Red Headed Stranger (Vinyl): Willie Nelson: Amazon.ca: Music

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Saddle up, and let Willie Nelson take you on a mellow 33-minute trot through the Old West. Before this sparkling concept album Nelson had been known primarily as a songwriter, having penned hits such as "Night Life," "Crazy," and "Hello Walls." On this 1975 record, he creates a lonely and plaintive mood with an almost childlike lullaby quality. "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" thrust him into the spotlight, but ballads such as "Time of the Preacher" and "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" also receive sensitive treatments . Borrowing from turn-of-the-century cowboy music, Nelson guides a 15-song journey that includes some lively instrumental stops, but mostly wanders quietly through the sage. --Marc Greilsamer

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Though this 1975 album cost Willie only $20,000 to record, it handed him the success he'd craved after years as a hit songwriter and modestly successful singer. By blending originals and vintage material, he created a timeless Western saga, one that originally left Columbia Records, who'd guaranteed him artistic control, skeptical. The label's doubts, amplified by the fact that Nelson had recorded the album in Texas with only his seven-piece touring band, evaporated after the album and two singles, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and "Remember Me," became huge hits and launched Willie into the stratosphere. This enhanced version preserves the original sequence, adding four bonus tracks. One, a brief snippet of Bach's "Minuet in G" from the 1986 Red Headed Stranger film, is inconsequential. Three more, from the 1975 sessions, are enjoyable covers of Hank Williams's "I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love with You," Bob Wills's "A Maiden's Prayer," and Pee Wee King's "Bonaparte's Retreat," footnotes to the original but welcome nonetheless. --Rich Kienzle

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Customer Reviews

28 Reviews

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4.9 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Eyewitness to History in the Making, Mar 3 2004

By

Don Barfield (Garland, Tx. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Headed Stranger (Audio CD)

Before I went to see Willie at the Longhorn ballroom in Dallas In 1975 for the 1st time I didn't know what I was in for. I felt out of place with long hair but no one was really paying attention. I still felt uncomfortable because this was the kind of place that back in the '60s if you didn't have a gun or knife they would give you one. Besides that I was only 17 using a friends ID. Before the show I had the Liberty of meeting Bill Mack (a legendary disk jockey whom wrote 'Blue' that Lee Ann Rhymes recorded). Little did I know that about a month before that great experience, in Garland TX on forest Ln. where I worked in a garage next to a recording studio that looked more like a small red wood beauty shop or something. Anyway one night while closing up I seen a customized Dodge Van pull up and some guys get out and go in, not even knowing what Willie looked like at the time and did not even know that that building was a recording studio. Well as usual I finished up and went on home. The next morning as I arrived to open the shop ,there they were loading back up into the Van and leaving. I was clueless about the situation until I read the small print on the Red Headed Stranger album about where it was recorded. If I would have had any idea I would have tried to listen in or something. But that's one of those experiences that you can only talk about and not worry about who believe's it or not. and just my luck later that year I went to Las Vegas to the Golden Nugget and he had just been there the night before.By the way the drinking age was 18 then! I was also lucky enough to see his last fourth of July concert in Waco in 1987 before I was paralyzed in a accident. Long live Willie.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest stories ever..., May 25 2004

By

Happy Family of 4 (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Headed Stranger (Audio CD)

Not that I am a huge Willie fan. I don't like everything the man has put out, with actually this album and "Spirit" being the only ones I can listen to all the way through. That said, I must say this...I have over 300 CD's in my CD collection, yet I find myself having listened to this CD probably on average, once a day, since I bought it a few months ago. The music in itself is a powerful force, but once you get drawn into it and listen to the lyrics and follow the story, it's amazing. Personally, I could have done without the 4 bonus tracks (added for the re-mastered version) though they are great also. I would rather have a CD of just the original material that was put out on "Red Headed Stranger" back in '75. This and "Spirit" (which really helped me get over heartbreak, and, what I thought was the end of my life) are my number 1 and 2 CD's in my entire 300+ disc collection. Give them both a listen.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Lost Highways, Jan 22 2004

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Earl B "ebravonz" (Auckland New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Headed Stranger (Audio CD)

I'm reviewing this after watching a terrific BBC documentary called Lost Highways. In a single episode, amongst other things, it showed Willie from his earliest performances (good grief, it's hard to believe he ever looked that young) through to today, and had footage of Gram Parsons and the rest of the Flying Burrito Brothers clowning around in their Nudie suits as well ... superb.
And yes, it reminded me how great Red Headed Stranger is. Sparse, timeless and moving. You really should own it.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best
If you buy only one Willie CD you should make it this one. Then steal some money and buy more of Willie's music and some Waylon, Cash, and David Allan Coe.

Published on Jan 16 2004 by Joe South

4.0 out of 5 stars Great
Great record, and "Hands on the Wheel" is sheer beauty. "Bonaparte's Retreat" is wonderful as well.

Published on Dec 31 2003