Willie Nelson Album: “Troublemaker [Bonus Tracks]”

Willie has recorded many concept albums in his time and this, first released in 1976 but recorded around 1973 or thereabouts, is one of the earliest. The music is kept simple, but it is interesting to note that the four backup singers include Sammi Smith and Larry Gatlin. Larry also plays guitar.

Several of the songs here are gospel standards, including Whispering hope, Will the circle be unbroken, In the garden, Sweet bye and bye and Precious memories.

Uncloudy day, an upbeat toe-tapping song, gets the set off to a great start. The title track is about Jesus, regarded as a troublemaker by some of his contemporaries.

This re-mastered edition also includes some bonus tracks, which were all recorded live.

If you know anything about Willie's music, you know what to expect. You will get exactly what you expect.

I can't say anything other than excellent. The spirituals are so well done, in the Willie Nelson style. Just plain great gospel music, clearly played, from what I understand the harmonica was overlayed onto the original sound track. With or without the Nelson-harmonica the music is just fabulous. Very relaxing and invigorating at the same time. I am sure everyone finds them selves singing to the music in the car or while doing chores at home.

Still as moving today as it was when it was released more than 30 years ago, Willie sings and plays in an earnest and heartfelt way throughout the album. I heard hints of the guitar playing here that would later emerge on the Red Headed Stranger, and that makes this even more exciting. You get the chance to hear what Willie was thinking and playing about just prior to the RHS. Highly recommended.

As a new fan of Willie Nelson, I was surprised to come across this album and its great reviews on Amazon. I had no idea it even existed. Most of Willie's older material, and even his new recordings, tends to get buried under the avalanche of the more polished, commercial pop that passes for country these days.

On Troublemaker, Nelson performs the classic gospel tunes with energy and obvious enjoyment, which makes for a very fun listening experience. Also, the sound is very well done; it's much cleaner than I expected. If you like good old fashioned country and/or gospel, your money would be well spent on Troublemaker.

I owned this album several years ago and loved it, so I wanted the digital version now. I like every song on the album, but especially the title cut, The Troublemaker. A simple song about the biggest trouble maker (for the devil) ever, Jesus Christ. I believe Willie wrote the song. If you like old hymns AND country music you will love this album!