"The Troublemaker" is the 20th studio album by country legend Willie Nelson, released in 1976 after a tumultuous journey through the music industry. Initially, in 1972, Nelson faced challenges with RCA when he refused to sign an early contract extension, leading the label to halt the release of any new recordings. During this time, he hired Neil Reshen as his manager and relocated to Austin, Texas, where the vibrant hippie music scene at the Armadillo World Headquarters reinvigorated his artistic style.
In Nashville, Nelson connected with producer Jerry Wexler from Atlantic Records, who was eager to work with him. However, due to a dispute with RCA, the album was ultimately not released by Atlantic, which felt it didn't align with the label's direction after shutting down its experimental country division.
After resolving his issues with RCA, Nelson signed with Columbia Records, where he was granted complete creative control. This partnership led to the release of the critically acclaimed Red Headed Stranger, which paved the way for The Troublemaker to finally see the light of day.
When it was released, The Troublemaker received positive reviews and achieved commercial success, reaching number one on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and number sixty on the Billboard 200. The single "Uncloudy Day" also made its mark, climbing to number four on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart.
