A return to country-rock after the smash success of
Stardust the year before, this is one of
Willie Nelson's best albums. Admittedly, it doesn't withstand comparisons to
Shotgun Willie or any of his earlier triumphs, but it holds up as one of his most enjoyable second-stringers. "Me and Bobby McGee" is given an exciting, thunderous performance and "Why Me" is terrific, but perhaps more memorable are
Nelson's renditions of lesser-known
Kristofferson treasures, such as the loping "The Pilgrim, Chapter 33" and the beautiful "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends." As he demonstrated from the beginning,
Nelson had one of the best interpretive gifts of any singer, and this album only strengthened that reputation. ~ Jim Smith