Having broken free of RCA Nashville, Nelson spent a two album stint on Atlantic. This 1973 debut for the label covers a lot of ground, blending Nelson originals with covers (including a pair of Bob Wills titles and a pair from Leon Russell, including "A Song For You") across country, jazz and Texas storytelling tradition. As fruitfully as Nelson has conquered the charts over the years, album-styled music such as this is clearly his first love.

Highlights include the (then) newly-penned autobiographical title track, a soulful version of "Whiskey River" that greatly changes mood from the live hit single, the tearful (and perhaps ironically self-fulfilling) original "Sad Songs and Waltzes," and a family take of Bob Wills' "Say All Night (Stay a Little Longer)."

This is complex, thoughtful music with the sophistication of its country musical roots and its New York City recording location. Those familiar only with the more readily digestible hits will find a fuller philosophical and musical meal here.