Complete Atlantic Sessions [Original recording remastered]

Willie Nelson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 20, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B000FBG06W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,821 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The legendary career of Texas-born music icon Willie Nelson has spanned six decades and stands as one of contemporary music’s greatest legacies. Nelson first rose to fame as a Nashville-based songwriter, penning many now timeless standards including "Crazy," a top hit for Patsy Cline. Feeling constrained by the Nashville music establishment, Willie relocated to Austin in the early ‘70s, where the melding of rock and country audiences made a huge impression on him. He began fusing folk and roots rock with a rebellious "outlaw" country flavor, inventing an authentic, stripped-down sound that remains vastly influential to this day. At this pivotal point in his artistic evolution, Nelson signed to Atlantic Records, delivering two signature albums revered as all-time masterpieces of his extensive repertoire, Shotgun Willie and Phases And Stages. This historic set presents remastered and expanded editions of these landmark classics, along with the also-expanded Live At The Texas Opry House, presented as a stand-alone disc for the first time.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A 'Must-Have' Collection, July 12, 2006

By 

Thomas D. Ryan "American Hit Network" (New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Complete Atlantic Sessions (Audio CD)

Now here is a box set that is worth checking out. Willie Nelson's tenure at Atlantic Records was rather short-lived, lasting only two albums, but it was a crucial time in his career and it bridged the gap between his early RCA sides and the `superstar' product of his association with Columbia Records. As the story goes, Atlantic's Jerry Wexler stumbled upon Willie at a party, at a time when Willie was without a label and Atlantic was looking to branch out into country music. With his long hair and his Austin, Texas affiliations, Willie was not a `conventional' (read `Nashville') country artist, so this box set more or less documents the birth of country music's `outlaw' phase. It also documents a time when country music was starting to branch out toward the mainstream, and Willie's style was best suited for this purpose.
"Shotgun Willie" is the first album of this set, and it is a sporadic effort that contains more than its share of highlights, including his definitive version of "Whiskey River" (infinitely better than the dozens of live versions that are available) and the equally definitive interpretation of Leon Russell's "Song for You." "Slow Down Old World" and "She's Not For You" represent some of the best orchestrated, tear-jerking country music you'll ever hear, while the title track and "Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)" keep things loose and playful.
The masterpiece of this box set, though, is Willie's first theme album (before Columbia's "Red Headed Stranger"), entitled "Phases and Stages." The concept is simple, but brutally direct and powerful, documenting a breakup from the woman's perspective on `side one', followed by the male counterpoint on `side two'. The premise fits the stereotype of cheatin', drinkin' and cryin' songs, but Willie is a powerful songwriter and the self-indulgent sadness of the protagonists is palpable, especially on "Pretend I Never Happened" and "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone." "Bloody Mary Morning" is one of Nelson's best songs, and it is a brilliant starting point to capture the male perspective before the cold, hard truth sets in. Any fan of Country music will immediately recognize "Phases and Stages" as a timeless classic.
The surprise of this set, though (and a good reason to buy it even if you already own both of the others), is the previously unavailable live album. Recorded on Willie's home turf in Austin, Texas, it captures him performing with his most sympathetic backup musicians, including Paul English on drums (the subject of Nelson's "Me and Paul") and sister Bobby Nelson on piano. Of all the live Willie Nelson albums that are available, this is the best of the lot, capturing Willie at the height of his powers as a songwriter and as a performer. He would soon go on to become a household name, but the three CD's in this box set do the best job of capturing the reasons for his subsequent success. A Tom Ryan

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Atlantic Sessions by Willie Nelson, July 25, 2006

By 

Gordon Thorn (Austin, Tx USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Complete Atlantic Sessions (Audio CD)

Let me begin by saying that I have just ordered this CD set so I have not listened to these CD's specifically. However, I purchased the record albums of "Phases and Stages" and "Shotgun Willie" just before I attended his 4th of July Picnic at Dripping Springs,Tx. It was either in '72 or '73, my memory isn't that good any more. I bought the Red Headed Stranger album as soon as it came on the radio and I was sitting at a table just in front of the stage in the old, original Texas Opry House in Austin when that session was recorded. If you listen real close you can hear me yelling during the begining of one of my special favorite songs. So I'm real familiar with the recordings on these CD's and they are some of my favorites.

After over 30 years of playing, my albums are worn out so I am especially happy Atlantic published them on CD's.

In summary, these CD's are a must for every Willie fan and anyone who likes good country music. These CD's are unusual in that each of the three albums I have tell a story. I'm sure there must be a word that describes such albums, but I'm just a fan, not in the music business.

Buy'em, you'll like'em.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The live CD is awesome, July 3, 2006

By 

James D. Mccracken (Newark, DE United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Complete Atlantic Sessions (Audio CD)

The orginial CD's are great and don't need to be reviewed. The bonus disc "Live at the Opry" is just a ray of sunshine. The music is great the energy is fabulous. If you own the originial CD's buy this set for the bonus disc.