phases stages phases stages album followed moderate success release nelson met producer party nelson sang songs unreleased album recorded single phases stages originally recorded year nelson recorded album days produced album narrates story divorce tells woman story man released march album peaked number single bloody mary morning reached number singles despite chart positions attained album singles closed country music division september background recording nelson signed recording contract division gave greater creative control previous contract nelson met party house sang songs wrote album nelson recorded album produced marked change style nelson music nelson stated recording album cleared throat single phases stages released nelson previously recorded album phases stages nashville tennessee nelson recorded songs days musicians executives criticized decision record instead nashville tennessee later stated said muscle said nashville concept album concept albums country music theme songs centers divorce narrated viewpoints woman narrated man song phases stages repeated album introducing songs album begins phases stages washing dishes woman tired caring husband emphasizing domestic followed phases stages consideration leaves husband night saying better away ain good pretend happened advises forget continue life sister corner beer joint younger sister describes woman moving home sleeping late eventually grief begins social life corner beer joint representing liberation lyrics hardwood floor jeans fit little bit final song depicts woman falling love reluctant admit fears story repeated second album begins bloody mary morning male narrator ordering drinks flight los_angeles california houston texas wife unexpectedly left reminding feel phases stages love recalls dragging sunrise night come home saturday morning come home found gone sad believe gone man realizes vast impact life leaving supposed way reflects inability accept situation grief self centered way heaven hell man expresses living wife lyric heaven hell don know final track phases stages pick tempo phases stages man reveals inability change character accepts nature consequences release reception album released march peaked number number billboard tapes single bloody mary morning peaked number follow believe gone peaked number singles despite moderate success nelson singles executives unhappy nelson style closed division september protested arguing atlantic brothers replied ahead close following division closure resigned album sold copies nelson released atlantic contract prompting executives offer nelson contract giving complete creative control works later described phases stages generally viewed having set new path audience came day audience rolling_stone wrote nelson understand woman better dozen articles magazine fact nelson fashion believable scenario tribute ability turn experience good music phases stages best work date filmmaker turn good music good cinema texas monthly described album account dissolution marriage gave extremely sensitive male female viewpoints billboard wrote nelson voice honestly portrays songs love lament critic robert_christgau wrote nelson combination soft spoken key battered matches bare responsive country music gotten muscle regulars newsweek wrote phases stages nelson looked far country music traditional shore self pity clear vision real life country divorce stephen_thomas_erlewine wrote allmusic relaxed arrangements including occasional strings highlight nelson clever emotional impact album result best records great concept albums overall track listing songs written personnel musicians recording personnel included chart positions album singles
Phases and Stages