TORONTO - The Red Headed Stranger pulled into town to perform a rare Toronto show at the Air Canada Centre last night.

And maybe there's a reason for Willie Nelson's infrequent visits to our metropolis.

The city-slicker crowd for the 73-year-old Texan was well below a full house for the ACC's theatre set-up, which can pack in around 6,000 when it has to. Last night's audience looked around 4,500.

Not that the small but enthusiastic crowd dampened the spirits of Nelson and his six-man band -- aka The Family -- who have most recently been touring eastern Canada in support of his latest record, You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker, a tribute to a fellow East Texan songwriter. It's one of five albums the prolific recording artist has released in the last 12 months, an output that has included a less successful reggae disc called Countryman.

At last count, Nelson has released more than 200 albums since the '60s, so his recording philosophy seems to be release as many discs as possible and surely some will sell.

Truthfully, his list of hit songs is staggering.

"Well, hello there!" said Nelson, his trademark braids initially obscured by a black cowboy hat that was later exchanged for a large red bandana.

Dressed casually in jeans, a black T-shirt and runners, Nelson performed for nearly two hours on a bare stage, save for a large Texan flag of The Lone Star State behind him.

The Family was made of up his little sister Bobbie Nelson on grand piano, Paul English on drums, Mickey Raphael on harmonica, Jody Payne on guitar and Bee Spears on bass.

For the most part, though, all eyes were on Nelson playing a beat-up acoustic guitar -- apparently called Trigger! -- while delivering hit after hit (written by him and others) such as Crazy, Help Me Make It Through The Night, Me And Bobby McGee, If You've Got The Money, I've Got The Time, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Blue Skies, Georgia On My Mind, All Of Me, Stardust, Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, On The Road Again, You Were Always On My Mind, Hey Good Lookin', Move It On Over, and the title track from You Don't Know Me.

Generally, it was a laid-back, leisurely, no-frills night of music, made most memorable by Nelson's guitar playing, particularly on Blue Skies and Stardust; although Bobbie Nelson, Jody Payne and Mickey Raphael were given their moments in the spotlight, however brief.

There was also a nice gospel moment provided by an upbeat version of the Carter Family's I'll Fly Away, which motivated the audience to get up on their feet and clap and sing along.

Worth a chuckle too was the Nelson merchandising, some of which was emblazoned with a marijuana leaf in a nod to the singer-songwriter's well-known love of weed.