Willie Nelson “Red Headed Stranger” 1975. Today, April 29th, is Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday (b. 1933). Not much of a country fan myself, this LP is from my kid’s collection and still sports its original shrink wrap circa 1980, or at least The People’s Choice sticker states that year. Red Headed Stranger was Nelson’s 18th studio LP. A concept album about a fugitive on the run from the law after killing his wife and her lover, it is considered one of the best country albums ever recorded and its crossover appeal plus commercial success earned it a #28 spot on the Billboard pop charts and went to #1 on the country charts. The single “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” (written by Fred Rose, first recorded by Elton Britt in 1946, then made more popular by Roy Acuff in 1947) won a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and catapulted Nelson into widespread popularity: it went to #1 on the country charts and to #21 on the Hot 100. In 1986, Nelson, along with Morgan Fairchild, starred in the movie Red Headed Stranger based on the concept album. Robert Redford was originally slated for the lead role in the late 70’s when the script was first written but he eventually turned it down. Then in the early 80’s legendary western director Sam Penkinpah was supposed to direct, but at the time HBO was going to produce it with a low budget, so Penkinpah also declined his participation. It finally began filming in ’85 and released in ’86 but didn’t fare particularly well and had a limited release. I haven’t seen it but I’m guessing the record is better than the film.