Willie Nelson - Original Album Classics (2008) [5CD]

1976 - The Trublemaker
1977 - To Lefty From Willie
1978 - Stardust
1979 - Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson
1983 - Tougher Than Leather




AMG review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine:

Released in late 1976, at the height of Willie-mania, The Troublemaker is Willie Nelson's first all-gospel album, but country gospel in his hands doesn't sound like traditional country gospel – it's a Willie album, through and through, performed with the freewheeling Family as support. Consequently, it's every bit as wonderfully idiosyncratic as any of his other mid-'70s work and, in some ways, even more so, because inspirational songs and religious material are usually not given arrangements as imaginative and free-spirited as this. Although the album can be divided pretty evenly between ballads and rollicking up-tempo numbers, there is the inherent jazz-like unpredictability in the performances of Nelson and his band that makes even familiar numbers like "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" sound spontaneous. Then again, the choice of material also helps, because that song is the most familiar here; while many of the other numbers are also country gospel standards, they're not recorded nearly as often as "Circle" and these song choices also give The Troublemaker a unique, fresh feel. Another interesting thing about the album is that the music, not the message, is at the forefront, which is why it doesn't sound separate from his other mid-'70s peaks. Although it is overshadowed by them both, the sublime subtlety of the performances on The Troublemaker make it sound of a piece with The Red Headed Stranger and Stardust. It may not be nearly as popular as either, but musically, it's just as satisfying and is one of the quiet highlights in Willie's vast catalog. [The Troublemaker was reissued in a remastered, expanded edition with four bonus tracks: live versions of "The Troublemaker," "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder," and "Amazing Grace," which is the only song in the bonus tracks not featured on the album. All these bonus tracks were recorded in June 1974 at the Texas Opry House, and they're loose, lively, and terrific – nice additions to an already great album.]

Tracklist:

01 Uncloudy Day (04:39)
02 When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder (02:43)
03 Whispering Hope (05:35)
04 There Is A Fountain (03:13)
05 Will The Circle Be Unbroken (04:36)
06 The Troublemaker (01:53)
07 In The Garden (04:08)
08 Where The Soul Never Dies (04:14)
09 Sweet Bye & Bye (02:39)
10 Shall We Gather (03:07)
11 Precious Memories (07:37)
12 The Troublemaker (Live at the Texas Opry House, 1974) (bonus track) (02:14)
13 Will The Circle Be Unbroken (Live at the Texas Opry House, 1974) (bonus track) (03:23)
14 When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder (Live at the Texas Opry House, 1974) (bonus track) (05:15)
15 Amazing Grace (Live at the Texas Opry House, 1974) (bonus track) (05:49)





AMG review by Thom Jurek:

The remastered and expanded edition of To Lefty From Willie, truly one of Willie Nelson's classic recordings, is worth the cash for a number of reasons. The first is that it features as its lone bonus track an absolutely killer rendition of "If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time" from a different recording session. It's live in the studio and blows away the version of Willie and Family Live. Another is that the sound brings a warmth to this set that was missing from the shrill transfer of the set when it first appeared on CD. Finally, and most importantly, this remaster presents yet another opportunity for fans and those who may be discovering Nelson for the first time to become acquainted with two of the most kindred spirits in the history of country music. Nelson and Lefty Frizzell were made for each other. Frizzell composed songs that were meant to be sung. Their meanings came out in the grain of the singer's voice, and this was certainly true on his own recordings. Nelson, who arguably has the most recognizable male voice in the history of the music with the possible exception of George Jones, turns Frizzell's words into emotions before sending them out into a microphone. These narratives, broken love songs, memories, and ruminations on the blessings and hardships of life are living entities in Nelson's interpretations. "Mom and Dad's Waltz" has no false sentimentality. "I Love You a Thousand Ways" is a declaration without boasting. "Always Late With Your Kisses" is sung with a kind of stunned resignation and heartbroken longing that is taking place in the present in the protagonist's very being. "I Never Go Around Mirrors" is one of the most soothing honky tonk songs ever recorded – especially when the subject matter is so wrenching. Nelson takes the edge off, but as a result the song becomes even sadder. The acceptance in "That's the Way Love Goes" is one where the reward for patience is still one that can be squandered with a false move and one in which that false move can never be known. The way Nelson turns the chorus in on itself and makes it a statement of undying love irregardless of the circumstances or whatever comes next underlines the uniqueness of Frizzell's lyric. The album proper ended with Nelson performing a song by Jimmy Buffett and Jerry Jeff Walker. The reason is not clear, but it feels like Frizzell might have written it, and Nelson delivers it in the same phrasing he uses for all of the Frizzell tunes. To Lefty From Willie is known as the great lost Nelson record, and though it did get to number two, it remains one of his least well-known outings but is certainly one of the best.

Tracklist:

01 Mom And Dad's Waltz (03:03)
02 Look What Thoughts Will Do (02:44)
03 I Love You A Thousand Ways (03:01)
04 Always Late (With Your Kisses) (02:25)
05 I Want To Be With You Always (02:40)
06 She's Gone, Gone, Gone (02:31)
07 A Little Unfair (03:44)
08 I Never Go Around Mirrors (02:36)
09 That's The Way Love Goes (03:10)
10 Railroad Lady (02:41)
11 If You've Got The Money I've Got The Time (bonus track) (01:40)





AMG review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine:

At the height of outlaw country, Willie Nelson pulled off perhaps the riskiest move of the entire bunch. He set aside originals, country, and folk and recorded Stardust, a collection of pop standards produced by Booker T. Jones. Well, it's not entirely accurate to say that he put away country and folk, since these are highly idiosyncratic interpretations of "Georgia on My Mind," "All of Me," "Moonlight in Vermont," and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," blending pop, country, jazz, and folk in equal measures. It's not that Willie makes these songs his own, it's that he reimagines these songs in a way that nobody else could, and with his trusty touring band, he makes these versions indelible. It may be strange to think that this album, containing no originals from one of America's greatest songwriters, is what made him a star, and it continues to be one of his most beloved records, but it's appropriate, actually. Stardust showcases Nelson's skills as a musician and his entire aesthetic – where there is nothing separating classic American musical forms, it can all be played together – perhaps better than any other album, which is why it was a sensation upon its release and grows stronger with each passing year.

Tracklist:

01 Stardust (03:52)
02 Georgia On My Mind (04:21)
03 Blue Skies (03:35)
04 All Of Me (03:54)
05 Unchained Melody (03:51)
06 September Song (04:35)
07 On The Sunny Side Of The Street (02:36)
08 Moonlight In Vermont (03:26)
09 Don't Get Around Much Anymore (02:34)
10 Someone To Watch Over Me (04:04)
11 Scarlet Ribbons (bonus track) (04:30)
12 I Can See Clearly Now (bonus track) (04:17)





AMG review by Jim Smith:

A return to country-rock after the smash success of Stardust the year before, this is one of Willie Nelson's best albums. Admittedly, it doesn't withstand comparisons to Shotgun Willie or any of his earlier triumphs, but it holds up as one of his most enjoyable second-stringers. "Me and Bobby McGee" is given an exciting, thunderous performance and "Why Me" is terrific, but perhaps more memorable are Nelson's renditions of lesser-known Kristofferson treasures, such as the loping "The Pilgrim, Chapter 33" and the beautiful "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends." As he demonstrated from the beginning, Nelson had one of the best interpretive gifts of any singer, and this album only strengthened that reputation.

Tracklist:

01 Me And Bobby Mcgee (05:43)
02 Help Me Make It Through The Night (04:00)
03 The Pilgrim: Chapter 33 (03:36)
04 Why Me (03:55)
05 For The Good Times (05:27)
06 You Show Me Yours (And I'll Show You Mine) (03:57)
07 Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again) (05:53)
08 Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down (07:04)
09 Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends (02:49)





AMG review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine:

After years of singing standards, putting out duet albums, starring in movies, appearing on soundtracks, and taking other detours, Willie Nelson finally returned with an album of (almost) all-new material with 1983's Tougher Than Leather, his first collection of original songs since 1975's Red Headed Stranger. Like that record, Tougher Than Leather is a concept record, but unlike Stranger, it's nearly impossible to figure out what the record is about. In all likelihood, it's about a gunfighter, who may or may not be a metaphor for Willie himself, in his last days, and there are four songs with "rose" in the title, two parts of "Somewhere in Texas," and a version of "Beer Barrel Polka" thrown in for good measure. Musically, it's right in the vein of Red Headed Stranger – a little more robust, since it was cut with his touring band, which also leads to a greater variety of sounds, something that doesn't necessarily jibe with the intended intimacy of the songs, even if it's wholly welcome after the stilted Chips Moman productions. The problem with Tougher Than Leather is that the album simply doesn't hold together thematically, which wouldn't be a major problem if the songs were consistently good, but they're often too minimal to catch hold, with only the revived "Summer of Roses" (originally on Yesterday's Wine), "Little Old Fashioned Karma," and the elegiac "Nobody Slides, My Friend" standing out among the pack, and they're modest in their success as well. Consequently, Tougher Than Leather winds up being more admirable for what it tries to do than what it accomplishes. [The 2003 re-release features the bonus track "Summer of Roses/December Day."]

Tracklist:

01 My Love For The Rose (00:38)
02 Changing Skies (03:04)
03 Tougher Than Leather (04:53)
04 Little Old Fashioned Karma (03:19)
05 Somewhere In Texas (Part I) (00:55)
06 Beer Barrel Polka (02:45)
07 Summer Of Roses (03:13)
08 Somewhere In Texas (Part II) (00:55)
09 My Love For The Rose (00:38)
10 The Convict And The Rose (03:52)
11 Changing Skies (00:55)
12 I Am The Forest (04:18)
13 Nobody Slides, My Friend (01:44)
14 Summer Of Roses / December Day (bonus track) (03:42)



'w' in filename –> lossless (wavpack)
'm' in filename –> lossy (mp3)

WNOAC08c –> complete artwork

WNTT76 - The Trublemaker
WNTLFW77 - To Lefty From Willie
WNS78 - Stardust
WNSK79 - Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson
WNTTL83 - Tougher Than Leather