Red Headed Stranger

Interesting one.

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

Decent album. Still can’t fully get behind country music, but I do like Willie. I just know he has better stuff out there. 3/5 Might listen again

Nice low key country

Willie Nelson is a Treasure. Old tunes, but all Willie.

Cool country

This is exactly the type of album I hope to get from this project because I would never pick it out myself but it was amazing

I remember when a dime bag cost a dime

5/10

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

Boring, not for me.

Willie Nelson seems like such a laid back guy and this album sure doesn't disprove that. Really nice, really emotional music -some interesting lyrics (For you can't hang a man for killin' a woman Who's tryin' to steal your horse: this was news to me) -I have a real soft spot for outlaw country and willie nelson has in my mind always trailed after the man in black but I'd recommend to anyone and I'm really pleased I know some of Willie's music now -a good starting point!

Never listened to Willie before, this was just a pleasant experience

pokey campfire music

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

I've heard a fair share of albums and songs from Willie Nelson before, and cannot deny he is one of the greatest country artists to walk this earth. Red Headed Stranger is considered one of his greatest albums, conceptually written around an earlier song from Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith that Nelson would cover for the centerpiece here. Throughout my listening, there is a calming and comforting nature as Willie strums away on his guitar and sings with a warm vocal delivery about a preacher who has a falling out with his wife, murders her, and then finds love elsewhere. It's amazing how he tied a few cover songs like the aforementioned "Red Headed Stranger" and Fred Rose's "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" into a rather dark narrative that works. The only problem with this album is one drawn from having listened to Willie Nelson many times - songs tend to sound the same. Save for the cover of L. Wolfe Gilbert's "Down Yonder" as performed by Willie's sister Bobbie, most of this album is the laid-back outlaw country style that folks who have heard him perform here and there would be familiar with. Not helping matters is how half of the songs here don't crack the two-minute length, and that there are two reprises of "Time of the Preacher" in the middle of the album. Still, if you're into Willie Nelson and don't mind how similar his songs are, then this is an enjoyable listen all the way through. Give it a chance.

Ganja man Prima, niet heel boeiend

Didn't think I'd like this one, and was very pleasantly surprised. I think I'll listen to more.

Är ju inte riktigt min kopp te. Bra men trist. Det händer inget i musiken eller mig. Känns taskigt med en 2a för det är inte dåligt men är inte heller så bra som jag tycker det borde vara för en 3a.

Inte helt förtjust i denna typ av musik. Man gillar ju Nellie, som gjort en del grym musik. Men detta lugna country-album väcker inte mycket i mig. Det är meh. Blir osäker på betyg. Men får bli en trea. Det är ju inte dåligt eller plågsamt.

Alltid gillar Willie och kul med ett konceptalbum, men rent musikaliskt är det lite för slätstruket för att kunna bli mer än en trea.

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

Not really my taste.

nto my thing

I didn’t know that I needed murder country concept albums in my life but I’m so here for it

I liked this, but not as much as Stardust. Willie Nelson has a great voice, and I like the storytelling of the album, but probably wouldn't play this repeatedly

"...he's ploughing"

I was really taken aback by his guitar playing! Really good stuff, though I couldn't pinpoint one song from another, it was all things I'd go back to. :)

Aaaah Willie. Country Snoop. Can’t say enough about this man as a PERSON. What he’s done for the people, the world. As for the record it’s definitely one of his best. I like it. I respect the hell out of it. I’m never gonna put it on repeat though, just not my style I guess. That said- were I to be more into country THIS year old be my style. His wavering voice and subtly killer guitar. He’s just a big ball of talent. Ironically I just saw a clip of his son Lucas playing ‘Just Breathe’ with Eddie Vedder and I couldn’t get over how his voice sounds so much like his pops. Willie will always get 3 stars base for being Willie.

great songs and pretty spare instrumentation - a classic

Boring country album, not horrific or pandering though. 2.1 stars

This is definitely the type of country music I like, but no standouts to return to IMO.

Fun listen though country is not my thing

Red headed stranger best storytelling ever

Heyrðu mig nú. Ég taldi mig alltaf vera lítið hrifinn af kántrý að frátöldum Johnny Cash og svo kemur þessi plata og þá er ég bara líka kominn í Willie Nelson liðið. Þetta var mjög fín tónlist til að hafa í bakgrunni. Vel gerð og ég ætla að reyna að muna eftir henni og setja hana aftur á.

I liked this quite a bit, but I've had a soft spot for Willie Nelson for years, largely because of "Stardust" which is just a fantastic record.

I get why Willie Nelson is so revered but this record is just not for me.

I actually really liked this album

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

A good vibe to this album. Willie has a great voice and a lot of passion. Good all around. 3/5.

Immaculate vibes

This was enjoyable. Very simple in terms of production and songwriting, lots of very short almost fragments of songs. So that sets a ceiling score for me But I loved his voice, which is the centrepiece of the album. Really great tones, really great vibes Vocals backed up mostly simple production, basically straight no-frills country without bells, whistles, or slide guitar. Nice use of bass harmonicas Best: Hands on the Wheel

There is an emotional depth to his voice which is quite appealing

Good album.

Cool western

No puedo con su voz tan peculiar.

Sounds like it was created in a college experimental music class.

God Bless Willie Nelson!

++: I Couldn't Believe It Was True, Can I Sleep in Your Arms, Remember Me (When the Candlelights Are Gleaming) +: Time of the Preacher, Time of the Preacher Theme, Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain, Red Headed Stranger, Time of the Preacher Theme, Just As I Am, Denver, O'er the Waves, Down Yonder, Hands on the Wheel, Bandera +- Medley: Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger 7,2/10

Great concept album

Willie Nelson has this amazing ability to make you feel like a 1800s cowboy no matter where you are or when you were born. He encapsulates this classic southern vibe so well and creates a blanket of country to wrap yourself in. Fantastic songwriting and performances from him. Favorites were Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Red Headed Stranger, and Can I Sleep in your Arms

I really enjoyed that. The simplicity of the instrumentals allowed me to focus on the lyrics and his voice which are both great. Favorite songs were Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Red Headed Stranger, Down Yonder, Remember Me, and Hands On The Wheel.

Accessible entry level Willie Nelson

This album has a really great flow. It definitely feels like it was meant to listen to as a whole album. Willie Nelson has an incredibly soulful singing voice. And it’s refreshing to hear a country album that is so simplified. Mostly acoustic guitar with vocals. Sometimes another instrument chimes in, but never in an overpowering way. Sometimes a hymn, sometimes a cowboy tune, sometimes a poem, but always done with intention. I like it.

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

That guitar and harmonica the end of Can I Sleep in Your Arms is five stars on its own. This album lost me a bit but thats more because of taste rather than quality. Overall this was an easy, lovely listen and a great taste breaker for myself!

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

Some classic songs from Willie nelson. Just about a 3.

Pleasant easy listen

Good. Nice.

I'm a big fan of classic country...not so big a fan of Willie Nelson though. Honestly though I was so happy not to have to listen to another psychedelic rock album today that I ended up loving this. 4/5

Good stuff

stripped down, no frills country album. a man and his trusted acoustic guitar with occasional piano and harmonica. classic album from a legendary artist. highlights: “blue eyes crying in the rain” “red headed stranger” “can i sleep in your arms”

No

liked this less than the last one, but has a couple of sweet highlights

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

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

I love Willie, and this was certainly a breakout album for him. However, I was struck hearing it again all these years later by how slim a lot of it is. Most of the songs are great, but they often feel a bit underwritten.

Was hopeful for a bit more on this one. I like some of Willie's songs but this album was a tad boring.

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

Somehow Willie Nelson has managed to fit a whole Western tale of love, betrayal and revenge into 15 songs and 34 minutes without ever feeling rushed or constrained. This is evocative music, recalling dusty mesas and smoky saloons, a million miles away from the shmaltzy strings and glittering rhinestones of Nashville. Western music for outlaws!

Surprisingly enjoyable for a genre I don't really care about. Good interpretation, the laid-back songs are not boring, and there are some slightly more upbeat songs that are quite nice.

Really enjoyable!

Made me feel sleepy. In a good way

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

Good album. Like the middle the most and that solemn guitar

Red Headed Stranger is a captivating album that stands out even if you’re not traditionally a country fan. The album's minimalist approach, featuring Willie Nelson's signature classical guitar and his warm, comforting voice, places him at the center of the music. For me, this album holds a special place, coming in as a close second to “Stardust”, which remains my favorite Willie Nelson album. This record has a unique ability to transport me back to my dad’s family's mountain home in Virginia. Listening to it evokes memories of playing on old porches surrounded by dense woods—a place that felt both enchanting and intimidating. The haunting beauty of the music resonates with the eerie, yet magical atmosphere of those childhood nights. Willie Nelson’s songs manage to capture that sense of wonder and fear, only to remind me that there’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s a profound testament to his ability to evoke emotion and nostalgia through his music. 4.5

Good ole Willie. I love the old western country style. There's a heavy gospel vibe on several songs that takes me back to the church pew I so often sat on as a child. Not sure why there's three Time of the Preacher songs, but the short version is hilarious. I thought, "Oh, here it goes again. Oh, it's over." This album takes you to church, then to a saloon in west El Paso, and the dusty trails in between. It isn't something I would listen to regularly, but Willie is fun from time to time. Remember Me is my favorite on here.

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

Country served with a side of Western. Country isn't my favorite genre or my way of life, but I've always got time for a bit of Willie Nelson and his ilk. There is something about him and those older country singers that I can surprisingly stand compared to the stadium country or pop country that was prevalent in my youth. Sometimes they sing about lurid things from the Old West days, but with such calm stoicism, like of course you needed to shoot that yellow-haired lady; she was trying to steal the horse your dead wife rode. It is what it is. For me, this is entertaining in its unrelatability. The music is straight forward, with clean, sometimes sparse instrumentation, with structures, melodies and storytelling steeped in old folk traditions. They're just singing it straight, so that you really get to know all of the qualities of their voices, their phrasings, their idiolects. There's no place for anything to hide, just them staring you right in the face. After years of hearing these unique voices here and there, you get to know them well, and they become warm and familiar, like old friends, like grandparently figures dispensing advice and tales from eras gone by. Willie is our outlaw country granddad, and I enjoyed my visit with him.

I liked this. A very chill stripped down sound. It's amazing to think of the contrasts between this and contemporary country. This album tells stories and is easy listening. It reminds of some of the old school country artists my dad had in his collection. This one made me think a bit in an anthropological way as some of Willie's vocal inflections reminded me a bit of old Irish folk singers or some of the things Delores O'Riordan used to do. You can kind of see the parallels and the influence that Irish migration had in country music.

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

6,21

Was a fun country album. Short n sweet. 6/10

Never listened to Willie before but really enjoyed this.

Not my genre

Good album. I liked the relaxing feel of these songs, mellow and cool

Willie is always enjoyable. Just makes me feel like im sitting in a dive bar somewhere, forgetting about the world between beers and an old man is sitting there belting out their own sorrows. Comfort

Wet laid-back, relaxing cowboy folk music. Nelson is the master of this genre. Country isn’t typically my favorite, but I did quite enjoy this listen.

Pretty enjoyable, such a great voice, relaxes me!

Aïe, très mauvaise semaine pour moi, avec beaucoup de folk/country que je n'apprécie pas et mauvaise pop ... Artiste inconnu. Morceaux et album très court, mais c'est une vrai corvée pour moi, même si quelques chorus de guitare sont sympathiques. J'ai arrêté avant la fin. => 1/5

I always say that I don't consider myself a fan of country music. These sorts of albums are starting to change my mind. I guess I need to qualify it and say that I'm not a fan of "bro country" or "country pop."

Uhh, álmosító. Red dead redemption mellé jó lehet

Elég volt a szomorú cowboy nótából

i just can't take this seriously... everything about this is giving me unidentifiable music feelings. like this sounds exactly like what i expect all country music to sound like, and i think that if i heard this live, i'd like it a lot better and maybe find it moving... but i'm listening to it from my laptop and all the lyrics and instrumentation are so typical of the genre that it's making me giggle. still, it's not totally bad. it's decent. wouldn't listen to it again though.

Fantastic traditional country album

at first i thought oh boy another country album but hey its willie nelson. i listened to stardust prior to this and yea i get that its a poppier approach to willie’s usual music, but i still liked it. im not sure if the same can be said for this one though. it’s alright but i didnt really feel much from this one compared to stardust. it’s a really short album at 33 minutes so it kind of just went by quick, but side b was nice. i like the somber mood side b gave off. i felt pretty indifferent to side a though besides a couple tracks. willie has a nice voice and it really benefitted in side b. 3.5 but a 3 here personal favs: blue eyes crying in the rain, can i sleep in your arms

ed eccoci qui, quanto adoro gli album che raccontano una storia. un uomo e la sua chitarra ad incantare i cowboy quando sono stanchi e a fine giornata vanno a bersi una birra al saloon. bellissimo.

Another classic by Mr Nelson.

classic Willie

Meh. I respect Willie Nelson as a person, and this type of country music as opposed to today's modern country pop garbage, but I still don't care for it

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

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

Lyder meget mere som jeg forventede end det forrige Willie Nelson album, vi havde. Hyggelig!

Synes den var væsentligt bedre end den anden Willie Nelson plade vi havde. Meget country men på en ret lækker måde. Godt med en 30 minutters plade efter et par alt for lange plader

Meget behagelig folket plade.

I am thoroughly and positively suprised. I knew some of Willie’s hits, but I’ve never listened to any of his albums besides Stardust. I really liked this one - I totally understand why Willie Nelson is such a respected artist and legend. This is an album that I will put on again.

Listened to this Down Yonder and I Couldn’t Believe It Was True, but I somehow managed to keep my Hands on the Wheel.

These are some of the prettiest songs about murdering people I’ve ever heard.

Perfect

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

Solid Willie album but not his best.

Not a country fan

Very nice selection of country songs, however they are rather short.

60/100 Makes you wanna sit in a log cabin next to a fire.

this is unironically redneck-country "my wife left me for another man and i sleep under the stars" lol NNN

All I could think of was that little shop song from Castle Crashers.

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

Good listen, very comforting. He has such a good voice, feels like grandpa telling a story. Although I'm not super into country, this is the type of country I can get behind.

I had never listened to this before, but I love it. Completely drawn in by his great storytelling and its beautiful simplicity

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

Willie falls in that same category as Bob Dylan for me. Everyone seems to love him, but I’m not sure he’s my thing. Sounds more like a guy talking over the music. 2.5

Gun-toting, avenging preacherman. Relaxed listen. Great voice.

Red headed strange willie.

stranger, no danger

Some singers are in the pocket some are a little before or after the pocket. Willie sings when he wants to...the pocket be damned. It's one of the things that make him one of a kind.

A beautiful album

Lovely! 5/5

Feels like what you'd hear in a quite town around 1875!

Fine 2.5

Enjoyed this one

Hell yea, let's go Willie. That ruled, but requires a second listen.

I really liked the instrumentals on this one, so it was funny to see that the studio was nervous about the sparse arrangement before it was released! The piano especially was really lovely! This is a really solid album. I haven't listened to a ton of Willie Nelson, and country doesn't tend to be my genre, but I enjoyed this one. The concept album style worked really well and made for a really cohesive and consistent listen overall. It's one I think I would listen to again!

wasn't expecting it to be this good. Would definitely go back to this one.

Best Song: Red Headed Stanger Not my cup of tea. Horse riding western music.

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

Bit country

This album was a whole lot of fun from start to finish. Wasn’t overly familiar with too much Willie but off the back of this terrific album I’ll certainly listen to him from time to time.

Nice. Soft and easy.

I Willy liked this one!

First ever Willie Nelson album. Country isn’t my thing but he’s got relatable lyrics and a soothing sound.

Not as bad as I thought it was going to be

Again, a very smooth, soothing singing voice but WAY too country for me. Also one of his songs (Can I Sleep In Your Arms) was just to The Saints Go Marching In. Rating: 2

Intriguing album, love the narrative of it.

I just don't like country...sorry Willie

Classic Willie. What's not to love?

Een vertrouwd geluid, maar het is nogal sloom, eerlijk gezegd. Als hij dit bij je kampvuur speelt, val je gegarandeerd zo in slaap.

We zitten weer duidelijk in Amerika, met zicht op een uitgestrekt landschap. Met de bekende overdreven trilling in de stem wordt het weer een toneelstukje.

Cuntry, de smartlappenmuziek van Murica. En zeker deze oude country. Ik vind het ergens wel grappig, maar een compleet album is toch altijd lastig door te komen hoor. Prima dat dit in de snoblijst staat overigens, ik vind het ook wel leuk om hier kennis van te nemen. Maar ik ben blij dat het slechts een half uurtje duurt.

Day 33 of listening to 1001 albums, one album at a time. I hadn’t listened to much Willie Nelson before listening to this album. I knew he was a pretty much legend in country for his outlaw country music. I think that pretty much is shown through this album. I have always enjoyed story telling albums and while there isn’t a ton of story to tell through this one, I still liked it. Willie Nelson just does a good job at presenting a character and talking about them. The only thing that wasn’t entirely impressive for me what the production. I felt it could’ve been a lot more interesting and felt repetitive at times. Overall good album was a decent story.

Correcto

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Nostalgic. 4.5

Great, love Nelson's voice. Evocative way to tell a story. The continuous use of similar themes and motifs is interesting from a story telling and artistic perspective, although the listening experience becomes slightly repetitive because of it

old country music. not super exciting or noteworthy

Stripped down ballad country about a fugitive on the run. Not my favorite but not bad. Standout is the slow "Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain" and the title track.

Country. Good in the background

Country music is too sad for me. And this guy seems to have had the worst kind of luck.

Not my thing

C&W isn't my first choice. Not as bad as I feared.

Now this is my kind of Willie Nelson album, I enjoyed Stardust well enough but this is the county singer at his best. His voice is great and surpassed only buy the sorytelling.

I did not enjoy it as much as my dad said he liked it.

Timeless, really puts the "rock" in "rocking chair"

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

Favourite Willie. Outlaw Dawg

К сожалению, альбом совсем не запомнился, но это может быть связано с тем, что он концептуальный и важен смысл исполняемого, чем сама музыка. Хотя кантри нравится.

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

I love the lore behind some the albums on the list, like this one. Willie was tired of the overproduced Nashville sound, holes up in a new studio in Texas and laid this down in under a week, including mixing. Like, how? More talent in his pinkie finger...

This doesn’t half drag on! Hows it only 33 mins. Felt like a lifetime! Starts well, then just drags on. Maybe it’s a bit too samey for me! It was fine. 2.7

-cowboy -not the best production -like the voice -like the piano too -Idk if I would spin this often. -nice story for a country album -calm -conceptually, it reminds me of "Hey Joe" by Hendrix -favourite songs: Time of the Preacher, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, the title track, Down Yonder, Hands On The Wheel -least favourite song: Time of the Preacher (the short version)

6 / 10 Country clásico, poco instrumentado y canciones cortas. Pero suena bastante bien.

Wow a lot of these songs sound the same. *checks notes* Oh they are the same song. You can't keep just turning in the same thing over again and calling it complete - I tried that in high school and it didn't work. I can appreciate the sincerity of this music though. It's hard to imagine that this is the same genre as modern country where every song is about making love to your truck while Jesus watches with a cold light beer in his hand. I respect this a lot more than any country music that gets made today.

Nice, easy, pared back sound, but doesn't excite me much.

i just read a story today about how a romance scammer got $200k out of a woman by pretending to be Willie Nelson and claiming they were going to live happily everafter together. Decent album but i like some of his others better.

Shout out Ramona

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

“Red Headed Stranger” is a decent, middle-of-the-road album by Willie Nelson. It’s not my favorite, but it’s not the worst either. It has its moments, but overall, it’s a fairly average listen.

I lloved it, Just a simple production with excellent stories

with each country album i get it just sounds like more of the same.. its listenable but man it feels just so boring to me this one was ok tho and it wasnt too long 3.3/5

A good Willie album, solid Americana.

I enjoyed ‘Red Headed Stranger’ more than ‘Stardust’, but found I like the story and background behind the recording of the album, as well as the actual narrative concept more than the actual album itself. The pensive and sparse arrangements are fine, and the whole country noir vibe suits the tone of the album itself, I just found the whole sound a bit too bare for my liking overall.

This is just good, honest country music done brilliantly. Not necessarily going to blow you away, but hard to go wrong with this kind of style.

Eh

I'm not a country music person but I enjoyed this album. It's also quite short (only ~34 minutes).

wowee, this is pretty lame. What is Willie doing here? These songs are so sleepy. The lack of song structure doesn't subvert anything, it just makes it hard to get into.

This was his 18th album...in 1975. Damn.

I'm really not a country music person but this the kind of country I'll happily listen to. I like that the whole album is a story, Nelson's got a distinct and capable voice, and the songs are simple and performed well. Really nothing to complain about here. Good stuff.

I love the sparse instrumentation and the gentle sound of this album. He has a very pleasant voice that blends wonderfully with his understated guitar playing. The pacing is also perfect, which sure is important for a concept album. I'm generally not a huge fan of concept albums, and country isn't my favorite genre either. Red Headed Stranger is nonetheless beautiful, cohesive, and captivating all the way through. I'm quite sure this album will grow on me. :)

Pretty hard no, didn't realize how country he was

Willie Nelson storytelling.

Some nice storytelling, some of the better country i've heard, though i can't say i've heard that much. It's just solid.

A great story-telling album. Switches moods around a lot from somber to raucous fun. Cool to have the recurring theme/sound that it weaves in and out of on a continuous journey through the album. Overall, it’s very immersive and flies by.

Don't really like country but this was good

Country can be a hard genre to grasp. Red Headed Stranger feels not only like a primer for the genre, but also its True North. This is a dense record, and because it’s a first-time listen for me, I’m not sure if I’ve been fully able to digest it. Country is not my genre – I know the broad strokes, but I mostly stick to more contemporary female singers that play with pop, aka Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, The Chicks, Shania, etc. – but I really did love Nelson’s Stardust on face value, so I was really excited for this. But unlike Stardust, whose pop tunes hit you straight on the nose, Red Headed Stranger is a complex slow-burn. Now, I’m sure if I had a more refined palette for country, the nuances of this album would feel obvious, but I’d also argue that this is the album that taught most modern country fans to appreciate those nuances, or so it seems. Nelson’s guitar playing specifically feels so detailed, so subtle but with this nonchalant confidence. Ironically, it reminds me a lot of Neil Young’s playing. This album is also varied, with a lot of different styles of “country,” from barn-burners to love songs and everything in between. It may have been against the textbook upon release, but it feels textbook now, although much more nonchalant than a Zach Bryan or Sturgill Simpson. Still, with all that praise aside, I’m not sure if I am fully in love with this album. It’s great, don’t get me wrong, and I do like it, but it doesn’t stick with me like other albums have, even other country albums. Some of that is just me needing a lot more time with it – it’s an album that I 100% need to revisit as I continue on with this project, because I’m sure I’ll enjoy it more with time. That said, I think Side B was much more my speed than Side A; I’m not sure if that’s because the theatrical story-telling of Side A with its reprises and traditionalism threw me off, or if I just like Nelson’s voice when he’s doing more ballads and/or rock-oriented jams, but there’s an immediacy to Side B that stands out from the concept record context. What I will say is that this album is a bit of a code-breaker, because it’s using the “language” of country music to make commentary on the genre, old and new. So now, any time I have “issues” comprehending a country album, I think this will be the one I revisit to help me see what’s going on more clearly. Because of that, I anticipate that I’ll revisit this a lot in the future, and I now understand why it’s held in such high esteem. That said, while very good, it doesn’t transcend the way I wanted it to, at least not after a couple listens. Maybe more Nelson beyond this challenge will make me regret giving it a 4/5, but I also can’t say I love this fully, just like it and appreciate it.

Una verga el country

What on earth, a country album that I actually liked?! Either there's something intrinsically different about this one or this lists endless barrage of country music has finally broken me. Second half petered out a bit but the first half was pretty stellar.

It was a good country album. I got a little bored, but it wasn't a long record

A palatable county album. I love Nelson's voice for this type of music, so that was the standout for me.

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

One of the albums I've heard previously that you wouldn't expect looking at the rest of my taste. Now a full album listen isn't really my cup of tea, and I respect it more than I enjoy it for the most part. However, Can I Sleep In Your Arms is a showstopper of a track. One of the most tender guitar parts I've ever heard, a powerful vocal and lyrical performance from Willie himself, and some stunning harmonica work make this track a healthy contender for one of the all time greats. If you try any song from this album, make sure it's that. Okay overall, but that beautiful ballad brings it up a few notches for sure.

Short and sweet, thank you William. Favourites: time of the preacher theme, red headed stranger, down yonder, remember me. Calming and chill. 3/5

A little boring to be honest. After a long hiatus I am back on the album generator grind, and in place of STV 205 which I have now dropped, I will be dedicating 3 hours a week minimum to catching up. Anyways I guess this one mostly just some nice soothing background sound while I fail at understanding AVL trees. There are some nice melodies though, and this could have been much worse. Personal favourite tracks were Time of the Preacher, I Couldn't Believe It Was True, Red Headed Stranger, Can I Sleep in Your Arms, and Hands on the Wheel. Loved the interlude (Down Yonder) as well, made me very happy. 3

This is basically the pinnacle of country music and it's pretty much the same song over and over again. It does sound very authentic, Willie has the perfect voice for country music. I wouldn't mind hearing this in some bar in Southern USA. But outside the right setting it's not worth listening to. Hopefully this signals the end of country music on this list.

Definitely one of the better country albums. A bit repetitive. I prefer my country music really depressing BUT varied. 3 stars.

100% the best country album we've had so far, without a doubt. Quite enjoyed it really, but not the kinda thing I would usually listen to. 3 is fair I think

I understand why people like country now. This was a delight. Everything from the vocalist's soothing voice, through the storytelling, to the stripped-back production... I'll be listening to this album again for sure. 4.5 stars. I guess I'm a country fan now!(old country at least)

real shit

Willie (L)

Willie is pleasant but not compelling

Nice, but not adding to my collection

Willie

Nirvana is definitely not my vibe

I am conflicted on this one, on the one hand it does a very good job at what it does. On the other hand that is not something I was super into.

A bit slow for me

I expected more from this album since I had heard such high regard for it. There really isn’t anything special that separated Willie from anyone else in country at the time. It’s enjoyable. Just middle of the pack. Choice cut: Time of the Preacher

Okay. Didn’t hurt my ears.

I never knew it, but I kinda like Willie Nelson, I'll have to try some more albums of his. Will I listen to again: 75%

Decent

A country classic.

What a delightful little album.

Relatively quick listen, as this is not a lengthy album. Enjoyed having this in the background. Willie Nelson is a legend, and I found his songs enjoyable, as they were chill.

It was easy listening, but so easy that I forgot I was listening.

While this is not something I have listened to preciously and may not hear again, I found it to be oddly calming and relaxed. Despite what I have already said, I think I would be willing to find time in the future to listen again and come to appreciate onenof Willie Nelson's early recordings.

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

Willie has such an earnest, weathered-knowingness quality to his voice that you can easily believe whatever he is singing. He's feeling it if it's not something that he's experienced. I loved the spare production, the flow of the songs and the relaxed vibe. It's a Willie classic!

three things that i love about this album on first listen: 1) willie nelson's voice is so soothing. 2) this album is so chill and calming. 3) this album is 'short and sweet: the album' - 15 tracks and the album isn't even 35 minutes long. i will say, i am not very well versed in the greater world of country music, only where it seems to touch my other musical interests. i'm not sure what i expected out of this album, but i know it wasn't this. i had no idea this was even a concept album with a story. this is one of the albums i've listened to in this project where i was kind of floored? this is the good stuff, man.

I’ve always liked Willie Nelson but never taken the time to listen to a full album. This was great, everything I’d want from a country album really

nudy

"Red Headed Stranger" by Willie Nelson is a landmark country album that showcases Nelson's storytelling prowess and unique musical style. Released in 1975, the album is known for its sparse arrangements, heartfelt lyrics, and Nelson's distinctive vocals and guitar work. The album's concept follows the story of a preacher on the run after killing his wife and her lover, with songs blending seamlessly into one another to create a cohesive narrative. Standout tracks like "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and the title track have become classics in the country music canon. While "Red Headed Stranger" is revered for its innovative approach to country music, some listeners may find its minimalist production and unconventional structure challenging. Overall, "Red Headed Stranger" is a bold and influential album that deserves recognition, earning it a solid 3 out of 5.

I really liked this despite the genre. It also reminded me that I really have to re-watch (the BBC series) Edge of Darkness. (In that series Time of the Preacher is referenced by one of the main characters).

Really dig this one. I like how the songs just roll together.

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

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

Gingers triumphing over blondes, we love to see it😂 Listened at the start of my trip home from Lucas', so the song about sleeping \"all alone\" was a bit depressing. But the train journeys are before sundown these days and I saw plenty of rabbits from the window seat :)) similarly, the album ended on a hopeful note. I enjoyed it, but I mainly think it's because I'm being charmed by this guy lol. He's adorable

So good.

Gear: Grado Hemp Artwork: Old West Wanted-Poster mit Bordüre Mix: bewusst reduziert und perfekt eingefangen 👌 Musik: melancholischer Mundharmonika-Country 🤷‍♂️ Wertung: 🧔(🧔)/5

first listen cool man sings stories at a campfire

Very pleasant to listen to, I’m quite happy to listen to country music so I enjoyed this a reasonable amount!

Nice chill country vibes. The storytelling is great.

3.5 really

Yeah this worked for me, very chilled, evocative music. Maybe I should be a cowboy.

#207. I don't think I've ever listened to Willie Nelson's music before, but it turns out it was just about exactly what I had expected, unfortunately. Just uninteresting old timey country that never really builds to anything, really. 2/5: meh Song added to playlist: Red Headed Stranger I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

2.5/3 - country around the campfire

chill

Willie is a vibe

Okay.

The sound track from olde Western Bar scenes.

Muy bonita música para sentirse en una taberna cowboy.

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

Solid record, solid voice ,solid writing and storytelling and wonderful instrumentation.

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

Jesus Christ Almighty - how has this dude made an epic and legendary career out of delivering this kind of country by numbers bollocks?

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

ive been listening to a lot of country the last few days so this album came a a great time. i really like the songs but its almost too subtle at points for me. im sure this will grow on me a lot over time but for now it gets a 7/10

Great storytelling in his song writing. Especially in the title track.

Esto ha sido por decir que el country no me interesaba.

Red Headed Stranger was retro in 1975, very retro, mostly in a good way. It’s stripped and raw, it feels like something out of different age. In my opinion it’s best when it’s just Nelson and his guitar, the piano has makes it feel hokey. In the end, it’s a bit to dated 5.5/10

I can’t say I had ever heard any Willie Nelson before, and I don’t usually get into country music, but this was pretty great. Will definitely listen to again.

kirkas, puhdas musiikki. Koncept album... tätä se aikoinaan oli MUSIIKKIA! tämän kaltaista musiikkia ei nykyään sallittaisi, peruttaisiin tviitterissä vai missälie... heinähangot kädessä ryminöisivät, jos töissä kävisivät... ainoa huono puoli että HUUME HÖRHÖ..... willie willie willie....... TAIVAAN TUULISSA ELELEE.... biisien pituuksista, tiedän että normit onn normeja mutta jos niin hyvä artisti niin voisi niistä normeista poistua... poistua ja tehdä yli 2 minuutin pituisia musiikinpätkiä. esimerkiksi 17 minuutin pituinen laulu olisi ollut hieno tähän konseptiin, incredibly sad tale of man possibly? Can I Sleep in Your Arms

An American classic.

yeehaw

This album was like eating popcorn. It didn’t last very long but was pleasant while it lasted, some pieces were tastier than others, and I’ll stop thinking about it as soon as I finish it (except for the one song that turned into ragtime piano).

Great classic country song writing and the best vocals. That said this one is a little repetitive and not too varied

fine but not really my style

I'm not a big country music fan, but this is an excellent album. Great vocals and theme and solid production. 4/5

🦶

Willie 🔥

Nice

Meh, all sounds the same. Without looking at the titles I wouldn't notice that there was a repeating song

once in a while I get in the mood to listen to this kind of stuff and today was that day cute album

Great album with a very different vibe then what I usually listen to. The sad-folkly country vibe is very comforting

Not a fan of Willie Nelson at all

Turns out, country music is a lot better when it doesn't have steel guitars or mouth harps. This was actually kinda tolerable. Good work, Willie.

Glad to listen to this one, which I picked put of the backlog because I’ve been listening to Cowboy Carter somewhat obsessively. Interesting echoes: the survey aspect, the occasional prominence of instrumental over vocal. And I do like Willie’s turn of phrase.

So boring

I feel conflicted about this album in a few ways after listening to it about 3 times. If you only listen to the music and don't pay attention to the lyrics, it's pretty soothing. It almost feels like an album of lullabies, and I could totally see myself drifting off to sleep with this playing in the background. On the other hand, because it is so mellow and because it has repeating motifs, my mind kept beginning to wander by the last few songs each time I listened, even though it's fairly short. Lyrically, I'm also conflicted about this, because the story is a lot darker than the music lets on. It's kind of a classic Western story trope about a man getting revenge against people who have wronged him and then wanting to move on with his life. But I did get the ick at the fact that there's quite a lot of violence against women in this. Sure, they're not innocent of wrongdoing, and he also kills the man his wife cheated with, but the whole domestic violence/man who can't control his rage thing is pretty yikes. And the horse thief being another deceitful woman (when it could've just as easily been a guy) starts to set up an uncomfortable theme. And then the dude looks for redemption in the arms of another woman, who he swears he'll never hurt like the others — not the most reliable narrator, though, is he? Granted, Willie's not necessarily condoning the guy's actions, but still. Out of context, "Blues Eyes Crying in the Rain" and "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" are beautiful ballads. But in the context of the wider story, they're kind of creepy. Pros: The music is pretty (if a little boring) and Willie's voice sounds great. It's a nice, stripped-down album, and I think the record company was very wrong in thinking it needed more production to be viable. Cons: The best songs on the album work better outside of the context of the album's full narrative, which is kind of creepy. I'll give it a 4, but it's probably more of a 3.5

I'm not really into country music

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

All around classic.

A country master work

Good

Somber, minimal, and moving. Very smooth and chill record to listen to with moving writing and tone. Solid record.

Stoned & sleepy

A bit boring

Some ok country songs

This was great. I'm not American so country music isn't as pervasive, but I'd still heard if Willie. I've already had some country on this list that I hated so wasn't sure going in but my fears were soon calmed. There is a real warmth to this that I can't quantify, it was a delight to listen to. The story telling was great, the voice was very comforting and the music was surprisingly diverse.

It’s Willie, for fuck’s sake

Yeah an good ol classic !

Not my favourite but a few enjoyable songs

It sounds and feel like one long song and that's not a bad thing. First listen and instantly recognized it as a classic. Won't be for everybody, but it's a beautiful piece of work.

Classic folk/country. Nice to have in background. - Blue eyes crying has a spiritual flavor. - O'er the Waves is familiar—like a romcom scene in Europe— but didn't know the title. Very short. - Can I Sleep in Your Arms also country-gospel flavor - Hands on the Wheel classic with some harmonica - Hello Walls sounds old-fashioned/Elvis-like

Not for me

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

I don’t think I’ve listened to a Willie Nelson record on purpose but here we go. Admittedly I am not a country fan but I always appreciate good songwriting. First few tracks didn’t do much for me but I did like the storytelling element. I feel like that’s his trademark. I can picture a campfire with some bros listening to this while getting shitcanned on natty lite but they’re having a great time so it’s nice. The title track has a cool waltz feel to it, which I’ve always been a fan of. Something you can sway to! And who doesn’t love an outlaw story anyway. I think it’s about someone stealing a horse and a yellow haired lady? Very cool little ditty even if murder is a thing. The rest of the record has a few moments of more upbeat stuff, like in Down Yonder, but the man is a legend for a reason. Not my favorite kind of chill but definitely deserves a spot in this list.

Pretty chill. Apparently I didn't keep notes on this, so, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty chill.

I have been dreading the day I receive an actual country album. Was 100% ready to write this off as a one star review, but once again Willie surprises me. His vocal delivery is tailor fit to the music he composes; together displaying an undeniable talent. I especially responded to the stripped down feel here. No studio tricks, no textured layers. Something about this style speaks to honesty. This isn’t something I’ll find myself listening often, but I’m quite glad I was introduced to it.

Great themes and gentle soothing tunes

Lonesome ditties evocative of driving a pickup truck across a plain somewhere. Not really my vibe but perfectly pleasant and I do respect the craft. Sorry for the low score, I'm feeling harsh and I don't anticipate this being a record I'll come back to.

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

Willie’s a gem. I never really listened to him, I mean we’ve all heard him now and then, but I’ve never listened to an album. I was expecting a little more hard-core Hank Williams old-school country with all the weeping pedal-steel guitar. Surprisingly sparse really, just Willie and Trigger banging out the tunes for the most part. He has has a friendly, relaxing voice.

Holy fuck I didn't know Willie Nelson can sing. Never listened to a single song of his before. At first, I thought this was just an above standard country album that nicely blends into the background. But then halfway through I realized that this is an above standard CONCEPT country album that deserves my full attention. So I listened to half of the songs again to get the full story. Quite the unoriginal tale of a cowboy shooting his cheating wife and then finding true love again, but beautifully told. Musically not my favorite genre, but I get why it made the list.