About six months ago I helped my wife throw a birthday party for one of her good buddies. We rented out a coffee shop and decked it out in candles. My friends and I played bad jazz music and recited worse poetry. Finally, just last week the husband of the birthday girl walked up to me and handed me a twenty-dollar gift certificate to America’s favorite record store. He bought it for me as an appreciation gift after the party, but it got lost in his messy office for six months.
I had planned on spending a long time at the store, browsing through all forty aisles and picking out the perfect CD. I started in C&W and made it as far as the N’s when I was confronted with the remastered, reissued CD of Willie Nelson’s 1975 concept masterpiece, Red Headed Stranger. Part of Columbia Records’ American Milestones series.
While I have never owned this record, I do have 1978’s Willie and Family Live on which he performs several of the tunes, and I was familiar with the concept. As best as I can figure it, the plot is as follows: A preacher’s wife runs off with another man. This breaks the preacher’s heart and causes him to loose his mind. He finds the couple in a bar and shoots them. Heartsick and blinded with rage, he crosses the west raising hell. Finally in Denver he meets another woman. They dance, spend the night together, and our hero is redeemed through love.
The remastered Red Headed Stranger sounds great. The sparse production (much of the album is just Willie and Trigger - his nylon stringed Martin guitar) translates very well to a modern stereo system. Willie’s voice has never sounded stronger or more expressive.
But the reason to buy this album is the songs. Red Headed Stranger should be listened to in one sitting. Unlike a lot of concept albums, this one works because it never becomes tedious. He returns several times to a few important musical themes. Most of the tracks are less than two minutes long. The bulk of the plotline runs from the first song, “Time of the Preacher,” through about track 12, “Can I Sleep Here in Your Arms,” and includes Willie’s first #1 song, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” The album reaches a surprisingly comic climax during the title track, #6. At that point the story kind of peters out. But even the unfocused feel of the second half does not mean it is worth skipping. “Hands on the Wheel,” the final song to contain vocals on the original album, is one of Willie’s most passionate performances. The American Milestones version includes four nifty bonus tracks, including Willie’s take on standards from Hank Williams and Bach.
.jpg?t=20120209092158)
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Love this one, especially "Blue Eyes," one of my fave country tunes of all time. Thanks and welcome!
2 - J4
My enduring impressions of Willie are: (1) his forgetting the words of the national anthem at the 1980 Democratic National Convention [Jimmy Carter's renomination], (2) his IRS troubles, (3) Farm Aid, and (4) how homely can one guy be! (Lyle Lovett, anybody?)
BUT ... this excellent review will make me consider doing something I never ever considered: buy a Willie Nelson album.
At least that would prove I still have the capacity to amaze my wife!
3 - BJ
J4 - by all means, surprise yr wife.
Just remember, when you listen to it: it's really a suite of songs, and with the exception of Blue Eyes, they don't overwhelm. Instead, they sneak up on you as the record gets better with each listen.
By the way, if you become an unlikely Willie Nelson fan, you'll have plenty of company. If I had a dime for every person that I've heard say "I don't like country music, but I dig Willie Nelson ..."
4 - Tom Johnson
J4 (and Nathan): After reading this review, I immediately went and listened to some clips of this album and my decision is the same: I need to own this. I think I'll wind up being in that category BJ mentions - I am by no means a country fan, but I do like what I've heard of Willie's (I do own and love Teatro a great deal, as well as Emmylou Harris' Red Dirt Girl and Wrecking Ball.)
5 - jeanetta
Willie Nelson is like a drug (gee wouldn't he approve of that comment). Once you hear him it alters your perception of things and just generally puts you in a great mood. And homely? I think any one who can manipulate notes in that manner is incrediably sexy all be it 70 years old, wrinkled as an elephants butt, grey haired and pig tails. I'd be his groupy any day.
6 - roscoe
Well, its july and i just missed going to another of willie's picnics in texass. dylan played this year, guess it was at DFW.
I first heard this album just when it came out. Been meaning to buy a copy for myself since then, maybe now i'll get the cd. Willie and Steve earle may be the best things to come out of texas.