The Red Headed Stranger
Encyclopedia
The Red Headed Stranger is an interpretation by Carla Bozulich
of Willie Nelson
's 1975 multi-platinum album Red Headed Stranger
, released in 2003. Nelson appears on three tracks.
] got involved and helped me realize some of my ideas, and then his group the Nels Cline Singers jumped in." Jenny Scheinman was added as one of the clarifying members during the recording session, playing violin and adding vocals. There are also backing vocals by Carla's big sister, Leah Bozulich on the song, "Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain". Carla has stated that the addition of electronic tambura drone box and the melding of Middle Eastern melodies with traditional country parts was a re-action to the US invasion of Iraq after 9/11, as the group was preparing to record. The first performance of Carla's Red Headed Stranger was in 2002 at the Los Angeles club, The Smell. Alan Sparhawk
from Low
showed up knowing the whole album by heart and proceeded to sit in on the entire fledgling performance.
Derek Richardson of SFGate called the album a masterpiece, comparing it to the original as "recast [it], song by song, in her own brooding image." Stephanie Haselman of Indie Workshop wrote "It's the moments when Bozulich, Cline and company stray farthest from the album's country roots that it's the most amazing and brilliant."
Production notes:
Carla Bozulich
Carla Bozulich is an American musician based in Los Angeles, known for her work as the lead singer, lyricist and founder of both The Geraldine Fibbers and and as a founding member of Ethyl Meatplow. Her 2006 album, Evangelista, was released by Constellation Records, that label's first release by a...
of Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
's 1975 multi-platinum album Red Headed Stranger
Red Headed Stranger
Red Headed Stranger is a 1975 album by American outlaw country singer Willie Nelson. After the wide success of his recordings with Atlantic records, Nelson signed a contract with Columbia Records, a label that gave him total creative control over his works...
, released in 2003. Nelson appears on three tracks.
History
In making her first solo album, Bozulich didn't want "the pressure of having to write all new music. "I'm a storyteller, and it's a folktale, and I felt like I wanted to bring that tradition to life. I started doing it with a drone box and guitar, but quickly Nels [ClineNels Cline
Nels Cline is an American guitarist and composer, currently the lead guitarist of alternative rock band Wilco. David Carr of the New York Times describes Cline as "one of the best guitarists in any genre."-Career:...
] got involved and helped me realize some of my ideas, and then his group the Nels Cline Singers jumped in." Jenny Scheinman was added as one of the clarifying members during the recording session, playing violin and adding vocals. There are also backing vocals by Carla's big sister, Leah Bozulich on the song, "Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain". Carla has stated that the addition of electronic tambura drone box and the melding of Middle Eastern melodies with traditional country parts was a re-action to the US invasion of Iraq after 9/11, as the group was preparing to record. The first performance of Carla's Red Headed Stranger was in 2002 at the Los Angeles club, The Smell. Alan Sparhawk
Alan Sparhawk
Alan Sparhawk is the guitarist and vocalist for American band Low.-Biography:George Alan Sparhawk was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Utah. He met Mimi Parker when he was 9, after his family moved to Minnesota. Sparhawk began writing his own compositions around the age of 13...
from Low
Low (band)
Low is an American indie rock group from Duluth, Minnesota, formed in 1993. As of 2010, the group is composed of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker , both founding members, and Steve Garrington ....
showed up knowing the whole album by heart and proceeded to sit in on the entire fledgling performance.
Reception
In his review for Allmusic music critic Thom Jurek praised the album, stating Bozulich "has really accomplished something here, taking a classic work of true Americana and making it her own, no less mythological, no less transcendent, and yet ultimately something wholly new and embracing. Bozulich understands implicitly: legend is for extrapolation, and ultimately for re-visioning in a new place and time. As downtrodden and spiritually haunting as its predecessor, this new Red Headed Stranger is vital and necessary..."Derek Richardson of SFGate called the album a masterpiece, comparing it to the original as "recast [it], song by song, in her own brooding image." Stephanie Haselman of Indie Workshop wrote "It's the moments when Bozulich, Cline and company stray farthest from the album's country roots that it's the most amazing and brilliant."
Track listing
- "Time of the Preacher" (Willie Nelson) – 2:56
- "I Couldn't Believe It Was True" (Eddy ArnoldEddy ArnoldRichard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
, Wally FowlerWally FowlerJohn Wallace Fowler , better known as Wally Fowler, was an American Southern gospel music singer, manager, and music promoter and businessman. He founded the Oak Ridge Quartet, a gospel act that eventually became the Oak Ridge Boys; and popularized all-night gospel sings...
) – 2:26 - "Medley: Time of the Preacher/Blue Rock Montana/Red Headed Stranger" (Nelson, Edith Lindeman, Carl Stutz) – 6:42
- "Blue Eyes Crying in the RainBlue Eyes Crying in the Rain"Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" is a song written by songwriter Fred Rose. Originally performed by Roy Acuff, the song was later recorded by Willie Nelson as part of his 1975 album Red Headed Stranger. Both the song and album would become iconic in country music history, and jump start Nelson's...
" (Fred RoseFred Rose (musician)Fred Rose was an American Hall of Fame songwriter and music publishing executive.-Biography:Born in Evansville, Indiana, Fred Rose started playing piano and singing as a small boy. In his teens, he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he worked in bars busking for tips, and finally vaudeville...
) – 3:35 - "Red Headed Stranger" (Lindeman, Stutz) – 10:47
- "Time of the Preacher Theme" (Nelson) – :32
- "Just as I AmJust As I Am (hymn)Just as I Am is a well-known hymn, written by Charlotte Elliott in 1835, first appearing in the Christian Remembrancer, of which Elliott became the editor in 1836. The final verse is taken from Elliott's Hours of Sorrow Cheered and Comforted ....
" (Traditional) – 5:34 - "Denver/O'er the Waves" (Nelson) – 4:06
- "Down Yonder" (L. Wolfe GilbertL. Wolfe GilbertLouis Wolfe Gilbert was a Russian-born American songwriter.-Biography:Born in Odessa, Russian Empire, Gilbert moved to the United States as a young man and eventually established himself as one of the leading songwriters on Tin Pan Alley.Gilbert began his career touring with John L...
) – 1:16 - "Can I Sleep in Your Arms?" (Hank CochranHank CochranGarland Perry "Hank" Cochran was an American country music singer and songwriter. Starting during the 1960s, Cochran was a prolific songwriter in the genre, including major hits by Patsy Cline, Ray Price, Eddy Arnold and others...
) – 4:22 - "Remember Me" (T. Texas TylerT. Texas TylerDavid Luke Myrick , known professionally as T. Texas Tyler, was an American country music singer and songwriter primarily known for his 1948 hit, "The Deck of Cards".-Biography:...
) – 6:29 - "Hands on the Wheel" (Bill Callery) – 3:59
- "Bandera" (Nelson) – 4:05
Personnel
- Carla BozulichCarla BozulichCarla Bozulich is an American musician based in Los Angeles, known for her work as the lead singer, lyricist and founder of both The Geraldine Fibbers and and as a founding member of Ethyl Meatplow. Her 2006 album, Evangelista, was released by Constellation Records, that label's first release by a...
– vocals, autoharp, guitar - Nels ClineNels ClineNels Cline is an American guitarist and composer, currently the lead guitarist of alternative rock band Wilco. David Carr of the New York Times describes Cline as "one of the best guitarists in any genre."-Career:...
– guitar, lap steel guitar - Willie NelsonWillie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
– vocals, guitar - Scott AmendolaScott AmendolaScott Amendola is an American jazz drummer from the San Francisco Bay Area. His styles include jazz, blues, groove, rock and new music. He is considered central to the Bay Area music scene....
– percussion, drums - Jenny ScheinmanJenny ScheinmanJenny Scheinman is an accomplished violinist. Renowned as a jazz violinist, she has credits with artists in many genres. She has collaborated and played with Linda Perry, Norah Jones, Nels Cline, Lou Reed, Ani Difranco, Bruce Cockburn, Aretha Franklin, Lucinda Williams, Bono, and Bill Frisell and...
– violin, vocal harmony - Leah Bozulich - vocal harmony
Production notes:
- Scott Fraser – engineer
- Larry Greenhill – engineer
- Carla Bozulich – mixing
- Biff Sanders – mixing