This 16-track collection commences in 1967 with Willie Nelson first really emerging as an artist in his own right as opposed to being a Music City songwriter for hire. It contains many fine songs from the period, including"Down at the Corner Beer Joint,""Who'll Buy My Memories,""Sister's Coming Home," and"Wild Memories," to name a few. As a singer, Nelson wasn't quite the stylist he'd become at Columbia, but the music here speaks for itself: it's full of folksy down-home rhetoric, elegant and spare poetry, and utterly unforgettable melodies. This is a fine place to start for those interested in his early period.