Search - Willie Nelson :: Tougher Than Leather

Not the best, but not bad.

05/09/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My exposure to Willie Nelson began when I was old enough to listen to the music my parents played while I played in my crib. I grew up with Willie. The first record I purchased was "The Redheaded Stranger," which I consider to be one of the best albums that Willie has ever done. And although "Tougher Than Leather" may not be as good as "Phases & Stages" or some of the other works of the master, it is nonetheless an example of the talent of Willie Nelson. This is a must buy album for any true Willie Nelson fan. This is good Willie - THERE IS NO BAD WILLIE!"

Not an essential Willie Nelson album. But a good album.

ty7777 | USA | 12/12/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Another one of Willie's concept albums. This falls under the category of enjoyable for fans. Non-fans it is a toss up. 31 minutes long. All but two are originals. Beer Barrel polka is an instr. arranged by his sister Bobbie Nelson. Instrumentation on alot of the tracks is minimal. Songs are interesting as well as how they tie together. The album is more low key then upbeat throughout. Though A little old fashioned Karma is upbeat and enjoyable it is in the minority. I would say this album is only for collector's of Willie's work and big fans. Otherwise his album from a year before this, Always On My Mind is a little bit more towards pop tastes and Red Headed Stranger though a special and unique record with little pop sensibility is where his genius for creating a concept album really shines. Those are maybe better choices than this one. Basically, I am with the other reviews-Enjoyable,not essential. Good, not great. One song here from the Bob Wills catalogue by the way."

Jewels among the outtakes

ty7777 | 08/17/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Absolutely right! This is not Willie's best by any stretch of the imagination, but there are songs that stay with you for years here. When this record came out, I worked at Peaches Records in Detroit where we were obligated to play it, much to the New Wave crowd's dismay. This was the first Willie Nelson record I ever heard, and though it was another ten years before I was to actually purchase a Willie album, refrains from Tougher Than Leather have stayed in my mind right up until this year, when I bought it on CD. Songs like Summer of Roses, Changing Skies and My Love for the Rose more than make up for the weaker songs like I Am the Forest and Nobody Slides--not that these are BAD SONGS (in fact, they'd be high points in any other singer's career), but they're not up to Willie at his best. But then again, what is? Still, the handful of A-material songs on this one is more than worth the ten bucks you'll pay for it."