Like most singer-songwriters, Kristofferson's memorable songs came in a flurry. Within just a couple of albums he recorded most of the numbers for which he's best known. It's hard to believe that these tender, evocative pieces were once viewed as a full-frontal assault on Nashville circa 1970. This double set pairs Kristofferson's original versions of his classics, such as "Me and Bobbie McGee," "Sunday Morning Coming Down," "For the Good Times," and "Help Me Make It Through the Night," with the hit versions by artists like Roger Miller, Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and Janis Joplin. The difference between the high gloss of the hit versions and Kristofferson's spare, whiskey baritone originals prove once again that truth must be sugar-coated at all times. --Colin Escott