Waylon Jennings - Wanted! - The Outlaws
The "Outlaws." Waylon & Willie. Waylon & Jessi. Tompall Glaser. The
immortal "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys." The eloquent writing
of Willie Nelson on "Me and Paul"; Jessi Colter's plaintive
little-girl voice; Tompall Glaser's rowdy attitude; and the golden
baritone of Waylon Jennings. In 1976, this album made country music
history by being the first country album to ever make platinum (one
million sales). It flew in the face of what was acceptable in Nashville at
the time. It was solid, hardcore, Texas-flavored country. In this
edition, Waylon and Willie got back together, dug out nine tracks from the
original recording sessions, then went into the studio to record Steve
Earle's "Nowhere Road" as a salute to twenty years of "Outlaws."
The original 11 tracks are good enough. With all the extra music,
it's an extra treat and a delight to listen to. In addition to "My
Heroes...," the Outlaws kick through Billy Joe Shaver's "Honky Tonk
Heroes (Like Me)," Jessi Colter's lovely "I'm Looking For Blue
Eyes," Waylon and Willie's "A Good Hearted Woman," and Tompall
Glaser singing Jimmie Rodgers' classic "T For Texas" and Shel
Silverstein's delightfully fun "Put Another Log on the Fire." Six
of the original 11 tracks are legendary country standards. The nine
additional tracks from the 1976 sessions include songs written by Willie,
Buck Owens, and Jessi. Of them is Waylon's brilliant performance of
"(I'm a) Ramblin' Man," and Waylon and Jessi performing the old
standard, "Under your Spell Again." The final cut, recorded in
1996, puts a neat capper on the "Outlaw movement," with one of today's
most outspoken outlaws, Steve Earle, writing for and playing with the
originals. It's a great song, and if anything, Waylon and Willie sound even better
20 years later.
This is one of the most comprehensive collections of Waylon & Willie songs
without actually being a "greatest hits" collection. Twenty years of
great music, and it will leave you wanting more.
Reviewed by -- Kathy Coleman
