All 143 Willie Nelson Albums, Ranked

Thanks for the head's up, Thom. 

And nice of Texas Monthly to offer free access for the rest of the year. Now if they could just raise Molly Ivins from the dead.....  

143?!!

Holy crap!  143?

Thanks for the fun link Thom

And Then I Wrote is Willie’s #1 album (by quite a long shot) in my opinion. It not only squarely laid the foundation for his entire career, it  also breathed new hits into the careers of Ray Price, Faron Young, and Patsy Cline. Over half of the songs on this album are still in regular rotation in Willie’s quite rigid setlists.

I would probably put Shotgun Willie at #2, as it really highlighted a definitive the turning point in willie’s career that sparked an entire movement. Not to mention the lineup of performers who contributed here. This was a new venture with a new recording company (Willie had just left RCA for Atlantic). It represents Willie’s shunning of Nashville by relocation to Austin Texas, and was the advent of the Family Band, which has become a 50 year touring staple. 

Stranger and Phases followed, but shotgun was the catalyst and is far more important from a musical as well as historical perspective. Phases and Stages only had one hit penned by willie (time of the preacher). A great album, and definitely top ten, but I fail to see anything like the impact of its predecessor.

A lot of material in the second half of that list that should be in the top 40 or so, in my opinion, and vice versa. But I’m no expert, I only own about 60 out of 143.

Seven writers contributed here

Definitely agree that Danny Davis collab earned its #143 ranking.

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thanks for the write up bss.

glad i've seen him a few times in just the last couple of years.

Course man. Every time I see Willie I know there is hope for America. 

heaviest in my rotation:

willie and fam live

countryman

waylon and willie

honeysuckle rose

shotgun Willie

and then I wrote

the great divide

willie sings kris

stranger

city of New Orleans

wanted!

the sound in your mind

I wish more Willie fans paid attention to the words a little closer.

Thanks for sharing, Thom.  I'm largely unfamiliar with his material but have always had respect for the man and what he represents.  I've bookmarked for later.

Shotgun Willie is a great record.

One of the funniest things I've heard in all my years of record dealing is that there are no bad albums from Willie, Waylon or Merle when they aren't sporting a beard.  Funny and 100% accurate.

I’m gonna watch Barbarosa tonight

I really like Teatro. Great version of The Maker on there.

That’s a really good call, Andy. I sort of forgot this was a Daniel Lanois album. I usually overlook it because it’s mostly a compilation but I’m gonna listen to this one today.