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.

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.