19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Willie Nelson's ‘Red Headed Stranger' Turns 50
Willie Nelson wasn't always a household name. A gifted songwriter, he penned 'Crazy,' 'Hello Walls' and 'Pretty Paper,' but all were country hits for others in the early 1960s. As a recording artist, starting in 1956, Mr. Nelson initially struggled. His first LPs, for Liberty, failed to chart, and while his second, third and fourth for RCA landed in the top 10 of Billboard's country chart, a nine-album dry spell followed until RCA dropped him in 1972. Mr. Nelson's next two for Atlantic also underperformed. Then, in 1975, he was signed to Columbia by Bruce Lundvall, who granted him complete creative control of his music.
Mr. Nelson's 18th studio album and his first for the label, 'Red Headed Stranger' was a huge success following its release 50 years ago this month. The album reached No. 1 on Billboard's country chart and peaked at No. 28 on the pop chart, selling a half-million copies by March 1976. The LP put Mr. Nelson on track to superstardom, compelled Nashville to take outlaw country seriously, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. His contract quickly became a model for outlaw country artists, and his signature relaxed approach was an inspiration.
