Continuing my look at the albums of 1975…
Red Headed Stranger was Willie Nelson’s 18th studio album, his first to reach #1 on the Country chart, and his first to reach platinum status (it eventually went 2X platinum). It’s also the first of Nelson’s 99 (!) studio albums I’ve listened to from start to finish.
The barebones acoustic release is a concept album about a man who kills his wife and her lover then goes on the run. He kills again (as depicted in today’s SOTD) before falling in love and settling down, a redeemed man.
The record studio objected to the release, not because of the subject matter (which was typical of outlaw country music) but because the arrangements were so sparse. The label said the recording sounded more like a demo than a finished album. Nelson, however, had the final say and he insisted on releasing the album as is.
That decision clearly paid off, as this album became one of Nelson’s most beloved and kickstarted his career commercially. He took on the moniker of the “red headed stranger” and even played the title role a decade later in a movie based on the album.
Willie Nelson is a towering musical figure whose work is largely unknown to me. I can’t even begin to envision what a deep dive of would look like of a career that spans 99 studio albums, but I’m happy to have discovered this odd little gem.
The red-headed stranger from Blue Rock, Montana
Rode into town one day
And under his knees was a raging black stallion
And walking behind was a bay
The red-headed stranger had eyes like thunder
And his lips, they were sad and tight
His little lost love lay asleep on the hillside
And his heart was heavy as night
[Chorus]
Don’t cross him, don’t boss him
He’s wild in his sorrow
He’s riding and hiding his pain
Don’t fight him, don’t spite him
Just wait ’til tomorrow
Maybe he’ll ride on again
[Verse 2]
A yellow-haired lady leaned out of her window
And watched as he passed her way
She drew back in fear at the sight of the stallion
But cast greedy eyes on the bay
But how could she know that this dancing bay pony
Meant more to him than life?
For this was the horse that his little lost darling
Had ridden when she was his wife
[Chorus]
Don’t cross him, don’t boss him
He’s wild in his sorrow
He’s riding and hiding his pain
Don’t fight him, don’t spite him
Just wait till tomorrow
Maybe he’ll ride on again
[Verse 3]
The yellow-haired lady came down to the tavern
And looked up the stranger there
He bought her a drink and he gave her some money
He just didn’t seem to care
She followed him out as he saddled his stallion
And laughed as she grabbed at the bay
He shot her so quick, they had no time to warn her
She never heard anyone say
[Chorus]
“Don’t cross him, don’t boss him
“He’s wild in his sorrow
“He’s riding and hiding his pain
“Don’t fight him, don’t spite him
“Just wait ’til tomorrow
“Maybe he’ll ride on again”
[Verse 4]
The yellow-haired lady was buried at sunset
The stranger went free, of course
For you can’t hang a man for killing a woman
Who’s trying to steal your horse
This is the tale of the red headed stranger
And if he should pass your way
Stay out of the path of the raging black stallion
And don’t lay a hand on the bay
[Chorus]
Don’t cross him, don’t boss him
He’s wild in his sorrow
He’s riding and hiding his pain
Don’t fight him, don’t spite him
Just wait till tomorrow
Maybe he’ll ride on again
Meet Me In Montauk 
Willie Nelson always seemed like an old soul to me, even when he was young.
He recently turned 90 years old so he truly is an “old soul”