Willie Nelson – Phases And Stages: Expanded Edition (2024 RSD) (Limited Edition Vinyl LP)

Willie Nelson's 1974 classic, celebrating it's 50th Anniversary in March, just prior to RSD. If Shotgun Willie played a bit like a concept album, Phases and Stages was a full-blown one, tracing the dissolution of a marriage and devoting one side to the wife's perspective, the second to the husband's... Phases and Stages is easily the equal of it's remarkable predecessor, a wonderful set of music that resonates deeply, as deeply as the words. Make no mistake - the deceptively relaxed arrangements, including the occasional strings, not only highlight Nelson's clever eclecticism, but they also heighten the emotional impact of the album. And this is a hell of an emotional record, where even each side's celebratory honky tonk numbers (the medley "Sister's Coming Home/Down at the Corner Beer Joint" and "Pick Up the Tempo," respectively) are muted by sadness. Then, there are the centerpieces: "Walkin'," where the woman decides it's time to move on; "Pretend I Never Happened," perhaps the coldest ending to a relationship ever written; "Bloody Mary Morning," a bleary-eyed morning-after tale that became a standard; "It's Not Supposed to Be That Way," a nearly unbearably melancholy account of a love gone wrong; and "Heaven and Hell," a waltz summary of the relationship. Any two of these would have formed a strong core for an album, but placed together in a narrative context, their impact is even more considerable. As a result, this is not just one of Willie Nelson's best records, but one of the great concept albums overall. 140g black vinyl.

FORMAT: Vinyl LP
DISC SIZE: 12"
CONDITION: Brand New
GENRE: Country
UPC: 603497827176
LABEL: Atlantic
NO. OF DISCS: 2
 
TRACKLIST:
A1 Phases And Stages (Theme)/Washing The Dishes 1:44
A2 Phases And Stages(Theme)/Walkin' 4:05
A3 Pretend I Never Happened 3:00
A4 Sister's Coming Home/Down At The Corner Beer Joint 1:46
A5 (How Will I Know) I'm Falling In Love Again 3:30
B1 Bloody Mary Morning 2:51
B2 Phases And Stages (Theme)/No Love Around 2:21
B3 I Still Can't Believe You're Gone 4:15
B4 It's Not Supposed To Be That Way 3:30
B5 Heaven And Hell 1:53
B6 Phases And Stages (Theme)/Pick Up The Tempo/Phases And Stages (Theme) 3:26
C1 Phases And Stages (Theme)/Washing The Dishes (Alternate Version) 2:41
C2 Sister's Coming Home/Down At The Corner Beer Joint (Alternate Version) 3:58
C3 Phases And Stages (Theme)/(How Will I Know) I'm Falling In Love Again (Alternate Version) 4:00
C4 Bloody Mary Morning (Alternate Version) 3:40
C5 No Love Around (Alternate Version) 1:54
D1 I Still Can't Believe You're Gone (Alternate Version) 4:15
D2 It's Not Supposed To Be That Way (Alternate Version) 3:16
D3 Heaven And Hell (Alternate Version/Duet Vocal) 2:59
D4 Phases And Stages (Theme)/Pick Up The Tempo 3:10
D5 Phases And Stages (Theme) (Alternate Version) 0:40