VMP Magazine

Willie Nelson has been around for so long that he’s essentially transformed into country music’s own version of a tall tale. Unfortunately, that often means he gets reduced to a punchline, whether for that whole tax evasion thing or his veritable status as Nashville’s pot-smoking grandpa.

But Nelson is also one of music’s biggest living legends. Most know him for the songs he turned into some of country music’s most recognizable standards, from “Always on My Mind” to “On the Road Again.” What they may not know is that Nelson is one of the music industry’s most prolific album makers. His most recent LP, this year’s God’s Problem Child, was his 61st studio record. His first, 1962’s …And Then I Wrote, turns 55 this September.

Most people also might not be aware that Nelson is a consummate collaborator. Indeed, few stars that have burned as bright or as long as Nelson have shown his willingness to share the spotlight, whether with one-off guest spots (he was on Kacey Musgraves’ Christmas album last year) or full-fledged collaboration albums (including records with the likes of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings). Indeed, many of Nelson’s recent albums have been opportunities for him to invite a versatile series of duet partners into the studio, from Sheryl Crow to Snoop Dogg.

With five-and-a-half decades of work under his belt and literally dozens of albums to his credit, the 84-year-old Willie Nelson isn’t an artist you can get a handle on in a week, a month or even a year. If you’re looking to explore the catalog of one of country music’s pioneers, though, these 10 albums are a good place to start.

We’re featuring a limited-edition exclusive variant of Blitzen Trapper’s Furr, the band’s fourth album and masterpiece, in the Vinyl Me, Please store now. You can buy our edition here, and read on for an essay about the album to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Jason Isbell’s 2007 debut LP, Sirens of the Ditch, is being reissued this month. We’re carrying a split brown/cream vinyl version that’s limited to 300 copies in our store right now (EDIT: We sold out!). Read below to learn how the album was Isbell’s first move after leaving Drive-By Truckers, before he became the star he is now.