Border Lord

Even though it reprised songs from Kris Kristofferson’s early career, Border Lord opened a new phase for the songwriter. “Burden of Freedom,” “Somebody Nobody Knows,” “Smokey Put the Sweat On Me” and “When She’s Wrong” were all published in the mid-to-late-‘60s, before Kristofferson had even released a record under his own name. Yet, the material here has the edge and muscle of rock music. Encouraged by his acceptance among the Woodstock crowd, Kristofferson added drums to his songs, and Nashville session men Kenney Buttrey and Jerry Carrigan bring heft to the proceedings. There is renewed energy in the playing and also in the singing. Border Lord is also the album where Kristofferson really embraced his role as outlaw spokesman. “Gettin’ By, High and Strange” is an anthem for his posse’s life philosophy: “I'll take anything that I can find anyhow anywhere anyway anytime / I'll keep livin' till the day I die as long as I can get it up for one more try.” Among many strong moments, the album’s centerpiece is its title track, an immortal rock-solid anthem of the road.