Willie Nelson — Red Headed Stranger (1975)

April 24, 2007

Willie Nelson’s definitive album, Red Headed Stranger, was released in 1975 and is generally regarded as the starting point of the Outlaw movement in country music. Willie had already established himself as a successfully songwriter in Nashville, writing classics like “crazy”, “Funny How Time Slips Away”, “Night Life”, and “Hello Walls” for Patsy Cline, Ray Price, and Faron Young. When he was stifled as a singer/artist by Nashville, he did what any self-respecting and independent Texan would–grew his hair long, and recorded his music his way. The creative control he was granted resulted in one of the most influential albums ever recorded in any genre.

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The theme of the album is the story of a preacher gone wrong who kills his wife and is on the run from the law. Red Headed Stranger contains some of Willie’s signature songs, including the title track and “Time of the Preacher”. Also included was a cover of “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”, which fit in nicely with the story of the album. Red Headed Stranger also defined Nelson’s sound and look. The cover of the album brings to mind a wanted poster, and the simple arrangements consisting mostly of guitar and piano produces a sound that draws focus onto Nelson’s poetic lyrics.

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