The book Willie Nelson: The Outlaw calls the album "a laid-back slice of old-time textures, including Hawaiian music, yodeling, folk, and country, with four [sic] overproduced tracks by Booker T. Jones tacked on at the end."[5]
The Philadelphia Inquirer praised Nelson's original compositions.[6] The Vancouver Sun deemed the album "a trifle better than standard Willie."[8] The Orange County Register noted that the album's first side "features the spine-tingling beauty of the unadorned Nelson sound."[9]USA Today considered the title track to be the album's best song.[10]
^ abTucker, Ken (5 July 1987). "Willie Nelson Island in the Sea". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I5.
^The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 499.
^Mackie, John (18 July 1987). "Willie Nelson: Island in the Sea". Vancouver Sun. p. D8.
^Davis, Noel (September 4, 1987). "Willie Nelson Island in the Sea". Orange County Register. p. P40.
^Oermann, Robert K. (December 11, 1987). "It's Star Time". USA Today.
^Island in the Sea (CD insert). Willie Nelson. Columbia Records. 1987. 40487.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)