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Having always been a Willie Nelson fan, I have particularly enjoyed his early work from the 1960's and early 70's (predominantly songs he had written himself). This boxed set covers everthing from his Monument and RCA days (where Chet Atkins tried to find the right "fit" for Willie, basically with no success). Despite the lack of commercial success, this collection is an integral part of what made Willie Nelson who he is. I particularly like many of the orchestrations and the "Nashville sound" into which Atkins tried to incorporate the unique man that is Willie Nelson. In fact, I am sure that some selections, such as "Summer of Roses" and "December Day" could be released on adult easy-listening radio with some success today. I also particularly like CD with the Texas tribute songs (disc 7) and the Panther Hall concert (disc 8), as they begin to show the evolution of Willie into the star he would later become. Willie's voice is extremely strong during this time period, and these songs highlight that. A really great thing about the set is that some of the songs were never released in the U.S., so this is the first opportunity I have had to hear them. The hard-bound book is an excellent synopsis of Willie's career, and it contains a multitude of information on his early career as a dee-jay (one period being in a small town near where I grew up). Many of the photos are rare, and it is fascinating to see them chronicle the journey of the man from Abbott, Texas to become the "overnight success" that he became in 1975 with the "Red Headed Stranger" album. Willie's biggest problem with his "Nashville was the roughest" stage of life in the 60's and early 70's was that the man was way ahead of his time. After listening to this set, it is a phenomenal collection that should be in the hands of any real Willie fan. I highly recommend it.Read full review
Great set. A must for a true Willie Nelson Fan.A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++