Customer Reviews

Troublemaker

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The listing here doesn't make it real clear, so let me confirm: This is a CD reissue of Willie's classic THE TROUBLEMAKER, a collection of gospel songs. This was originally recorded at the same time as Shotgun Willie and Phases and Stages, and produced by Atlantic Records honcho Arif Mardin. When Atlantic dropped Willie, he took the masters with him, and CBS released this disk after RED HEADED STRANGER and SOUND IN YOUR MIND became hits.

This is a beautiful CD, with Willie doing marvelous interpretation of gospel classics. Doug Sahm provides tasty fiddle breaks, and Sahm, Sammi Smith and Larry Gatlin provide excellent harmony vocals. The songs are: Uncloudy Day [which is my favorite here]; When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder; Whispering Hope; There is a Fountain; Will the Circle Be Unbroken; The Troublemaker; In the Garden; Where the Soul Never Dies; Sweet Bye & Bye; Shall We Gather; Precious Memories.

I don't know why CBS has chosen to give this wonderful CD such a low-visibility -- and bargain-priced -- reissue. I've been looking for this one for years and am pleased to have stumbled upon it here. I can heartily recommend it to you!

If you know about Willie's troubled life, especially in the mid '70's when this album was recorded, you can appreciate the irony of his recording of a gospel album

With his trademark guitar riffs, this album is pure Willie. The title track, "Troublemaker", is especially poignant in light of the recent Gulf War II. The rest of the songs are all traditional gospel sing-alongs that will have you toe tapping and clapping. His version of "Will the Circle be Unbroken" has different lyrics than Mother Maybelle Carter's better known version but Willie's sounds to be the more traditional.

I highly recommend this CD.

I have searched for years for Lee Hazelwood's version of "The Troublemaker." I did not know until today that Willie Nelson actually wrote it. I was very disappointed to find that, even Amazon.com, does not have a sample of the cut to listen to. I rated it 5 stars because I do not want to prejudice other buyers.

Willie has recorded many concept albums in his time and this, first released in 1976 but recorded around 1973 or thereabouts, is one of the earliest. The music is kept simple, but it is interesting to note that the four backup singers include Sammi Smith and Larry Gatlin. Larry also plays guitar.

Several of the songs here are gospel standards, including Whispering hope, Will the circle be unbroken, In the garden, Sweet bye and bye and Precious memories.

Uncloudy day, an upbeat toe-tapping song, gets the set off to a great start. The title track is about Jesus, regarded as a troublemaker by some of his contemporaries.

If you know anything about Willie's music, you know what to expect. You will get exactly what you expect.

This is a great gospel album. I found an old cassette at an auction in New york and listened to it for years. It has the great old time hymns which are classic. I was very happy to see it released on CD.

If you like Willie Nelson, you will like Troublemaker.

If you like gospel-the kind that makes you recall your days as a youth sitting in the church pew with your brothers and sisters- you will LOVE Troublemaker.

If you like both Willie AND good gospel church songs, Troublemaker is an album that you absolutely cannot let slip past you.

Impossible to have a favorite on this album. The selection of songs are straight out of the hymnal and Willie's unique voice adds something fresh to each cut.

Over the years, I have owned numerous cassette copies of this album. I think I orginally owned the 8-track. I have looked off and on for years, literally, to find a CD version. For various reasons, I was not able to locate it.

My mother and I both love this album. Thanks to Amazon.com, I just learned that my order has been shipped. I can hardly wait to experience Willie and his version of Uncloudy Day and Will the Circle Be Unbroken.

I also got one for Mom...a belated Mother's Day gift. Thanks Willie and Amazon.com!

This is my favorite Willie Nelson album of all time. The album went to number 1 on the country charts in 1976 and went "Gold." The performances of Gospel classics are great, ranging from footstompin' to moving and peaceful. "Uncloudy Day" was a big hit and is included on several of his greatest hits compilations, but all the songs on here are very good. Highly recommended for any Willie Nelson fan or fan of Gospel.