Waylon Jennings | ||
| Allmusic Biography : If any one performer personified the outlaw country movement of the 70s, it was Waylon Jennings. Though he had been a professional musician since the late 50s, it wasnt until the 70s that Waylon, with his imposing baritone and stripped-down, updated honky tonk, became a superstar. Jennings rejected the conventions of Nashville, refusing to record with the industrys legions of studio musicians and insisting that his music never resemble the string-laden, pop-inflected sounds that were coming out of Nashville in the 60s and 70s. Many artists, including Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, followed Waylons anti-Nashville stance and eventually the whole "outlaw" movement -- so-named because of the artists ragged, maverick image and their independence from Nashville -- became one of the most significant country forces of the 70s, helping the genre adhere to its hardcore honky tonk roots. Jennings didnt write many songs, but his music -- which combined the grittiest aspects of honky tonk with a rock & roll rhythm and attitude, making the music spare, direct, and edgy -- defined hardcore country, and it influenced countless musicians, including members of the new traditionalist and alternative country subgenres of the 80s. Jennings was born and raised in Littlefield, TX, where he learned how to play guitar by the time he was eight. When he was 12 years old, he was a DJ for a local radio station and, shortly afterward, formed his first band. Two years later he left school and spent the next few years picking cotton, eventually moving to Lubbock, TX, in 1954. Once he was in Lubbock, he got a job at the radio station KLLL, where he befriended Buddy Holly during one of the stations shows. Holly became Waylons mentor, teaching him guitar licks, collaborating on songs, and producing Jennings first single, "Jole Blon," which was released on Brunswick in 1958. Later that year, Waylon became the temporary bass player for Hollys band the Crickets, playing with the rock & roller on his final tour. Jennings was also scheduled to fly on the plane ride that ended in Hollys tragic death in early 1959, but he gave up his seat at the last minute to the Big Bopper, who was suffering from a cold. Following Hollys death, Jennings returned to Lubbock, where he spent two years mourning the loss of his friend and working as a DJ. In late 1960, he moved to Phoenix, AZ, where he founded a rockabilly band called the Waylors. Jennings and the Waylors began to earn a local following through their performances at the local club JDs, eventually signing to the independent label Trend in 1961. None of the groups singles made any impact, and Jennings began working for Audio Recorders as a record producer. In 1963, Waylon moved to Los Angeles, where he landed a contract with Herb Alperts A&M; Records. By this point, Waylons music was pure country, and Alpert wanted to move him toward the pop market; Jennings didnt cave in to the demands and his sole single, "Sing the Girl a Song, Bill," and album for A&M; flopped. Following the A&M; debacle, Jennings landed a contract with RCA with help from Chet Atkins and Bobby Bare, and he moved to Nashville in 1965. After arriving in Nashville, he moved in with Johnny Cash, and the two musicians began a long-lasting friendship (which eventually resulted in a collaboration in the form of the Highwaymen in the 80s). Waylon released his first single for RCA, "Thats the Chance Ill Have to Take," late in the summer of 1965, and it became a minor hit. With his second single, "Stop the World (And Let Me Off)," he had his first Top 40 country hit, and it began a string of moderate hits that eventually developed into several Top Ten singles -- "Walk on Out of My Mind," "I Got You," "Only Daddy Thatll Walk the Line," "Yours Love" -- in 1968. At this point, he was working with Nashville session men and developing a sound that was halfway between honky tonk and folk. As the next decade began, he started to move his music toward hardcore country. In 1970, Jennings recorded several songs by a struggling but promising songwriter called Kris Kristofferson, which led to a pair of ambitious albums -- Singer of Sad Songs and Ladies Love Outlaws -- the following year. On these two records, he developed the roots of outlaw country, creating a harder, tougher muscular sound with a selection of songs by writers like Alex Harvey and Hoyt Axton. During the following year, Waylon began collaborating with Willie Nelson, recording and writing several songs with the songwriter. By 1972, he had renegotiated his contract with RCA, demanding that he assume the production and artistic control of his records. Honky Tonk Heroes, released in 1973, was the first album released under this new contract. Comprised almost entirely of songs by the then-unknown songwriter Billy Joe Shaver and recorded with Jennings road band, the album was an edgy, bass-driven, and surly variation on stripped-down honky tonk. Jennings and his new sound slowly began to gain more fans, and in 1974 he had his first number one, "This Time," followed by yet another number one single, "Im a Ramblin Man," and the number two "Rainy Day Woman." Waylons success continued throughout 1975, as Dreaming My Dreams -- featuring one of his signature songs, the number one "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" -- reached number 49 on the pop charts; he was also voted the Country Music Associations Male Vocalist of the Year. Jennings truly crossed over into the mainstream in 1976, when Wanted! The Outlaws -- a various-artists compilation of previously released material that concentrated on Waylon but also featured songs from his wife Jessi Colter, Willie Nelson, and Tompall Glaser -- peaked at number one on the pop charts. Following the success of Wanted!, Waylon became a superstar, as well known to the mainstream pop audience as he was to the country audience. For the next six years, Jennings albums consistently charted in the pop Top 50 and went gold. During this time, he recorded a number of duets with Nelson, including the multi-platinum Waylon & Willie (1978), which featured the number one single "Mammas Dont Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys." Over the course of the late 70s and early 80s, Jennings scored ten number one hits, including "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" (which hit number 25 on the pop charts and spent six weeks at the top of the country charts), "The Wurlitzer Prize (I Dont Want to Get Over You)," "Ive Always Been Crazy," "Amanda," "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol Boys)," and three duets with Nelson. By the mid-80s, the momentum of Waylons career began to slow somewhat, due to his drug abuse and the decline of the entire outlaw country movement. Jennings kicked his substance habits cold turkey in the mid-80s and formed the supergroup the Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash in 1985; over the next decade, the band released three albums, yet none of them were more successful than their debut, which spawned the number one single, "Highwayman." Also in 1985, Jennings parted ways with RCA, signing with MCA Records the following year. At first, he had several hit singles for the label, including the number one "Rose in Paradise," but by the end of the 80s, he was no longer able to crack the Top 40. In 1990, Waylon switched labels again, signing with Epic. "Wrong," his first single for the label, reached the Top Ten in 1990, and "The Eagle" reached the Top 40 the following year, but after that minor hit, none of his singles were charting. Despite his decreased sales -- which were largely due to the shifting tastes in country music -- Waylon remained a superstar throughout the 90s and was able to draw large crowds whenever he performed a concert, while many of his records continued to receive positive reviews. In 1996, he signed to Justice Records, where he released the acclaimed Right for the Time. Closing In on the Fire followed in 1998. His work was slowed by his health in the years following that album, as complications from diabetes made it difficult for him to walk. His foot was amputated in December 2001 because of his illness, and he died on February 13, 2002, at his home in Arizona. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 36 Title: Folk-Country Released: 1966-03-14 Tracks: 12 Duration: 28:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Another Bridge to Burn (02:36) 2 Stop the World (And Let Me Off) (02:00) 3 Cindy of New Orleans (01:56) 4 Look Into My Teardrops (02:18) 5 Down Came the World (02:12) 6 I Dont Mind (02:53) 7 Just for You (02:09) 8 Now Everybody Knows (02:32) 9 Thats the Chance Ill Have to Take (02:02) 10 What Makes a Man Wander (02:38) 11 Im a Man of Constant Sorrow (02:40) 12 Whats Left of Me (02:30) |
| Folk-Country : Allmusic album Review : Folk Country is chapter number one in the Waylon Jennings/Chet Atkins partnership that ended up as a series of pitched battles. Folk Country is Waylons true debut album for the RCA label, and while it is very much embryonic in terms of its revelation of the mature Jennings sound, its roots are clearly audible and the material, while safe, is more than satisfying. The single "Stop the World (And Let Me Off)" is indicative of the kind of countrypolitan fare Atkins was developing at the label. And while this is only 1963, the listener can hear Jennings stretching the song to its limits -- at least the limits imposed by a mainstream country single. Also included is a true folk/country song, the traditional "Man of Constant Sorrow," on which the songs hillbilly roots are given a distinctly modern folk sound treatment. Also, "Cindy of New Orleans," one of Jennings first attempts at writing story-songs, is a curio that works very well as a narrative with a fine and memorable melody, dressed in trappings of silk around a tale of grit. Jennings was still leaning heavily on the songs of Harlan Howard, who has no less than four tunes present here, including the classics "Another Bridge to Burn" and "Whats Left of Me," which open and close the set. Jennings treats the country songs as modern folk songs while keeping to the middle of the road, and the folk songs, if indeed there are any aside from the aforementioned traditional number, are treated in a striking progressive country fashion without allowing the entirety of the songs or their intents to slip away into the ether. While its true this is "straighter" than any Jennings date on the label, its songs have aged amazingly well. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 36 Title: Leavin Town Released: 1966-10 Tracks: 12 Duration: 27:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Leavin Town (02:04) 2 Time To Bum Again (02:00) 3 If You Really Want Me To Ill Go (01:58) 4 Baby, Dont Be Looking In My Mind (02:50) 5 But Thats Alright (02:00) 6 Time Will Tell The Story (01:58) 7 Youre Gonna Wonder About Me (02:22) 8 (Thats What You Get) For Lovin Me (02:23) 9 Anita, Youre Dreaming (02:25) 10 Doesnt Anybody Know My Name (02:52) 11 Falling For You (02:32) 12 I Wonder Just Where I Went Wrong (02:18) |
 | Album: 3 of 36 Title: Waylon Sings Ol Harlan Released: 1967-06 Tracks: 12 Duration: 28:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 She Called Me Baby (02:34) 2 Sunset and Vine (02:08) 3 Woman, Let Me Sing You a Song (02:18) 4 The Everglades (02:10) 5 She’s Gone, Gone, Gone (02:01) 6 Busted (02:19) 7 Beautiful Annabel Lee (02:43) 8 Heartaches by the Number (02:08) 9 Tiger by the Tail (02:26) 10 Heartaches for a Dime (02:15) 11 Foolin Around (02:19) 12 In This Very Same Room (02:41) |
| Waylon Sings Ol' Harlan : Allmusic album Review : Waylon Jennings gave Harlan Howard a full showcase on Sings Ol’ Harlan. Jennings cherrypicks many of the hits Howard wrote for other singers -- there are two Buck Owens singles here in “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail” and “Foolin’ Around.” The standards “Busted” and “Heartaches by the Number” are also given strong readings -- but one of the chief appeals of this 1967 LP is that it contains a number of strong Harlan tunes that weren’t heavily recorded, including the slyly funny, rolling narrative “Sunset and Vine,” the snappy “Woman Let Me Sing You a Song,” the lean honky tonk of “She’s Gone, Gone, Gone,” and the mournful “Beautiful Annabel Lee.” Sonically, this is an extension of Folk Country, bearing much of the same mixture of 12-string guitars, Telecasters, and backing vocals, but given the source material, it’s not entirely a surprise that the LP emphasizes the country over the folk, as it suggests the path Waylon was about to follow. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 36 Title: Love of the Common People Released: 1967-08 Tracks: 14 Duration: 33:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Money Cannot Make the Man (02:48) 2 Young Widow Brown (02:09) 3 Youve Got to Hide Your Love Away (02:21) 4 Love of the Common People (02:55) 5 I Tremble for You (02:14) 6 Destinys Child (02:04) 7 Ruby, Dont Take Your Love to Town (02:10) 8 The Road (02:51) 9 If the Shoe Fits (02:17) 10 Dont Waste Your Time (02:17) 11 Taos, New Mexico (02:19) 12 Two Streaks of Steel (02:17) 13 The Chokin Kind (02:27) 14 Walk on Out of My Mind (02:18) |
| Love of the Common People : Allmusic album Review : Love of the Common People is where Waylon Jennings began to come into his own, delivering country, folk, pop, and rock in a distinct blend. To a certain extent, hes still searching here, overpowering on Beatles covers but effective on the title track. Theres a certain tendency for country albums of this era to be uneven, and if thats the case on Love of the Common People, it isnt because of bad material but because Jennings is searching the entire time, testing things out, finding that some things work and others dont. It may not be a perfect album, but there are enough remarkable moments to make it nearly essential. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 36 Title: The One and Only Released: 1967-11 Tracks: 10 Duration: 23:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Yes, Virginia (02:30) 2 Dream Baby (02:24) 3 You Beat All I Ever Saw (02:16) 4 She Loves Me (She Dont Love You) (02:18) 5 Its All Over Now (02:11) 6 Born to Love You (02:30) 7 Down Came the World (02:20) 8 The Dark Side of Fame (02:30) 9 Johns Back in Town (01:59) 10 Listen, Theyre Playing My Song (02:47) |
 | Album: 6 of 36 Title: Hangin On Released: 1968 Tracks: 12 Duration: 27:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hangin On (02:17) 2 Julie (02:23) 3 The Crowd (02:32) 4 Let Me Talk to You (02:09) 5 Woman, Dont You Ever Laugh at Me (02:17) 6 The Chokin Kind (02:23) 7 Gentle on My Mind (02:04) 8 Right Before My Eyes (02:00) 9 Lock, Stock and Teardrops (02:43) 10 I Fall in Love So Easily (02:05) 11 Looking at a Heart That Needs a Home (02:25) 12 How Long Have You Been There (02:34) |
| Hangin' On : Allmusic album Review : Sticking to totally musical criteria, the best tracks on this collection are so good that dismissing the gunky ones is easy. There are other criteria for rating a Waylon Jennings album but, however one looks at it, Hangin On is one of this country artists very special productions. Some might see distinction in the fact that the brief liner notes are written by none other than the wonderful singer Skeeter Davis. Others may treasure this particular album because it really looks like ol Waylon is lighting up a joint on the front cover. Then, there is the ultimate criterion for judging the value of an album not only by Jennings, but by some of his associates such as Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson, at least in the eyes of a used record store buyer from North Carolina: "If theys wearin beards, I dont want it. If theys shaven, then ahm interested." While many publications use some sort of star system for rating records, it appears a system based on lack of beards is really the key with some types of country music. In this case, the clean-shaven Jennings was still a few years from the rumbling of heavily rock-influenced music that he would create in the 70s, but had already been pushing at country musics perceived boundaries since the middle of the decade. Considering that his groups featuring two drummers would eventually play as loud as the Rolling Stones, the fact that an acoustic dobro can practically drown out the whole band here is a pretty good indication of how relatively soft, even pretty, the music on this album is. But closer listening reveals that the dobro is being turned up really loud for certain effects, just one of many intricate touches that make certain cuts on this record absolute marvels of country music. The premier track is "I Fall in Love So Easy," which weaves together three completely different sections -- and these sections are varied in tempo, in how they are mixed, and in the feeling with which they are played. Subtle use is made of brass, sometimes in written passages in combination with harmonica. There was a lot of work put into this, producing the kind of good feeling one gets from a fine chamber group when it is really playing well. There are also a couple of tracks that clunk, one of which might be the Roy Orbison cover, no matter how well it is sung. This type of submissive personality is not the best character for Jennings to act out in a song. He does much better with the threatening slob who sings "Woman, Dont You Ever Laugh at Me" or, even better, the depressed psycho who destroyed himself over unrequited love for "Julie." A check of the songwriting credits reveals, to no surprise, that it is Jennings who wrote the latter ballad. It is one of his best originals. Those who find the John Hartford song "Gentle on My Mind" heavy trodding will need to soak their feet after listening to this album; if a cover version of the song isnt bad enough, a few minutes later a cheap imitation with similar minor chords burps up. Jennings backup band, the Waylors, actually plays on a few tracks here, a hard-fought compromise with RCA producer Chet Atkins, who wanted his own session crew to provide backup. There are no further musical credits, and no information about who thought up the wonderful parts of this album. Call it a brilliant collaboration of Jennings and Atkins at the dawn of a new era in country music. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 36 Title: Only the Greatest Released: 1968-07 Tracks: 12 Duration: 28:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Only Daddy Thatll Walk the Line (02:23) 2 California Sunshine (02:13) 3 Weakness in a Man (02:51) 4 Sorrow (Breaks a Good Man Down) (02:08) 5 Christina (02:14) 6 Such a Waste of Love (02:34) 7 Walk on Out of My Mind (02:21) 8 Kentucky Woman (02:21) 9 Long Gone (02:31) 10 Youll Think of Me (02:12) 11 Wave Goodbye to Me (02:04) 12 Too Far Gone (02:54) |
| Only the Greatest : Allmusic album Review : Only the Greatest as a title may have two meanings: the first implies the music included here, and the second implies the artist. There is a case to be made for the latter, but in the case of the former, this is only partially true. Waylon Jennings was one of the most evocative country music artists ever produced. In his long career he did everything his own way, no matter what it cost him. The 12 songs are a testament to the greatness of his mature period as an artist. These are the singles and album tracks recorded during the 1960s when Jennings had actively gone to war with his label about using his own band in the studio and recording the material he chose, not his producers or label A&R men. His readings of Neil Diamonds "Kentucky Woman" and Bobby Bares "Such a Waste of Love," offer the power of his voice in a setting that was equal parts honky tonk, folk, rock, and even pop. Each track here is a winner, from the best known, such as "Only Daddy Thatll Walk the Line" to the least, such as Harlan Howards underappreciated classic "California Sunrise." | ||
 | Album: 8 of 36 Title: Waylon Released: 1970-01 Tracks: 11 Duration: 26:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Brown Eyed Handsome Man (02:03) 2 Just Across the Way (02:34) 3 Don’t Play the Game (02:55) 4 Shutting Out the Light (02:38) 5 I May Never Pass This Way Again (02:49) 6 The Thirty Third of August (03:28) 7 Yellow Haired Woman (01:51) 8 Where Love Has Died (02:16) 9 All of Me Belongs to You (02:03) 10 Yes, Virginia (02:32) 11 This Time Tomorrow (I’ll Be Gone) (01:48) |
| Waylon : Allmusic album Review : This self-titled album signifies the real beginning of Waylon Jennings discontent with his career. He is making efforts in the studio here to stretch its boundaries and include material very foreign to Nashville. First off, the album opens with Chuck Berrys "Brown Eyed Handsome Man," a rollicking jump off the country and T-Bone Walker Texas blues flagship. Jennings own version may not be as rollicking as Berrys, but it swings hard and moves inside a groove that twists and turns on its own axis. One can also feel the conflict between producer Danny Davis trying to tame his singer and Jennings trying to split the seam of the track. In addition to beginning the album with so much tension, Jennings even gives a more traditional number like Sammi Smiths "Yellow Haired Woman" a spacier sound, where the Nashville sound becomes something akin to a bunch of studio guys in Nash Vegas trying to emulate Brian Wilson. Ray Buzzeos "I May Never Pass This Way Again" has honky tonk ballad written all over it, but those marching, shuffling guitars add a new spin. But its with Mickey Newburys "33rd of August" that the pokiness of Waylons mission becomes apparent. In the slow dirge, complete with gorgeous layers and textures of strings, aberrant percussion, and backing vocals that whisper rather than chorus, Jennings offers another dimension to not only this sad story, but the direction of his musical muse, somewhere in the groove but outside the confines of the studio. Waylon is an overlooked gem in the transition period of Jennings career. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 36 Title: Dont Think Twice Released: 1970-03 Tracks: 11 Duration: 30:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Dont Think Twice, Its Alright (02:45) 2 River Boy (02:47) 3 The Twelfth of Never (02:26) 4 The Race Is On (02:17) 5 Stepping Stone (01:55) 6 The Real House of the Rising Sun (03:39) 7 Just to Satisfy You (02:22) 8 Kisses Sweeter Than Wine (02:27) 9 Unchained Melody (03:14) 10 I Dont Believe You (04:06) 11 Four Strong Winds (02:57) |
| Don't Think Twice : Allmusic album Review : The country and western and folk music paths come together here as if they were two mountain trails meeting at a truly wonderful vista. This is years before Jennings introduced thudding double bass drums, heavy electric guitars, the thick scraggly beard, and the dark leather cowboy hat. Here he just looks like a well dressed dude who might break your nose in a bar. In the world of used record store buyers who ask for "no beards" on their Waylon, Merle, or Willie, this here is the jackpot. Jennings comes across as an undersung interpreter of Bob Dylan; this is a "Dont Think Twice" one can really take seriously, while the "I Dont Believe You," with its soulful dobro picking and swishing Jerry Lee Lewis-style piano, is one of the best covers ever of a songwriter whose work has been recorded extensively. Theres more. Jennings pulls off a fine rendition of "House of the Rising Sun" and is arrogant enough to call his arrangement "The Real Rising Sun." A trio of terrific country tunes are there for the old fans, and things only falter with some banal cover versions on side two. Herb Alpert co-produced, and one wonders if he is blowing the trumpet on the version of Ian Tysons "Four Strong Winds." Talk about whipped cream and other delights. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 36 Title: The Taker / Tulsa Released: 1971 Tracks: 10 Duration: 28:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Taker (02:24) 2 Youll Look for Me (02:02) 3 Mississippi Woman (02:52) 4 Lovin Her Was Easier (Than Anything Ill Ever Do Again) (03:05) 5 Six White Horses (02:39) 6 (Dont Let the Sun Set on You) Tulsa (03:08) 7 Caseys Last Ride (04:03) 8 (Id Be) A Legend in My Time (02:19) 9 Sunday Mornin Comin Down (03:53) 10 Grey Eyes You Know (02:30) |
| The Taker / Tulsa : Allmusic album Review : Excellent in composition, production, and sequencing, The Taker/Tulsa stands the test of time as the first recording by Waylon Jennings to show what it was he had been crucifying Nash Vegas producers over. The end of his long production relationship with Chet Atkins (as Atkins was moved upstairs), his hostile, barely a year tenure with Atkins pick Danny Davis, a successful run with Lee Hazlewood that the establishment on Music Row disowned because it wasnt homegrown, and the final straw with Atkins protégé Ronnie Light ultimately led Waylon to hire a new lawyer and manager and begin producing himself. The Taker/Tulsa is chock-full of Kris Kristoffersons songs. Mickey Newbury brought Kristofferson to Jennings attention a couple of years earlier, but this time out, Jennings decided to theme his recording and showcase Kristoffersons songs. The result -- despite the fact that the record was culled from over two years of work with Davis and Light -- is the first real salvo in the outlaw movement (not Ladies Love Outlaws, which was full of demo sessions and unfinished tracks). Kristoffersons tunes, including "Loving Her Was Easier," "Sunday Morning Coming Down," "Caseys Last Ride," and others, brought Jennings closer than ever to the flame, to the dream of producing his own records with his own band. The Kristofferson tunes stand out, but so does "Tulsa" by Wayne Carson Thompson and Jennings own "Youll Look for Me." The albums dovetails together like one session and offers a view of what Waylon could issue when he got his way. This is one of Jennings true classics, and with Lonesome, Onry and Mean still a year away. It was the first unruly outing by a man who, along with his friends, was about to change everything. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 36 Title: Good Hearted Woman Released: 1972-02 Tracks: 10 Duration: 28:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Good Hearted Woman (03:00) 2 Same Old Lover Man (02:48) 3 One of My Bad Habits (02:14) 4 Willie and Laura Mae Jones (02:57) 5 It Should Be Easier Now (03:05) 6 Do No Good Woman (02:11) 7 Unsatisfied (02:50) 8 I Knew Youd Be Leavin (02:43) 9 Sweet Dream Woman (02:59) 10 To Beat the Devil (04:04) |
| Good Hearted Woman : Allmusic album Review : Produced by Ronnie Light, this is the second of the three albums Waylon Jennings released for RCA in 1972. The other two, Ladies Love Outlaws and Lonesome, Onry and Mean, signified the end of Waylons pre-outlaw period and the beginning of his outlaw career. The former was a collection of unfinished songs and demos the singer disowned despite the fact that it contains very solid and viable material. The latter was the crack in Nashvilles pavement in which rock & roll took an equal share of the stage with country and Jennings wasnt going to go back; the title track, written by cowboy savant Steve Young, sums up Jennings career to that point, and it was time to get rid of the baggage of the past. Good Hearted Woman reveals the singer in full glide from one side of the spectrum to the other, from the first single, Tony Joe Whites "Willie and Laura Mae Jones," to the title track, the first stellar and enduring collaboration by Jennings and Willie Nelson. But going deeper, there are the unique reads of Kris Kristoffersons "To Beat the Devil" and Harlan Howards "One of My Bad Habits." Also amazing are "Do No Good Woman," with Reggie Youngs smoking guitar solo that made the soundboard jump into the red, and Willies "It Should Be Easier Now." Shirl Miletes "Unsatisfied," with Ralph Mooneys pedal steel whining in the background, is one of the most poignant performances of the period for Waylon as a singer, topped only by his reading of Chip Taylors "Sweet Dream Woman." In sum, Good Hearted Woman is a pretty sensational outing for Jennings; hes feeling his power here, and as the door opened just one more crack, the listener can hear how it never closed again. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 36 Title: Ladies Love Outlaws Released: 1972-09 Tracks: 10 Duration: 29:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Ladies Love Outlaws (02:33) 2 Never Been to Spain (02:36) 3 Sure Didnt Take Him Long (02:21) 4 Crazy Arms (02:35) 5 Revelation (03:13) 6 Delta Dawn (03:21) 7 Frisco Depot (04:58) 8 Thanks (02:26) 9 I Think Its Time She Learned (02:48) 10 Under Your Spell Again (02:56) |
| Ladies Love Outlaws : Allmusic album Review : Even though Waylon Jennings virtually disowned this album as a hoodwink job by RCA brass and some of these tracks were unfinished and others mere demos, Ladies Love Outlaws nonetheless has some very fine moments, including Jennings version of "Delta Dawn," a fine emotionally wrought read of Hoyt Axtons "Never Been to Spain" (which Jennings claimed was never intended for release), and Mickey Newburys "Frisco Depot" (one of the few tracks the singer considered complete). In addition, theres Ralph Mooneys (who plays pedal steel in this band) classic honky tonk anthem "Crazy Arms" and one of the reclusive Lee Claytons best songs in the title track. Listeners also get a solid, moving duet version of "Under Your Spell Again," with Jessi Colter. These performances offer Jennings in deeply expressive terrain as a vocalist. He wrings emotion from songs rather than merely projecting them into a microphone, and his band, which includes bassist Norbert Putnam and drummer Kenny Butrey as well as guitarist Dave Kirby and pianist Hargus Robbins, turns the volume up a point or two and lends a slippery greasy hand to the entire proceeding. Ladies Love Outlaws is not a perfect Waylon album, but its worth owning for the fact that while Jennings may have disliked the finished result, he proves to be no judge of his own work. In essence, this is the outlaw primer, and the beginning of the opening of the field. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 36 Title: Lonesome, Onry and Mean Released: 1973-03 Tracks: 13 Duration: 42:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Lonesome, Onry and Mean (03:41) 2 Freedom to Stay (03:13) 3 Lay It Down (03:19) 4 Gone to Denver (02:32) 5 Good Time Charlies Got the Blues (03:24) 6 You Can Have Her (02:44) 7 Pretend I Never Happened (03:05) 8 San Francisco Mabel Joy (03:51) 9 Sandy Sends Her Best (02:37) 10 Me and Bobby McGee (04:41) 11 Laid Back Country Picker (03:16) 12 The Last One to Leave Seattle (03:27) 13 Big, Big Love (02:26) |
| Lonesome, On'ry and Mean : Allmusic album Review : Lonesome, Onry and Mean is the quintessential Waylon Jennings outlaw record. Waylon produced the set -- the first unfettered by the bonds of RCA -- with his own band, and the results are nothing less than electrifying. Steve Young, the perennial country and folk music outsider, may have penned the title cut, but Waylons delivery as an anthem bears in it all of his years of frustration at not being able to make the music he wanted to. Fury is a better word for what is heard in the grain of the songs lyrics. Youngs own version is devastating, but this one is transcendent. (And why is it that Travis Tritt was picked to sing this at Waylons memorial instead of Young, who was also present? Talk about misguided justice.) But the boundaries between rock & roll and country come down once again on this album in Kris Kristoffersons "Me & Bobby McGee," as folk and post-psychedelia meet Texas in Mickey Newburys "San Francisco Mabel Joy" and the broken, road-weary pop honky tonk balladry of Danny OKeefes "Good Time Charlies Got the Blues." Add to this Johnny Cashs "Gone to Denver" and Willie Nelsons "Pretend I Never Happened," and you have an outsiders dream. That the rest of the recording is just as consistent, just as seamless in its execution, production, and delivery, makes Lonesome, Onry and Mean the first seriously pitched battle in the 1970s country music wars. And this one went to Jennings and his fans, hands down. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 36 Title: Honky Tonk Heroes Released: 1973-07 Tracks: 10 Duration: 27:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Honky Tonk Heroes (03:39) 2 Old Five and Dimers (Like Me) (03:08) 3 Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me (03:04) 4 Low Down Freedom (02:22) 5 Omaha (02:39) 6 You Asked Me To (02:32) 7 Ride Me Down Easy (02:39) 8 Aint No God in Mexico (02:01) 9 Black Rose (02:30) 10 We Had It All (02:47) |
| Honky Tonk Heroes : Allmusic album Review : When Waylon Jennings hooked up with songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, he found the perfect author for his obsessions, his fascinations, and his very image. Waylon had always been looking, perhaps unintentionally, for a common ground between country and rock, and Shavers songs -- sketching an outlaw stance with near defiance and borrowing rock attitude to create the hardest country tunes imaginable -- were perfect. On his previous album, Waylon had sung that "ladies love outlaws," but now he found the music that would soon be called outlaw country, a defiant, ballsy blend of mythmaking and truth-telling. Shaver never had a better voice for his songs, and Jennings never had better songs for his style. Honky Tonk Heroes arrived at a crucial moment, a time when true honky tonk was fading, so only a dose of rock & roll could save it. And, no matter how much rock attitude is here, this is pure country in its stance and attitude -- yet Honky Tonk Heroes very defiance makes it a perfect discovery album for listeners who never thought they would like country music. And the songs! Shaver earned his stripes here, with songs that were emotional, funny, and clever, utterly bringing the mythic outlaw ethic to life. "Black Rose," "You Asked Me To," and "Honky Tonk Heroes" remain among the greatest things Waylon ever cut, and every other song here matches them. Few country albums have ever been this consistent, and few records, from any genre, have been as consistently compelling. A wonderful album -- one thats hard to tire of. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 36 Title: This Time Released: 1974-04 Tracks: 15 Duration: 47:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 This Time (02:26) 2 Louisiana Women (04:03) 3 Pick Up the Tempo (02:33) 4 Slow Rollin Low (02:45) 5 Heaven or Hell (01:39) 6 Its Not Supposed to Be That Way (03:28) 7 Slow Movin Outlaw (03:41) 8 Mona (02:48) 9 Walkin (02:28) 10 If You Could Touch Her at All (03:03) 11 Thatll Be the Day (02:25) 12 It Doesnt Matter Anymore (02:56) 13 Lady in the Harbor (03:42) 14 Well All Right / Its So Easy / Maybe Baby / Peggy Sue (medley) (06:07) 15 If Youre Goin Girl (03:45) |
| This Time : Allmusic album Review : This Time appeared just as outlaw hit its stride, thanks in large part to the excellent Honky Tonk Heroes. If this record isnt its equal, its still pretty wonderful all the same. Part of the records flaw is its heavy reliance on Willie Nelson -- actually, not just on Willie, but on Phases and Stages, which is the source of no less than four of this records six songs. Granted, these are great songs, and Waylons versions are hard to fault, but they nevertheless give the record a slightly recycled feeling. Fortunately, these songs are surrounded by excellent material, such as the number one single "This Time." Overall, This Time is fairly muted and deliberate, surprising for an album coming on the heels of the defiant Honky Tonk Heroes. Even the songs that swagger, like Billy Joe Shavers "Slow Rollin Low," are laid-back, and the whole thing is fairly reflective (appropriate, if it uses a divorce album as its template). Its not that the monochromaticity makes it a lesser affair than its predecessor, yet the whole thing does feel a bit reserved and not quite as overpowering as a sequel to Honky Tonk Heroes should be. Still, its a first-rate record -- perhaps not a classic, but a subdued, understated album unlike anything in his catalog. [The 1999 Buddha reissue contained five bonus tracks featuring Waylon supported by the Crickets, running through (mostly) highlights from Buddy Hollys catalog. Though incongruous with This Time, these are highly entertaining cuts, packing more immediacy than the album itself.] | ||
 | Album: 16 of 36 Title: The Ramblin Man Released: 1974-09 Tracks: 13 Duration: 41:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 (I’m A) Ramblin’ Man (02:48) 2 Rainy Day Woman (02:31) 3 Cloudy Days (02:41) 4 Midnight Rider (03:24) 5 Oklahoma Sunshine (03:29) 6 The Hunger (03:31) 7 I Cant Keep My Hands Off of You (03:38) 8 Memories of You and I (04:16) 9 Itll Be Her (03:03) 10 Amanda (02:56) 11 Got a Lot Going for Me (02:32) 12 The Last Letter (04:07) 13 The One I Sing My Love Song To (02:49) |
| The Ramblin' Man : Allmusic album Review : If you look at the cover of The Ramblin Man, you would think that Waylon Jennings had been a ramblin man, riding the top of the charts, for years, maybe decades. He looks worn out, whether its on the close-up on the cover, or the back-cover shot of him drunkenly playing solitaire. In truth, it would be another album before he hit the top of the country charts and before outlaw country became hip. Still, this is the record where it all came home. If he had created a sketch of outlaw on Honky Tonk Heroes, he perfected the marketable version of it here, making it a little slicker, a little more commercial, and a whole lot more unstoppable. If the songs arent the equal of Honky Tonk Heroes or even This Time, The Ramblin Man has a wilder sound and a greater diversity of songs that make it seem more unruly than its immediate predecessor and more blatantly outlaw. This contains, after all, his first flat-out rock cover, with a good take on the Allman Brothers "Midnight Rider," plus songs that play into the image of what an outlaw country singer is. There are moments of reflection, yet even those feed into the outlaw picture. Too bad many of the album tracks wind up being agreeable filler instead of knockouts. There arent any bad cuts, and the entire thing holds together quite well, but it doesnt add up to a moment of transcendence the way Honky Tonk Heroes or its successor would. Still, with "Im a Ramblin Man," "Rainy Day Woman," and the heartbreaking "Amanda" on its side, plus highlights like "Oklahoma Sunshine," this is a first-rate Waylon record. [The 1999 Buddha reissue contains three bonus tracks.] | ||
 | Album: 17 of 36 Title: Dreaming My Dreams Released: 1975-06 Tracks: 13 Duration: 37:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way (03:02) 2 Waymores Blues (02:47) 3 I Recall a Gypsy Woman (03:01) 4 High Time (You Quit Your Lowdown Ways) (02:48) 5 Ive Been a Long Time Leaving (But Ill Be a Long Time Gone) (02:45) 6 Lets All Help the Cowboys (Sing the Blues) (03:19) 7 The Door Is Always Open (02:44) 8 Lets Turn Back the Years (02:32) 9 Shes Looking Good (02:32) 10 Dreaming My Dreams With You (02:27) 11 Bob Wills Is Still the King (03:36) 12 All Around Cowboy (02:58) 13 Ride Me Down Easy (02:40) |
| Dreaming My Dreams : Allmusic album Review : Dreaming My Dreams was Waylon Jennings first number one record, and deservedly so. He had created outlaw country with Honky Tonk Heroes, and then delivered two further albums that subtly developed its themes, even if they werent quite as consistent. Dreaming My Dreams maintains the consistency, increasing the country quotient while subtly making it more sentimental than before. This is an unabashedly romantic album, not just in its love songs, but in its tributes to Waylons heroes. "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" opens and "Bob Wills Is Still the King" closes the album -- making Jennings an heir apparent to their legacies. Between those two extremes, Waylon appropriates Jimmie Rodgers ("Waymores Blues"), covers Roger Miller ("Ive Been a Long Time Leaving [But Ill Be a Long Time Gone]"), ups the outlaw ante ("Lets All Help the Cowboys [Sing the Blues]"), and writes and records as many sentimental tunes as possible without seeming like a sissy. At times, the emotional undertow may seem a bit much, yet the whole thing adds up as Waylons best album since Honky Tonk Heroes, and one of the few of his prime outlaw period to deliver from beginning to end. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 36 Title: Are You Ready for the Country Released: 1976 Tracks: 10 Duration: 36:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Are You Ready for the Country (03:12) 2 Them Old Love Songs (03:13) 3 So Good Woman (02:03) 4 Jack-A-Diamonds (03:27) 5 Cant You See (03:46) 6 MacArthur Park (Revisited) (06:39) 7 Ill Go Back to Her (03:10) 8 A Couple More Years (04:11) 9 Old Friend (03:23) 10 Precious Memories (03:41) |
| Are You Ready for the Country : Allmusic album Review : If the heavy-hitters of outlaw country were acting like rock stars during their mid-70s peak, then perhaps it was inevitable that the outlaws would start singing rock songs -- which is precisely what Waylon Jennings did on 1976s Are You Ready for the Country. Although the title is taken from Neil Youngs song -- which provides an absolutely storming opener for this ten-song record -- there is a bit of a jibe to its sentiment as well, since Waylon not only sings Young, but also the Marshall Tucker Band and Dr. Hook, along with reviving Jimmy Webbs "MacArthur Park." That selection of material indicates not just the increasing rock-isms of Waylon and the outlaws, it also indicates that Jennings focus was beginning to blur slightly as he lost the sense of purpose that propelled his records of the first half the 70s, from The Taker/Tulsa to Dreaming My Dreams. Here, the music hasnt really changed, but the flow is no longer seamless and the shifting tones can be a little jarring. Also, Jennings songwriting starts to slip a little bit here; none of his originals are bad, and "Ill Go Back to Her" is quite good, but theyre all decidedly second tier. All things considered, though, most of the individual moments hold up quite well, with "Are You Ready for the Country" and a wonderful, surging take on Marshall Tuckers "Cant You See" ranking among Waylons best music of the era. There are other very good moments, such as the cracking "Jack a Diamonds," and the entire record is entertaining, but more for a collection of moments than a cohesive whole. Thats the first time since the late 60s that one of Jennings albums felt like less than the sum of its parts, and if it didnt necessarily mark the end of the era, it did mark the point when he started to ease back from his startling peak of creativity. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 36 Title: Music From Mackintosh & T.J. Released: 1976 Tracks: 9 Duration: 23:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 All Around Cowboy (02:55) 2 Back in the Saddle Again (02:25) 3 Ride Me Down Easy (02:40) 4 Gardenia Waltz (02:00) 5 Bob Wills Is Still the King (03:00) 6 Shopping (02:06) 7 (Stay All Night) Stay a Little Longer (02:32) 8 Crazy Arms (02:59) 9 All Around Cowboy (02:48) |
 | Album: 20 of 36 Title: Ol Waylon Released: 1977-04 Tracks: 11 Duration: 35:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) (03:20) 2 If You See Me Getting Smaller (03:39) 3 Lucille (04:07) 4 Sweet Caroline (03:10) 5 I Think Im Gonna Kill Myself (02:23) 6 Belle of the Ball (03:26) 7 Medley of Elvis Hits: Thats All Right / My Baby Left Me (02:37) 8 Till I Gain Control Again (04:18) 9 Brand New Goodbye Song (02:54) 10 Satin Sheets (02:43) 11 This Is Getting Funny (But There Aint Nobody Laughing) (02:48) |
| Ol' Waylon : Allmusic album Review : Ol Waylon was released when Waylon Jennings had become a superstar. Outlaw was still popular, perhaps at its peak, but it was no longer the movement that it had been just a few short years before. As if offering proof, Waylon cut his most formulaic album since the early 60s, a record that satisfied the demands of outlaw without ever stretching them. Since this was recorded at a near-peak of not only his popularity but his power, there are some great moments on Ol Waylon, particularly on the lead single "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)," a wonderful reminiscence of times back, "If You See Me Getting Smaller," and "I Think Im Gonna Kill Myself." The rest of the record is a little formulaic and reliant on covers, sometimes enjoyably (including a version of Kenny Rogers "Lucille"), sometimes not as much ("Sweet Caroline" was never suited for Waylons style). Overall, Ol Waylon is pretty enjoyable, but it winds up feeling a little hollow, as if Jennings was trying to give the audience what it wanted. There are enough good moments to make it worthwhile, not just to the dedicated but for some casual fans enamored of the outlaw years, but its still an album that gets by more on its style than substance. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 36 Title: Waylon & Willie Released: 1978 Tracks: 11 Duration: 32:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Mammas Dont Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys (02:34) 2 The Year 2003 Minus 25 (03:04) 3 Pick Up the Tempo (02:32) 4 If You Can Touch Her at All (03:04) 5 Lookin for a Feeling (02:38) 6 Its Not Supposed to Be That Way (03:20) 7 I Can Get Off on You (02:24) 8 Dont Cuss the Fiddle (03:04) 9 Gold Dust Woman (04:00) 10 A Couple More Years (04:02) 11 The Wurlitzer Prize (I Dont Want to Get Over You) (02:08) |
| Waylon & Willie : Allmusic album Review : It sat on the top of the country charts for 11 weeks and went double platinum, making it one of the biggest hits in either Waylon Jennings or Willie Nelsons catalog. Years after its initial 1978 release, Waylon & Willie remains one of their biggest-selling albums, but its perennial popularity has more to do with their iconic status -- something this album deliberately played up -- than the quality of the music, which is, overall, merely good. Released in early 1978, a few months after Jennings Ol Waylon spent 13 weeks on the top of the charts in the summer of 1977, thanks in part to the hit single "Luckenbach, Texas" featuring a chorus sung by Nelson, the album was intended as a celebration of the peak of outlaw, but in retrospect, it looks like where the movement was beginning to slide into predictability, even if both singers are more or less in command of their talents here. Though still at the peak of his popularity, Waylon had begun to slip slightly creatively starting with the very good, but not great, Are You Ready for the Country, which suggested that he was having a little harder time getting a full album of consistently great material together. The patchwork nature of this album suggests that he still had the problem, but since it was divided into three solo songs apiece and five duets, this plays to his strengths, because the limited number of new songs doesnt give him room to stumble. Though a moody cover of Fleetwood Macs "Gold Dust Woman" is a little awkward, his original "Lookin for a Feeling" is sturdy, and the album-closing "The Wurlitzer Prize (I Dont Want to Get Over You)" is brilliant, possibly the best song here, even if the heart of the record -- what the album is selling -- is the four duets with Willie. One of these, of course, is the monster hit "Mammas Dont Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," with two others -- "The Year 2003 Minus 25" and "Dont Cuss the Fiddle" -- being laid-back, funny Kris Kristofferson songs that showcase Waylon & Willies roguish humor and charm. The other, "Pick Up the Tempo," is one of Willies classics, but it, like Nelsons three solo tracks, is a previously released Waylon recording stripped of his vocals and overdubbed by Nelson. This isnt a crippling problem -- the songs are good, as are the performances and the singing, so theyre modestly enjoyable -- but they do sound a little distant, and it makes the entire album sound cobbled together: not the deliberate compilation of The Outlaws, but significantly less than a real album from either Waylon or Willie or both of them. Instead, it sounds like a vehicle for them to keep riding their huge popularity. Since it was cut at a time they were making consistently enjoyable music, its fun, but it could have been much, much more than it is. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 36 Title: Ive Always Been Crazy Released: 1978-09 Tracks: 10 Duration: 37:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Ive Always Been Crazy (04:12) 2 Dont You Think This Outlaw Bits Done Got Out of Hand (03:00) 3 Billy (04:18) 4 A Long Time Ago (02:23) 5 As the Billy World Turns (03:00) 6 Medley of Buddy Holly Hits: Well All Right / Its So Easy / Maybe Baby / Peggy Sue (06:04) 7 I Walk the Line (03:31) 8 Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down (03:31) 9 Girl I Can Tell (Youre Trying to Work It Out) (02:40) 10 Whistlers and Jugglers (04:33) |
| I've Always Been Crazy : Allmusic album Review : By 1978 Waylon Jennings had been through the wringer with his position as one of the most visible "outlaw" country stars: hed been busted for drugs and was addicted to both cocaine and alcohol and was tired of the hype surrounding Nashvilles co-opting what he, Willie Nelson, and a handful of others started in the name of greater artistic control. Ive Always Been Crazy is his first "political" statement about his feelings. And while it may not be as great an album as Ol Waylon or Dreaming My Dreams, its still a fine one. With a cast of players that includes the great Tony Joe White, Ralph Mooney, Carter Robertson, Reggie Young, and Bee Spears, the band assembled here smokes. In addition to the title track, this set also features the classic "Dont You Think This Outlaw Bits Done Got Outta Hand." But even though these two cuts would have been worth the purchase of the album, the rest is nothing to dismiss. There are fine covers of a medley of Buddy Holly hits, a poignant, barely disguised ode to old friend and rambling mate Billy Joe Shaver, the glorious "A Long Time Ago," and the outlaw shuffle "As the Billy World Turns." There are also fine, heartfelt covers of Merle Haggards "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down" and Johnny Cashs "I Walk the Line." The set closes with a pair of ballads, which is uncharacteristic of Jennings during this period; theres "Girl I Can Tell (Youre Trying to Work It Out)," with its folk song melody and country music bridge. And finally, the four-and-a-half-minute "Whistlers and Jugglers," a broken love song by Shel Silverstein that talks of surrender and loss so poignant and sharp, it numbers among Jennings finer performances of the late 70s. In all, Ive Always Been Crazy is a solid recording, still possessing the piss and vinegar of Jennings best work with a deeper lyrical edge on most tracks. In fact, despite its obvious origins, the Holly medley is the only thing that keeps the album from being as stellar as the aforementioned ones. Nonetheless, this is necessary for any fan of outlaw country in general and Jennings in particular. As a perverse side note, it inexplicably took BMG until 2004 to issue this record on CD. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 36 Title: What Goes Around Comes Around Released: 1979-11-01 Tracks: 10 Duration: 33:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Aint Living Long Like This (04:48) 2 What Goes Around (02:58) 3 Another Mans Fool (02:57) 4 I Got the Train Sittin Waitin (02:42) 5 Its the Worlds Gone Crazy (Cotillion) (02:28) 6 Ivory Tower (02:45) 7 Out Among the Stars (03:34) 8 Come With Me (03:03) 9 If You See Her (03:28) 10 Old Love, New Eyes (04:40) |
| What Goes Around Comes Around : Allmusic album Review : When What Goes Around Comes Around was released in late 1979, Waylon Jennings was riding a hot streak of seven number one albums in a row. This didnt reach the top spot only because it was shut out by the phenomenal crossover success of Kenny Rogers Kenny, so it sat at number two for 14 weeks -- so, even if it didnt really reach the top of the charts, it came close enough to count. The generally accepted conventional wisdom about Jennings late-70s/early-80s records is that they pale in comparison to his early-70s records, which is true on the surface but does albums like What Goes Around a disservice. Yes, the neon-and-laser studded cover of this record is ridiculous, but the music isnt splashy and the album, as a whole, is more cohesive than Ive Always Been Crazy, even if it isnt as weighty as Ol Waylon. Reading between the lines, its easy to hear Jennings getting a little weary under the hot spotlight of stardom -- theres the storming opener of Rodney Crowells "I Aint Living Long Like This," which easily became an anthem for the waning days of outlaw, but theres an underlying sense of sadness that runs through the record, particularly the ballad-heavy second half. That Jennings doesnt contribute many originals -- he just co-writes the silly but charming vaudeville of "Its the Worlds Gone Crazy (Cotillion)" with Shel Silverstein -- but that doesnt matter because the choice of songs is strong, displaying that Waylon still hadnt lost his expert ear for songs that suited his styles. True, it isnt a set of stone-cold classics that compares with Honky Tonk Heroes, but "I Aint Living Long Like This" is iconic, "Come With Me" is moving, "Another Mans Fool" is a sly barroom number, and his take on Mickey Newburys "If You See Her" is beautiful. Since Waylons first-rate work is so good and so bountiful, its easy to overlook the relatively modest pleasures of a record like this, but only a fool would dismiss it out of hand, because theres a lot of good music here -- more than enough to justify his continued hot streak. | ||
 | Album: 24 of 36 Title: Heroes Released: 1986 Tracks: 10 Duration: 30:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Folks Out on the Road (02:47) 2 Im Never Gonna Roam Again (02:55) 3 American by Birth (02:33) 4 Field of Diamonds (02:37) 5 Heroes (04:16) 6 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (03:03) 7 Love Is the Way (02:31) 8 The Ballad of Forty Dollars (03:07) 9 Ill Always Love You (In My Own Crazy Way) (03:58) 10 One Too Many Mornings (02:38) |
| Heroes : Allmusic album Review : This album comprised the first full-length work by Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings as a duo, though they had previously worked together as part of the Highwaymen, the existence of whose three LPs may account for the relative neglect that Heroes has received. And it is one of the most obscure records in either artists output, a fact thats astonishing, given the quality of the music, the singing, and the overall production. Co-produced by Chips Moman, and with Cash and Jennings at the top of their game (and so good at what they do that they make it sound easy), theres not a weak point anywhere here. Theres almost no original material on this album, which doesnt make it any less personal than something that Cash or Jennings might have composed themselves: they throw themselves into the music and make it their own, with Moman and the other players smoothing out the whole creation. Whether doing ballads, gospel numbers, or novelty tunes -- plus one underrated Bob Dylan tune, "One Too Many Mornings" -- the two singers find a good balance across a landscape thats mostly Western-tinged (if the albums title and cover art werent a giveaway to the latter, the presence of one-time cowboy star Lash LaRue posed with the two singers in two of the three cover shots makes it kind of obvious). With low-key, spare production even on the most sentimental of the ballads ("Love Is the Way"), the music all flows beautifully and showcases the prodigious vocal talents of the duo; the whole is just a bit bigger than the sum of their parts, as Cash and Jennings make covers of contemporary material sound like its 100 years old. The highlight of the album is the rendition of Rodney Crowells "Im Never Gonna Roam Again," which offers a gorgeous mandolin solo by Marty Stuart (joined by an orchestra that doesnt get in the way of the Stuarts playing), but theres not a song here that isnt worth hearing more than once, and Heroes easily deserves to be re-discovered. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 36 Title: Hangin Tough Released: 1987 Tracks: 10 Duration: 36:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Baker Street (04:34) 2 I Cant Help the Way I Dont Feel About You (04:21) 3 Rose in Paradise (03:42) 4 Crying Dont Even Come Close (02:26) 5 Chevy Van (03:07) 6 Fallin Out (03:35) 7 Deep in the West (03:57) 8 Between Fathers and Sons (03:18) 9 The Crown Prince (04:08) 10 Defying Gravity (Executioners Song) (03:28) |
| Hangin' Tough : Allmusic album Review : Jennings made his name by flouting Nashville convention in a memorably willful way. Consequently, its hard to fault him for venturing into seemingly inappropriate musical areas. Hes covered everything from "Sweet Caroline" to "MacArthur Park" and gotten away with it on sheer chutzpah. So when this 1987 offering leads off with a very uncountry version of the Gerry Rafferty hit "Baker Street" and finds its way to the dated 70s tune "Chevy Van," you have to allow the man his moods. More importantly, HANGIN TOUGH features Jennings stout, unflappable vocal style and some interesting digressions from the usual country format. Waylon perfectly articulates a unique romantic dilemma in "I Cant Help the Way I Dont Feel About You," emphasizing the irony of the situation. He manages a poignant take on cult hero Jesse Winchesters "Defying Gravity." Perhaps most impressive, though, is the unguarded melancholy so eloquently expressed in the quietly heartbreaking "Crying Dont Even Come Close." HANGIN TOUGH isnt a definitive Waylon album, but it will reveal its share of diamonds in the rough to hardcore fans. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 36 Title: A Man Called Hoss Released: 1987-06-01 Tracks: 11 Duration: 32:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Prologue (03:36) 2 Littlefield (02:11) 3 Youll Never Take Texas Out Of Me (02:58) 4 You Went Out With Rock N Roll (02:21) 5 A Love Song (I Cant Sing Anymore) (02:39) 6 If Ole Hank Could Only See Us Now (02:53) 7 Rough And Rowdy Days (02:35) 8 Im Livin Proof (Theres Life After You) (03:17) 9 You Deserve The Stars In My Crown (02:44) 10 Turn It All Around (02:24) 11 Where Do We Go From Here (04:49) |
| A Man Called Hoss : Allmusic album Review : A Man Called Hoss features the hits "My Rough and Rowdy Days" and "If Ole Hank Could Only See Us Now (Chapter Five...Nashville)." | ||
 | Album: 27 of 36 Title: The Eagle Released: 1990-02 Tracks: 10 Duration: 30:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Workin’ Cheap (02:55) 2 What Bothers Me Most (03:25) 3 The Eagle (02:53) 4 Her Man (02:42) 5 Wrong (03:02) 6 Where Corn Don’t Grow (03:17) 7 Reno and Me (03:11) 8 Too Close to Call (02:44) 9 Waking Up With You (02:34) 10 Old Church Hymns and Nursery Rhymes (03:47) |
| The Eagle : Allmusic album Review : The Eagle includes the Top Five hit "Wrong" as well as "Where Corn Dont Grow, " "What Bothers Me Most" and the title track. | ||
 | Album: 28 of 36 Title: Too Dumb for New York City, Too Ugly for L.A. Released: 1992-08-11 Tracks: 10 Duration: 31:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Just Talkin (03:26) 2 Silent Partners (02:51) 3 Didnt We Shine (03:44) 4 Too Dumb for New York City (02:57) 5 Armed and Dangerous (02:48) 6 Heartaches Older Than You (03:20) 7 Hank Williams Syndrome (03:29) 8 A Lot of Good (03:26) 9 Ive Got My Faults (03:05) 10 Smokey on Your Front Door (02:52) |
 | Album: 29 of 36 Title: Cowboys, Sisters, Rascals and Dirt Released: 1993 Tracks: 11 Duration: 31:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Im Little (02:58) 2 I Just Cant Wait (02:34) 3 When I Get Big (02:11) 4 All of My Sisters Are Girls (02:58) 5 A Bad Day (03:09) 6 Dirt (02:36) 7 Cowboy Movies (03:01) 8 If I Could Only Fly (02:34) 9 Useless (The Little Horse That Wouldnt Grow) (05:23) 10 Small Packages (02:14) 11 Shooters Theme (02:15) |
 | Album: 30 of 36 Title: Waymores Blues (Part II) Released: 1994-09-13 Tracks: 10 Duration: 39:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Endangered Species (03:14) 2 Waymores Blues (Part II) (04:20) 3 This Train (Russells Song) (03:36) 4 Wild Ones (03:40) 5 No Good for Me (03:24) 6 Old Timer (The Song) (05:33) 7 Up in Arkansas (04:07) 8 Nobody Knows (03:01) 9 Come Back and See Me (04:18) 10 You Dont Mess Around With Me (04:27) |
 | Album: 31 of 36 Title: Right for the Time Released: 1996-05-21 Tracks: 13 Duration: 44:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 WBPT (03:03) 2 Cactus Texas (03:09) 3 The Most Sensible Thing (04:05) 4 The Boxer (03:47) 5 Hittin the Bottle Again (04:21) 6 Wastin Time (02:50) 7 Kissing You Goodbye (02:00) 8 Carnival Song (03:49) 9 Out of Jail (03:33) 10 Lines (03:02) 11 Deep in the West (03:37) 12 Right for the Time (03:54) 13 Living Legends, Part II (03:03) |
| Right for the Time : Allmusic album Review : In 1996, Waylon Jennings and the major labels in Nashville werent having much to say to one another (not an uncommon situation for a veteran country act at that time), so he signed with the Texas-based indie label Justice Records, who were also working with his buddy Willie Nelson, and he was given free rein to do as he pleased. Waylons first album for Justice, Right for the Time, was an overlooked pleasure, laid-back and relaxed but heartfelt, with Jennings and a compact studio band covering the usual topics -- falling in love, falling out of love, drowning ones sorrows, and trying to make sense of life as it drifts on by -- with his usual blend of cockiness, dignity, and hard-won insight. Some artists create great music out of strong labor, but Waylons best music has often sounded like his most spontaneous, and that was clearly the formula for Right for the Time -- gather up some good tunes, round up the band, and roll tape. And if the result wasnt a great Waylon Jennings album, its a damn good one. Maybe the cover of Paul Simons "The Boxer" wasnt a great idea, but it works better than you might expect, and there are some real winners here, including the swaggering kiss-off "Kissing You Goodbye," the rollicking "Hittin the Bottle Again," the introspective "WBPT" and "Cactus, Texas," and the bittersweet title track. And the closer, "Living Legends, Pt. 2," is a witty overview of the state of country music circa 1996, and if the names have changed, the basic scenario seems remarkably similar almost 20 years on. By 1998, Waylon would be back in the major-label game, but if Right for the Time wasnt seen as a revelatory comeback for Jennings (like Johnny Cashs albums for American), thats probably not what he wanted, given his personality. Jennings likely wanted to make a good album on his own terms, and he certainly succeeded with Right for the Time. | ||
 | Album: 32 of 36 Title: Closing In on the Fire Released: 1998-06-16 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:02:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Closing In on the Fire (04:41) 2 I Know About Me, Don’t Know About You (03:02) 3 Best Friends of Mine (03:57) 4 Just Watch Your Mama and Me (04:45) 5 She’s Too Good for Me (02:30) 6 Back Home (Where I Come From) (04:37) 7 Be Mine (04:41) 8 Easy Money (04:51) 9 The Blues Don’t Care (06:08) 10 Untitled Waltz (03:52) 11 No Expectations (10:05) 12 Audio Liner Notes (09:24) |
| Closing In on the Fire : Allmusic album Review : With so many classic country and western artists making comebacks in the 1990s, it was only natural that Waylon Jennings did so too. But, rather than follow the surfeit of "comebacks," Jennings took his own sweet time, and you are rewarded justly with Closing In on the Fire. Its a fabulous album, spotlighting Jennings powerful vocals as well as his direct, to-the-bone songwriting. Most of the record rocks surprisingly hard, especially Tony Joe Whites swampy title track. Guest appearances by Sheryl Crow, Mark Knopfler, Mary Stuart, and others are a plus, but this is Waylons record -- one of his finest in the last 20 years -- and the man really doesnt need the help. | ||
 | Album: 33 of 36 Title: Love Songs Released: 2005-01-11 Tracks: 14 Duration: 40:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Yours Love (02:18) 2 You Ask Me To (02:32) 3 Amanda (02:59) 4 Come With Me (03:02) 5 Lets Turn Back the Years (02:27) 6 Itll Be Her (03:03) 7 Waltz Me to Heaven (03:07) 8 Dreaming My Dreams With You (02:26) 9 Storms Never Last (03:06) 10 Its Not Supposed to Be That Way (03:29) 11 Didnt We Shine (03:44) 12 We Had It All (02:44) 13 Them Old Love Songs (03:13) 14 The Wurlitzer Prize (I Dont Want to Get Over You) (02:08) |
 | Album: 34 of 36 Title: super hits Released: 2007 Tracks: 10 Duration: 27:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 ONLY DADDY THATLL WALK THE LINE (02:22) 2 GOOD HEARTED WOMAN (03:03) 3 AMANDA (02:58) 4 (Im a) RAMBLIN MAN (02:47) 5 CLYDE (02:42) 6 THE WURLITZER PRIZE (I DONt WANT TO GET OVER YOU) (02:11) 7 THEME FROM THE DUKES OF HAZARD (GOOD OL BOYS) (02:09) 8 LUKENBACH, TEXAS (BACK TO THE BASICS OF LOVE) (03:18) 9 JUST TO SATISFY YOU (DUET WITH WILLIE NELSON) (02:50) 10 LUCILLE (YOU WONt DO YOUR DADDYs WILL) (03:25) |
 | Album: 35 of 36 Title: Waylon Forever Released: 2009-04-20 Tracks: 8 Duration: 35:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Jack of Diamonds (03:41) 2 Outlaw Shit (05:30) 3 Aint Livin Long Like This (04:36) 4 Are You Ready for the Country? (04:01) 5 Lonesome Onry and Mean (04:21) 6 Waymores Blues (05:01) 7 White Room (04:10) 8 I Found the Body (04:03) |
 | Album: 36 of 36 Title: Goin Down Rockin : The Last Recordings Released: 2012 Tracks: 12 Duration: 44:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Goin Down Rockin (03:59) 2 Belle of the Ball (04:56) 3 If My Harley Was Runnin (03:29) 4 I Do Believe (03:33) 5 Friends in California (03:08) 6 The Ways of the World (05:33) 7 Shakin the Blues (03:08) 8 Never Say Die (03:41) 9 Wastin Time (03:04) 10 Sad Songs and Waltzes (02:28) 11 She Was No Good for Me (04:21) 12 Wrong Road to Nashville (03:30) |