This was Kristofferson’s second album, following what was originally released as Kristofferson but later retitled Me and Bobby McGee to capitalize on the hit version released on Janis Joplin’s Pearl. This was a more commercially successful release, including one of my favorite Kristofferson songs “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again).”

It’s mostly songs written by Kristofferson, with “Good Christian Soldier” being a co-write between Billy Joe Shaver and Bobby Bare. Shel Silverstein co-wrote “The Taker.” Produced by Fred Foster who founded Monument Records.

Call these echoes of the going-ups and the coming-downs, walking pneumonia and run-of-the-mill madness, colored with guilt, pride, and vague sense of despaire

Kris kristofferson

My copy is the 2023 Vinyl Me Please Country reissue on black and blue galaxy vinyl, with listening notes by Andrew Winistorfer, which like most (all?) of their reissues reproduces the original artwork and the Monument label, though with a VMP catalog number (barcode number) and rim text.