Rolling Stone noted that "the familiar vocal hesitations and throat-catchings are all in place, but straightforward readings of these mostly less-than-spectacular tunes are tossed off by Nelson with little energy."[5]The New York Times wrote that "Mr. Jones's arrangements, with their simple, plodding rhythms, and guitar and harmonica solos that repeat the tunes, keep the mood appropriately informal... If the music became any barer, however, Mr. Nelson might start sounding like a contemporary Mitch Miller."[6]