Nite Life: Greatest Hits and Rare Tracks, 1959-1971
Five producers are represented in this sampler of pre-superstar Willie, including RCA titan Chet Atkins. (For a more thorough overview of Nelson's RCA years, investigateThe Essential Willie Nelson.) The great appeal of this 18-song collection, however, lies in its scope. By the time he'd signed with RCA in 1964, Nelson was established as a proficient Music City songsmith whose own recordings were frustratingly underappreciated. While the likes of "Nite Life," "Hello Walls," "Funny How Time Slips Away," and "Crazy" (all represented here) may have been country hits for others (Ray Price, Faron Young, Billy Walker, and Patsy Cline, respectively), young Willie's takes reflect his remarkable talents as a vocalist. Then, too, there are the likes of the obscure "Opportunity to Cry," as dark a song as ever came out of Nashville.Nite Lifepresents a trailbreaker in the making, providing a perspective on an essential phase in Nelson's development.--Steven Stolder