The Complete Atlantic Sessions [Box] (CD - 2006)

Personnel: Willie Nelson (vocals, acoustic guitar); Waylon Jennings (guitar, background vocals); Larry Gatlin (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Red Lane (acoustic guitar); David Bromberg, Steve Burgh (electric guitar); James Clayton Day (pedal steel guitar, dobro); Johnny Gimble (mandolin, fiddle); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); The Memphis Horns (horns); Augie Meyers, Bobbie Nelson (piano); Jeff Gutcheon (electric piano, organ); Barry Beckett (keyboards); Dan Spears, David Hood (bass guitar); Roger Hawkins, Arif Mardin, Paul English, Steve Mosley (drums).

Just before becoming a paragon of "outlaw country" with the release of 1975's iconic RED-HEADED STRANGER on Columbia Records, Willie Nelson spent a brief and largely overlooked time at Atlantic, releasing only two albums. However, longtime fans now consider 1973's rock-&-roll-influenced SHOTGUN WILLIE and 1974's autobiographical concept album, PHASES AND STAGES, to be two of the Texas singer-songwriter's finest albums. THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC SESSIONS is an outstanding overview of Nelson's time with Atlantic, presenting both albums in full along with a complete 1974 show recorded at Austin's Texas Opry House for a planned live album that was scrapped when Nelson changed labels. Along with remastered sound and extensive liner notes, this three-disc set adds a total of 27 outtakes, demos, and alternate versions. minimize