In the mid-1970s, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and a few other cohorts turned the Nashville country establishment on its ear, introducing a gritty, rock & roll feel and iconoclastic, rebellious sensibility to the staid institution country music had become. The breath of fresh air that they were, they became hugely popular, and were justly hailed as the vanguard of "Outlaw Country." After releasing a number of definitive solo albums in the preceding few years, Jennings and Nelson collaborated on one of the most popular albums of the genre, 1976's WANTED! THE OUTLAWS. Aided by Waylon's wife Jessi Colter and pal Tompall Glaser (of the Glaser Brothers), they crafted perhaps the ultimate Outlaw Country mission statement. The rough-and-ready ethos of Jennings's "Honky Tonk Heroes (Like Me)" and Nelson's "Me and Paul" is pretty much ground zero for the style, bearing undeniable energy, earthy humanism, and irresistibly catchy lyrical and melodic motifs. Jennings and Nelson would scale even greater heights of fame in the years to come, but were seldom ever as much at the top of their game.
Tracks:
- 1.My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
- 2.Honky Tonk Heroes (Like Me)
- 3.I'm Looking For Blue Eyes
- 4.You Mean to Say
- 5.Suspicious Minds
- 6.A Good Hearted Woman
- 7.Heaven and Hell
- 8.Me and Paul
- 9.Yesterday's Wine
- 10.T For Texas
- 11.Put Another Log on the Fire
- 12.Slow Movin' Outlaws
- 13.Ramblin' Man, (I'm A)
- 14.If She's Where You Like Livin' (You Won't Feel at Home With Me)
- 15.It's Not Easy
- 16.Why You Been Gone So Long
- 17.Under Your Spell Again
- 18.I Ain't the One
- 19.You Left a Long, Long Time Ago
- 20.Healing Hands of Time
- 21.Nowhere Road - (1996)