5 Original Album Classics

Well, it's a bit difficult to make out from the images. But these are the individual albums, their original release years and the stars awarded by the ever useful All Music Guide:1) 1976, The Troublemaker, 4.5 stars2) 1977, From Willie to Lefty, 4.5 stars3) 1978, Stardust, 5 stars4) 1979, Sings Kris Kristofferson, 4 stars5) 1983, Tougher Than Leather, 2.5 starsEven though I already had Stardust in my collection I went ahead and got this. The Troublemaker is a collection of spirituals presented country style recorded prior to the Red Headed Stranger. Columbia picked it up from Atlantic after signing Willie. I've always liked Don Henley's version of the opener 'Uncloudy Day'. Turns out it is a WN original. These songs are all nice by themselves but running on for 45 minutes may be a bit tiring.To Lefty is Willie at his absolute best and doing country. Stardust again is Willie at his absolute best, not doing country. So there are two real classic albums in here.Willie's rendition of the core Kristofferson songbook is pretty nice and Tougher Than Leather is a very obvious attempt at doing something similar to the Red Headed Stranger again, but certainly deserving more than the 2.5 stars awarded by AMG. So these two aren't that essential again.If you are only starting your WN collection, then get  Red Headed Stranger/To Lefty from Willie  as an incredibly cheap double offering and pick up  Stardust  separately. But do get  The Complete Atlantic Sessions  from one of the budget sellers as well. That, however, doesn't include the Troublemaker material but includes his all time greatest albums 'Shotgun Willie' and 'Phases and Stages' plus a bonus live set.

Great value for money. Willie Nelson at his very best.

I like all of it and my originals which are on vinyl are well past their best.

Being a relatively new Willie fan (I first saw him when he was probably 72 years old), I was eager to experience some of his extensive back catalogue. Getting five full albums for the price of one was too good an opportunity to miss. The albums are; "The Troublemaker", "From Lefty to Willie", "Stardust", "Willie Sings Kristofferson" and "Tougher Then Leather".Each CD comes in a scaled down reproduction of the original LP sleeve, which means the writing is way too small to read!

Catching up with Willie's past has made my future brighter.Great renditions of some old standards and peaceful simple versions of his own compositions.Recommended to all Country Music/ All Music fans who want a good slice of history in a wee box and for the immense value for money.that this set offers.