 Go Willie 2-18-2025

The single-concept theme is cool, but the songs are really sparse and somewhat repetitive. Willie had a lot more to say and better ways to say it.

It was ok for a country album. Maybe I don't dislike country as much as I thought?

Living in Texas I feel like I should make more of an effort to listen to Willie Nelson. I wouldn't say he's bigger than Jesus here, but he is treated somewhat similarly (it's not unusual to see either's imagine on someone's wall). I liked the really relaxed tone of this album. It's the sort of music I'd love to listen to live in the background, sat outside with a cold beer in my hand. His voice is great, but there's nothing that really caught my attention, or informed me why this album was chosen over his 101 (literally!!!) other studio albums.

This has a very peaceful, folksy vibe. I liked listening while doing my homework.

it was the tiiiiimmme of preacher time of the preacher- 7 or 8 i couch believe it was true- 6 blue rock Montana- 6 blue eyes crying in the rain- 6 red headed stranger- 7 just as I am- 6 denver- 5 boooooo denver mention over the waves- 5 or 6 down yonder- 7 can i sleep in your arms- 5 remember me- 6 hands on the wheel- 5 bandera- 6 it was okay. it's funny how many times the time of preacher played

Even though it isn't a style of music that has an emotional affect on me, I quite liked the album. The simple and timeless instrumentation that allows his voice to shine. I would definitely listen again.

willie

я как человек больше слушающий музыку чем слова не могу полноценно восхититься, но Уилли приятно поёт, молодец

Me quiere gustar más de lo que ne gusta realmente creo. Esta guay eh, pero todas las canciones son iguales, es super predecible la movida

cute. bit monotonous

Hiii ha! This takes me to another space and time... I liked snake oil (which is not.even in this album)

An example of something I would have never listened to if not for this project. It’s wild how little I know about Willie Nelson. His 18th album???????

Decent country music, and I'm not a country fan. Tip: listen to this at night. I listened in the morning and it's just not a morning album.

Not terrible, but nothing I'd pay for either.

Nice twang, kinda repetitive.

Really soothing but the album is short and repetetive

An enjoyable album. It has a sweet, classic feel to it. I was surprised to read that this is Willie Nelson's 18th album! And it was in 1975! It was a great opportunity to listen to something I otherwise would not have listened to, and a great moment in music history.

I've never listened to a complete Willie Nelson so I'm glad this is on the list. Quick, solid old country songs. There's nothing here that's going to blow you away but it's great to have on in the background. 6.25/10 (3.125/5)

Great tunes! Great album!

Genre-wise this is mostly not my thing, but I liked it well enough. I am not very familiar with Willie, but his talents are on pretty good display here and I think it's raised my opinion of him.

Ничего не понял, но видимо классика, вестерн типа. Хотя мужик и прикольно поёт

Este country si lo disfruto

A decent concept album, "real" country as opposed to the sanitary stuff they put out these days. Favorite track: either "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" or "Hands on the Wheel."

quite lovely and soothing, but many tracks felt underdeveloped and left me yearning for more. 3.5/5

Angenehm tbh

Really enjoyed this

Like it 3/5

After getting his "Stardust" album a few hundred albums back (and not particularly enjoying the experience), it's nice to get what I imagine is a more classic Willie Nelson album, and an interesting concept for a concept album. I particularly enjoyed "Time of the preacher theme" (the 3rd track version), his classic cover of "Blue eyes crying in the rain", and his covers of "Can I sleep in your arms" and "Hands on the wheel", as well as how spare the album is musically, with his backing band at times and lots of Willie Nelson singing and playing. It was so gratifying to read that he was able to produce this album as we hear it because he had complete control, a huge contrast to so many albums in this collection from this time period by other artists. Having now heard this album as well as "Stardust", I'm sorry that we didn't get some of Willie Nelson's other interesting (and recent) musical adventures. One of the compelling aspects of Willie Nelson's career is how many collaborations he's had with a wide range of artists (I've always enjoyed his and James Taylor's rendition of Townes Van Zandt's "Leftie and Pancho", although I still prefer the original I think) and it's a shame that our only exposure to Willie Nelson is a collection of golden oldies in addition to this definitional album.

Okay wait, this wasn’t as bad as I thought. I’m lowkey okay with country now but like older country. Definitely not Carrie Underwood (iykyk). But I don’t know if I’d listen to this much by myself. He’s definitely a great singer though.

Classic Willie, album has too many instrumental breaks for me, and not enough variety in sound. Theme was a little too one note here. But still solid, and a cool concept album. First album I’ve had on this list that was a an entire artwork that requires all its parts to experience/appreciate.

17/1001 Red Headed Stranger as a concept is quite interesting, and although it consists of a lot of individually decent songs the idea of repeat motifs kinda detracts from the A-sides quality. The B-side is more so where it gets interesting with more songs of traditional nature mixed in with a few instrumentals, it makes for a decent and warm listening. Though I would say the highs of the B-side never matches those of Time of the Preacher and Red Headed Stranger on the A-side. 3,5/5

Fav: Can I Sleep In Your Arms Least Fav: Time Of The Preacher Theme Felt like by the time I was starting to enjoy a song, it would end and another similar sounding song would take its place. Thankfully the second half had songs longer than 2 minutes

short, sharp, not my thing but glad I heard it. The kind of country I can get with.

Love a Willie album, this one felt much more story driven and was fun since I had never heard before.

It doesn't speak to me at all, but I can imagine people like this. Favorite song: Bandera

good but i don't think i would listen again

Country music, one of my largest musical blind spots. I know "Jolene", a handful of Johnny Cash songs, and the occasional modern pop-country crap I have the misfortune to actually hear. That said, my expectations weren't totally rock bottom. I didn't know any of his music, but I knew OF Willie Nelson, and he just seems like such a chill guy. Surely it couldn't be that bad. And it turns out, it's not bad! I was pleased at how sparse these songs are. Most of them are just Willie's voice and his guitar. For whatever reason, I imagined his voice would be a bit gruff. His voice is actually kind of... the word that comes to mind is pretty. And that kind of caught me off guard. There's a mix of covers and original songs, mixed together to make a vague sort of narrative. I'm not sure if I followed it all the way through. But the lyrics to the title track is so bonkers, I love it. Bitch, don't touch my horse. Fav tracks: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Red Headed Stranger, Just as I Am

Muy buen disco de Willie. Un country bien meloso tirando a folk. Nostálgico, personal.

Nice for a quite lazy afternoon of gentle easy music listening. Lay back with a nice drink and hmmm the afternoon away. A beautiful Willie in his early 40's - vocals are clear and crisp vs more ageing vocals

Average country album this one. I usually like more upbeat country and this one was pretty sad the whole way through.

Interesting idea for a concept album, but didn't grab my attention enough for another listen at this time. Going on the pile to re-listen once this project is over.

Not bad.

I kind of took my time with this one as it's really an interesting listen. I love the storytelling and wish I had heard it as a young songwriter. But, maybe there are too many covers and the songs aren't quite long enough? I DO like how he stuck by the album and fought the record execs to release. Probably more of a 3.5, but going:

Listened to this quite a few times and nothing quite stuck with me. Sounds nice.

Without judgement

Nice enough country western album. Good storytelling. I don’t care much for Nelson’s nasally vocals but it works perfectly with these songs and their stripped down arrangements. The songs/album is pretty short so there isn’t enough time to be irritated by his vocals which I find easier to take in small doses.

Mellow

As a certified country music hater, this album is fine. He has a nice voice, and has some good melodies. Every song does kind of sound the same though, and that is despite Time of the Preacher appearing 3 times. High 3.

So much love and respect for Willie (but also did find a lot of the songs to sound similar lol).

Willie Nelson has an incredible voice. His style of music is not something I really listen to all that much, but you have to love the way he sings. I'm also really enjoying the guitar twangs. Mostly a fun album, with a few duds dragging it down. We didn't really need three versions of Time of the Preacher (I don't think we even needed one). The standouts are I Couldn't Believe It Was True and the title track. Best song: I Couldn't Believe It Was True

I liked this album more than I thought I would. The vocal harmonies were soooo good. I really liked a lot of the instrumental songs too. Normally I am not a fan of country at all but this was pretty good. I LOVED "Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming)." Actually a 2.5. Liked Songs: "I Couldn't Believe It Was True" , "Red Headed Stranger" , "Denver" , "O'er the Waves" , "Down Yonder" , "Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming"

Feels like drinking moonshine at the saloon. I actually don't mind this album, it sounds like country as it should be. 3

I think I enjoy my country to be a bit more upbeat. This was a calming album, but a bit depressing at times. He's a hell of a harmonica player tho!

Wow im surprised how much I am enjoying this. This is a solid old school country album.

Nothing really jumped out and grabbed me. Very middle of the road. 1001 album worthy: Sure - 10/19

not bad country staff. a solid 3 star. flow really good didnt hear translations between songs.

I get why people love Willie Nelson. It's certainly a better listen than modern bro country, but still not my thing. 3 stars.

Aika söpöjä biisejä. Salonkikelpoista countrya mutta sopivasti (melodramaattista) huumoria. Jää tosin siksi vähän disneykiillotetuksi.

The first half is definitely very country, but it's not grating, and I liked the recurring Time of the Preacher theme. The second half is better, with interesting instrumentals like the acoustic guitar and piano driven Just As I Am and ragtime jaunt Down Yonder. At a tight 33 minutes, one to revisit.

While I like older country and Willie Nelson is obviously a legend, it was a little slow for me. It was pleasant driving music but that's about all I got out of it.

Lo siento. Un poco rollo. Venga, un 3, porque es Willie Nelson.

Nice enough, but too straight-ahead country for me.

Pleasant outlaw country. Nothing really stood out but it's nice background music. I really love willie's voice. 3.5

This was the first time I’d listened to a Willie Nelson album. It was nice enough. It got a bit repetitive, but was only 33 minutes long, so not too bad. I’m not a huge fan of Willie’s voice, I mean, he sings well, but the way his voice sounds can get a bit annoying 😕 “Just as I Am” is one of my favorite hymns, but this one sounded a bit too similar to a MIDI file 😅 My favorites were “Can I Sleep In Your Arms” and “Bandera.” “Red Headed Stranger” was good too. I like how Can I Sleep In Your Arms was to the tune of Red River Valley. It was just a sweet little song. Overall not too bad.

Fast and straight to the point. Good one.

From one country music icon to another. And from one dramatically sparse record to another. I am not familiar with Willie Nelson in the slightest. I could say this about the majority of the big country stars from the last 60 years because it’s not a genre I listen to. And aside from a few standouts here and there, none of the albums I have heard have made my opinion of said genre become any more positive. I still really don’t resonate with it on as deep of a level as some do. Some people live and die by this shit. I was still open to hearing what Willie had to offer. Unfortunately, I don’t find it to be much. To start with the good, he’s got a great voice. One of the best I’ve heard in country, and one that feels immediately iconic. It’s also one of the most seminal releases for the history of the Outlaw Country movement. So it’s nice to see people like him and Johnny Cash inspiring others to fight for creative freedom. But that’s where the positives end for me. This is basically a pseudo-concept album about a fictional outlaw on the run. But I’m not really sure how well that story comes through. And his guitar playing is anything but remarkable. This entire album is composed of relatively short and simple songs. But these aren’t really the kind of short and simple songs that I enjoy. He recorded everything by himself, and there are sparse instances of something other than just his guitar here and there. There is just so little going on, and Willie’s songwriting and lyricism do not make up for that fact in the same way as people like Marty Robbins or the aforementioned Johnny Cash. Rating: 5/10

Fun country

It's really relaxing, albeit a bit boring, but still a chill listen.

Better than anything Bob Dylan has put out

Unlike a lot of old country music this doesn't sound racist!

Nice voice but bit boring sorry Willie

Still not a huge country guy, but Willie is a classic.

Snoozy at first but it picked up towards the end. If the first 20 minutes were as good as the rest of the album this would have been an 8/10 for me. Acoustic only tracks could have used more flare. Favorite songs were: 11. Down Yonder 13. Hands on the Wheel 6/10

I like Willie Nelson and his vibe, never listened to his music really before this, pretty meh.

Una onda media ranchera

It was nice, mellow and easy to listen to.

Very pleasant, but a bit sleepy / down tempo. I was excited to listen to this and on a first listen it didn't really do it for me. I think future listenings might be more rewarding.

Love Willie as a person, but this album is pretty one note. “Down Yonder” is the one exception, was not expecting to hear a kazoo.

I’ve listened to this twice now and I still feel indifferent to it. It’s the kind of album you enjoy once it’s on but not something you’d necessarily specifically pick out to put on. Nelson’s voice is amazing though and I am probably going to listen to a few more of this albums because I feel like I have potential to really love his music if only I find the right album.

-more Willie Nelson. I think I like this album more than the other one. I’ve never been a huge country music / Willie Nelson-type of person but I can appreciate the quality and legacy. I found myself actually wishing a few of the songs were longer so I could have more to go off of though -Favorites are Time Of The Preacher, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, and Red Headed Stranger

Enjoyable

Interesting concept album

Very old west / country / twangy, which is not my style, but is great for this genre and time period.

Opening track is pretty solid. I should probably dislike this more, but the for how laid back it is makes it a different experience. I'm also a sucker for storyteller albums. The longer it goes, the less enthused I am about it. It's not bad though can I sleep in your arms is pretty decent. The instrumental for remember me is bluesy which is a nice change of pace.