Released in late 1976, at the height of
Willie mania,
The Troublemaker is
Willie Nelson's first all-
gospel album, but
country gospel in his hands doesn't sound like traditional
country gospel -- it's a
Willie album, through and through, performed with the freewheeling
Family as support. Consequently, it's every bit as wonderfully idiosyncratic as any of his other mid-'70s work and, in some ways, even more so, because
inspirational songs and religious material are usually not given arrangements as imaginative and free-spirited as this. Although the album can be divided pretty evenly between
ballads and rollicking up-tempo numbers, there is the inherent
jazz-like unpredictability in the performances of
Nelson and his band that makes even familiar numbers like
"Will the Circle Be Unbroken" sound spontaneous. Then again, the choice of material also helps, because that song is the most familiar here; while many of the other numbers are also
country gospel standards, they're not recorded nearly as often as
"Circle" and these song choices also give
The Troublemaker a unique, fresh feel. Another interesting thing about the album is that the music, not the message, is at the forefront, which is why it doesn't sound separate from his other mid-'70s peaks. Although it is overshadowed by them both, the sublime subtlety of the performances on
The Troublemaker make it sound of a piece with
The Red Headed Stranger and
Stardust. It may not be nearly as popular as either, but musically, it's just as satisfying and is one of the quiet highlights in
Willie's vast catalog. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
![Wrecking Ball [Deluxe Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0075597982244_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Wrecking Ball [Deluxe Edition]")
