Willie Nelson, “ . . . And Then I Wrote,” Capitol Nashville. ***

These 12 tracks, recorded for Liberty Records in 1962 in hopes of capitalizing on Nelson’s growing songwriting success, include the Texan’s first hit single (“Touch Me”) as well as his versions of hits he wrote for other singers (including “Hello Walls” for Faron Young and “Crazy” for Patsy Cline). Though Nelson would do his best work later on the RCA, Atlantic and Columbia labels, these selections are fundamental building blocks in the career of one of country and pop’s greatest figures. Even some of the Liberty executives must have shaken their heads in 1962 when disc jockey Charlie Williams suggested Nelson fit into the great songwriter-vocal stylist tradition of Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael, but Williams was right.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good), four stars (e x cellent).