Album cover for Red Headed Stranger (1975) Introduction Taking up Willie Nelson’s iconic 1975 album Red Headed Stranger is a prospect both daunting and straightforward. It is the landmark murder ballad concept album, and launched Nelson into superstardom. Despite thematic and stylistic … Continue reading →
The Highwaymen–Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson This is the second post this week on Steve Earle’s “The Devil’s Right Hand.” See the first post here. Today’s post reviews some of the covers of Earle’s song, and we … Continue reading →
Merle Haggard‘s 1968 hit, “Sing Me Back Home” gives us three chords and the truth about compassion and the power of music. In it, we hear forgiveness and reconciliation, but with an unwavering certainty of outcome. There is clinging to … Continue reading →
WILLIE NELSON Heroes Columbia/Legacy 88691960482 Columbia/Legacy Web Site Willie Nelson’s Web Site As on last year’s Remember Me Vol. 1 with “This Ole House,” Nelson – still prolific at 79 – can view mortality with … Continue reading →
Woody Guthrie would have been one hundred years old this Saturday, July 14, 2012. Certainly there will be a great deal of writing, speaking, and (as no doubt Woody would have wanted it) singing to celebrate his centennial. That’s as … Continue reading →
Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt After such a long post last time, I plan for this one to be long on music and short on text. If there’s a narrative to capture here, it’s that I think “Pancho and … Continue reading →
