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On May 1st, 1975, the album Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson was released. A mix of covers and originals, it was a concept album telling the tale of a red haired preacher who is done wrong and in his grief and anger, does some wrong himself.
It is a beautiful record. Oh, yes it is. Taken as a whole or digested in bites of individual songs, it floors me. It was both a critical and chart success and cemented Willie’s status as a country music “outlaw” and, some would argue, set his trajectory for becoming a country music legend.
The big single from the album was a cover of “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain.” Written by Fred Rose, originally recorded by Roy Acuff and then by several more performers, it became forever linked to Willie Nelson. As a side note, my father, who would die in November of that same year, immediately fell in love with the song and told my mother on several occasions that it was his favorite song of all. She still sheds a tear or two when she hears it.
Jump to 2002 and Carla Bozulich, former leader of the weirdly labeled “cowpunk” band, one of my favorites, The Geraldine Fibbers and member of “holy shit I wish I could have seen one of their shows” group Ethyl Meatplow, had parted ways with her band and was planning her first solo album. She chose to do Red Headed Stranger.
She was joined by former Geraldine Fibber and collaborator on the Scarnella album, the ridiculously talented guitar player Nels Cline, member of his jazz trio The Nels Cline Singers (totally instrumental, by the way) drummer Scott Amendola, Carla’s sister Leah, and violinist/vocalist Jenny Scheinman. And oh yeah… Willie Nelson.
Bozulich had reached out to Nelson to see if he would be ok with the project. Joining her on several songs, playing guitar and some vocals, including a lovely duet with Carla on “Hands On The Wheel,” he seemed to be fine with it.
I can’t say exactly when I bought the record after its release on September 23, 2003 but I can say this; Carla Bozulich’s Red Headed Stranger moves me to my core and is one of the most cherished works of art in my silly little life.
I love Willie’s original. Immensely. Heavily. In a solid and meaningful way.
Carla’s version…
It caresses my skin with occasionally barbed fingertips. It kisses with soft and lovely lips that are covered with a sweet and euphoric poison. It gets inside my head and floats about, attaching itself to random thoughts and memories. Carla Bozulich’s voice moves me. Crushes me. Illuminates and creates shadow. Nels Cline manipulates the steel guitar to chilling effect. Country, jazz, middle eastern melodies, autoharp. A drone box. Heartache. Anger. Numbness. Longing. Hope. A certain knot of peace.
To be clear, I love this album.
You may not, dear reader. It may make you violently wretch. It may bore you into a coma. It may induce a resounding “meh.” I’m ok with that. I don’t need other people to love what I love. (but would it hurt ya to hate what I hate? C’MON) I would like you to give it a listen. Never know what will grab a hold.
A limited run of 500 LPs have been produced and are for sale via the link at the top of the play list. I am not a collector of records due to lack of space for both the records and the equipment need to play them. I also do not have the finances for said items, mainly due to my hording of other useless things. However, I am greatly tempted to order a copy.
If you are new to Carla Bozulich or have, as I, loved her for years, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me telling me what you think.
I have an album to listen to. Get out of here. Go do something.
Greg
I never liked Willy Nelson’s music but the only radio station that my father-in-law listens to in the car is “Willy’s Roadhouse”. He’s helped me learn to appreciate his great music and unique style. Thanks Chuck! Favorite songs – Seven Spanish Angels and Angel Flying Too Close to The Ground.
William DeGeest
Funny how perceptions can change. A few years before the original Red Headed Stranger came out my dad was still long-haul trucking and was in Las Vegas, had some time to kill. He went to some club to see some live music and saw this guy who he did not care for. When he got home he told my mom about it and said the guy probably wouldn’t go anywhere. And, of course, it was Willie Nelson.