Track Listing

1. Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
2. I've Always Been Crazy
3. Honky Tonk Heroes
4. Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)
5. I'm a Ramblin' Man
6. Amanda
7. Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys - Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson
8. Good Hearted Woman [Version]
9. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5989 in Music
• Brand: RCA
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Details
18 Great Tracks from the Late Cowboy "Outlaw" that Helped Set Country Music on Its Ear in Cahoots with Longtime Pal Willie Nelson. They were a Different Breed of Country Singer, Not Afraid to Show Defiance of the Nashville Establishment and Portrayed a Rough, Honky Tonkin Image....and People Loved and Respected Him for It. Jennings Had So Many Great Hit Singles, There was a Period of About 10 Years in the 70's and 80's Where it Didn't Matter What He Released, it Automatically Went Gold. He Never Forgot that it was his Place on a Small Plane that Mentor Buddy Holly Took One Fateful Night and Never Returned. There Will Never Be Another Like Him, No Other Voice Will Ever Sound Like Him.

Amazon.com
These cuts capture Waylon Jennings in the first flush of his status as a country music superstar, after he gained control of his music in the early '70s. When he began to produce or coproduce his own records, it should be stressed, his music didn't change much--his "Good Hearted Woman" from 1972 (to cite the only pre-Outlaw cut here) is of a piece with later hits like "Honky Tonk Heroes" and "Luckenbach, Texas," from their ramblin'-man themes to Waylon's booming baritone and his music's burping bass lines. What was different was the rock-influenced Outlaw ad copy pushing his career, a rebellious new image he cultivated in country chart-toppers like "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" and "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," a duet with Willie Nelson. That new frame made all the difference. Jennings had always been great but now, on eight of the nine tracks here, his singles went all the way to the top of the charts. --David Cantwell

Customer Reviews

Classic real country
If you like real genuine country, not today's yuppy country love tunes (They have a place but not 24/7), then try listening to Waylon Jennings. You can't classify the man because he sings all kinds of songs. Compare his deep smooth baritone mixed with the midrange and even high notes. Not to knock Tim Mcgraw, but just listen to the vocals between the two. There's no match. It's like Sinatra Vs. Tiny Tim. (McGraw fans take a breath, it's my opinion)
The only bad thing about this CD is that they left off "Ladies Love Outlaws" which was on the original LP release. Why? Who knows? The song is available on CD.
If you like up tempo, and have cast all country as goat roping whining music, Listen to "Are you Sure Hank Done it This Way", "Lonesome On'ry and Mean", and "Honky Tonk Heroes". After that you'll understand Waylon's roots in rock and roll, as Buddy Holly's Bass player.
If you like a country ballad that tells a story without putting you to sleep like some other artists, play "Amanda". For the classic rugged tunes with great lyrics the famous duet with Willie Nelson of "Good Hearted Woman", "Luckenbach, Texas" and Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up To Be Cowboys" are songs that you can't hear enough of.
Waylon's outlaw style is personified in the lyrics to "I'm A Rambling Man", and the original penned by Waylon himself, "I've Always Been Crazy". The hit "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" is the up tempo version of a man and wife's struggles.
Released in 1979, but some of the recordings and hits date back to the 60's. With some of these great go to songs still being found on juke boxes all over the country today, it shows that outlaw and rugged country fans are loyal to the end. It seems to me some of the newer country fans have lost that. It's kind of like rock and roll today. Many people like the song, and know it, but can't tell you the singer or the name of the band. With so many new artists coming and going after a big album, a second fair but going down album, and a third that bombs, no one can tell who's singing anymore.
With Waylon, there's no mistaking it. If you like this album, I recommend "New Classic Waylon", and for more vintage material in a Live album, Get "Waylon Live". Waylon won a grammy for Macarthur Park, which is a Sinatra type of song. He sings classic Rough outlaw country, ballads, humorous songs, and older rock and roll all with equal ease. If you like a little humorous storytelling, listen to "Nobody Knows I'm Elvis" (Waymore's Blues Part II CD, and "Troubleman" and "How Much is it Worth to Live in L.A." on the New Classic Waylon CD. If you don't like it, then your taste isn't here where so many others are, then you'll have to look for different artists.
The thing about Waylon is that the man could flat out sing. Oh, and you won't find him on the cover of his cd's or albums barefooted with crossed legs, sitting on a white sheep skin rug, with a CD full of pop tunes inside like you will in today's "Country" music rack. He'll be the one in a black vest and hat with Jeans, beard, and those things called cowboy boots.

One of the greatest country albums ever
Now after calling this one of the greatest country albums ever I do have to mention one little problem. I used to have this record on LP and I know that at least three tracks are missing. I keep waiting for a re-release of the original version. Now for the praise. Waylon is one of those artists that has a real history to him. He played bass for Buddy Holly and he is the one that gave his seat on that fatefull plane ride to the Big Bopper. I belive since he was a bass player he likes to add a lot of bass to his music and you will hear it from the first track "Lonesome, Onry, and Mean" all the way to the last track. The song "Good Hearted Woman" is one of the most honest songs ever written. If you have never heard of Waylon or the whole Outlaw Country thing and want to get a fair sample of this is the album for you. Of course you should also check out Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash (Check out his Billboard ad on his homepage), Jerry Jeff Walker, Gary P. Nunn, Asleep at the Wheel, Junior Brown, and Chris Wall. There are probably a hundred others that I should mention but this will give you a good taste of Texas Country music.

It wasn't meant for Waylon to ride the American Pie
He HAD to miss that plane so he could become the legendary Outlaw that he was. This album captures the songs that made him famous across genres. It isn't profound or cutting edge. It never claimed to be. It's just a damned fine example of good sing along country music. I had a blast at a new year's party singing along to it. Miss you Waylon. Godspeed.