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Back when country music was still called country and western,
big production values, walls of sound and a conformist, homogenized sound
prevailed.
Willie Nelson had a different idea; a spare, no frills album,
just his voice and guitar plus a few friends. The unusual sound takes a few listenings
to get used to, and then the simplicity begins to blossom and grow on you.
Red Headed Stranger tells the tale of the preacher who lost his
lady love and travels the west alone. A chance encounter with a saloon girl leads to
tragedy, pain and a lesson learned.
In the mix of tunes are several gems,
like “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” the title track, and the poignant instrumentals,
“Bandara” and “Just As I Am” – both penned and arranged by Nelson. Floating throughout
the disc is the engaging piano playing of sister Bobbie Nelson (most evident in the
rollicking “Down Yonder”) and the wail of a soulful, high lonesome harmonica.
A few bonus tracks include a guitar salute to Bach, a Hank Williams
standard, and the closest thing to a country roadhouse tune, “Bonapart’s
Retreat.”
Red Headed Stranger made a tiny splash in 1975, but the
ripples can still be felt today.
