Maps of Music

Natural Act (1978)

Where the lyrics of Natural Act take you, and where it was really made.

Kristofferson's only album to chart in the UK was made as his marriage to Rita Coolidge was falling apart.

Key places

Recording site Sunset Sound — Natural Act was recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles and produced by David Anderle. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Natural Act: third and final duet album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge
Released in 1978 on A&M Records
The couple divorced the following year
Released while Coolidge's career was at a peak
Only Kristofferson album to chart in the United Kingdom
Eleven tracks, leaning toward pop, mixing relaxed southern boogie, nostalgic pop ballads and country-tinged numbers

Their first duet album, Full Moon (1973), was made when Kristofferson was the bigger recording star
Kristofferson had won several songwriting awards and scored a hit with "Why Me"
By 1978 Coolidge had reached number 6 on the Billboard 100 with the platinum-selling Anytime...Anywhere
That album produced three Top 20 hits
Kristofferson's previous album, Easter Island, was a commercial disappointment even though he was now an established film star
The marriage was floundering by this time

Recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles
Produced by David Anderle, who had produced their first duet album and several solo albums since
With the marriage disintegrating, several cuts carry a wistful poignancy
The set includes a reworking of "I Fought the Law"

Photographed by Annie Leibovitz
The carefree, unkempt lovers of the first two sleeves were replaced by two separate individuals in smart clothes with strained faces
The dour tone of the songs was reflected in the cover

1	Blue as I Do	2:53
2	Not Everyone Knows	3:08
3	I Fought the Law	2:26
4	Number One	2:35
5	You’re Going to Love Yourself	2:54
6	Loving You Was Easier	4:10
7	Back in My Baby’s Arms	3:00
8	Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends	2:24
9	Hoola Hoop	3:54
10	Love Don’t Live Here Anymore	3:47
11	Silver Mantis	5:33

American musician, songwriter and actor, born June 22, 1936 in Brownsville, Texas; died September 28, 2024 in Hana, Hawaii, aged 88.
A pioneer of the 1970s outlaw country movement, moving away from the polished Nashville sound toward a rawer, introspective style.
Signed to Monument Records in 1969 after one single for Epic Records; recorded ten albums for Monument.
Songs such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" and "Help Me Make It Through the Night" became hits for other artists.
"Why Me" and "Highwayman" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1973 and 1985.
Member of the supergroup the Highwaymen (with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash) from 1985 to 1995.
Acting career in films including A Star Is Born (1976, Golden Globe for Best Actor), Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Heaven's Gate (1980) and the Blade trilogy.
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004; received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014; three Grammy wins from 13 nominations.
Announced retirement from performing in January 2021; final performance at the Hollywood Bowl on April 29, 2023.

Natural Act was not a commercial success
It failed to crack the Billboard 100 or the country Top 20
AllMusic found Kristofferson putting little effort into his vocals and Coolidge sounding listless
AllMusic described the record as a contractual obligation release from a duo that had lost the chemistry of its early work
AllMusic linked that loss of chemistry to the marriage falling apart at the same time

Kristofferson biographer Stephen Miller takes a more positive view
Miller called the songs reasonably strong
Miller said the collection could hold its own against much of the lighter pop in the charts in the late Seventies

The album reworks "I Fought the Law," a 1966 hit for The Bobby Fuller Four, and makes the duo sound like The Everly Brothers
"Loving You Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" was covered by Willie Nelson the following year on his Sings Kristofferson LP
"Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" had been a hit for Ray Price before this album
"Silver Mantis", written by T Bone Burnett, is the longest track at 5:35
Natural Act was the couple's final studio album together