Willie Nelson Album: “Country Willie: His Own Songs”

If you can't afford the great box set "Nashville Was the Roughest..." then this beautifully produced reissue from 1965 is the next-best stopping place to learn about Willie. Recorded in 1965, Willie apparently took over the producing helm after Chet Atkins had tried every other gimmick to bring his unique talents to success; brought in people like Jerry Kennedy and Jerry Reed for back-up, stripped down the sound and recut definitive versions of previous songs and made a masterpiece years ahead of it's time. Buy it (you can't beat the price); recordings like these are why Willie's musical reputation is where it is today.

... Fragile and beautiful-No Honky Tonk stuff. Not quite what Willie's style became but more in the vein of Ray Price and maybe even alittle Jim Reeves style in there. An understated but skillful Guitar, and voice, but so low and gentle and easy. It is simple in its make-up but so well composed that the simplicity adds the dimension to the great writing and eloquent playing. I love Honky Tonk but I really can enjoy this for what it is. It is only about 28 minutes long but if I hadn't checked that while I cross-taped it, I wouldn't even have thought of it I don't think. This is just great and full of feeling. Willie was great then and has been great always as far as I'm concerned. Please give this soothing smooth record a chance, I think anybody could appreciate this-country or not.

Willie Nelson's very first recording for R.C.A.,1965,could be considered a greatest hits compilation from the Texas native singer-songwriter, ,you can hear in these songs that Willie was ahead of his time,- the signature Nelson songs,"Night Life","Funny How Time Slips Away",no other songwriter at the time had written songs like these,that helped launch Willie to stardom on the singer's rough and rocky travelin', finally standing on the ground. Many early Nelson recordings contained a touch of blues and jazz,Nelson was highly influenced by Sinatra. - And there was ,"Darkness On The Face Of The Earth". "Hello Walls", how'd things go for you today.- When the bars close at three,"Are You Sure,(this is where you want to be)". They're working while I'm missing you,-"Healing Hands Of Time". - Willie Nelson,the poet with a way for words ,HIS OWN SONGS,great recording on Buddha.

People tend to do a double take when they see the early photo of Willie before his outlaw days. I actually have an original vinyl copy of this recording which is out of print on CD (new and used CD's from $35.00). I've only recently begun purchasing music through mp3 downloads. Making hard to get gems like this one available brings even the crustiest old analog diehards like myself to the mp3 download table.