Maps of Music
Closing In on the Fire (1998)
Where the lyrics of Closing In on the Fire take you, and where it was really made.
Waylon Jennings' last studio album before his death in 2002 reached only number 71 on the country charts, yet it drew guest appearances from Sting, Sheryl Crow and Mark Knopfler.
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Overview
- Closing In on the Fire is the 44th and final studio album released by American country artist Waylon Jennings in his lifetime
- Released 16 June 1998 on Ark 21 Records
- Jennings' 72nd release overall
- Features contributions from several figures associated with both country and rock music
- Selections include Sting's "She's Too Good for Me" and Tony Joe White's title track
- Adds blues and rock elements alongside traditional country ballads, a wider musical range than many earlier Jennings releases
- Track list: 11 songs plus a bonus interview with Jennings about the record
Background
- "Best Friends of Mine" is an autobiographical song that pays tribute to Buddy Holly, Hank Williams Jr. and Jim Garchow
- Garchow was a former DJ and longtime voice of the Idaho Falls Chukars minor league baseball team, and one of Jennings' close friends from his days in Phoenix
- Carl Smith, one of Jennings' idols, appears on "Untitled Waltz"
- In an interview Jennings said he was not fully satisfied with his version of The Rolling Stones' "No Expectations"
- Travis Tritt, Jessi Colter, Sheryl Crow and Mark Knopfler are credited as guest vocalists or players on separate tracks
Recording
- Producer credited as Gregg Brown in the Italian Wikipedia entry
- Session players include Richard Bennett, Michael Henderson, Larry Byrom, Michael Rhodes and Matt Rollings
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org
Tracklist
| 1 | Closing In on the Fire | 4:42 |
| 2 | I Know About Me, Don’t Know About You | 3:02 |
| 3 | Best Friends of Mine | 3:57 |
| 4 | Just Watch Your Mama and Me | 4:46 |
| 5 | She’s Too Good for Me | 2:31 |
| 6 | Back Home (Where I Come From) | 4:37 |
| 7 | Be Mine | 4:42 |
| 8 | Easy Money | 4:51 |
| 9 | The Blues Don’t Care | 6:08 |
| 10 | Untitled Waltz | 3:53 |
| 11 | No Expectations | 10:05 |
| 12 | Audio Liner Notes | 9:25 |
Sources: musicbrainz.org
Artist
Career
- Born June 15, 1937 in Littlefield, Texas; American country singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and author.
- Considered one of the pioneers of the outlaw movement in country music.
- Played in the Texas Longhorns as a teen; worked as a DJ at KLLL in Lubbock.
- Played bass for Buddy Holly on the Winter Dance Party tour; gave up his seat on the plane that crashed in 1959.
- Led the Waylors at JD's club in Phoenix, Arizona, developing a rock-influenced country style.
- Signed with RCA Victor in 1965; gained creative control in the early 1970s with Lonesome, On'ry and Mean and Honky Tonk Heroes.
- Had a number-one hit with "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" from Dreaming My Dreams.
- Recorded Wanted! The Outlaws with Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, and Jessi Colter, the first platinum country album.
- Narrated and sang the theme for The Dukes of Hazzard, "Good Ol' Boys", which became his biggest hit.
- Joined Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash in the Highwaymen.
- Overcame cocaine addiction in 1984.
- Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001; died February 13, 2002 in Chandler, Arizona.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Reception
Records
- Reached number 71 on the country charts
- Released 16 June 1998 on Ark 21 Records
- Jennings' 44th and final studio album released in his lifetime
- Jennings' 72nd release overall
- The last studio album released before his death in 2002
- Guests include Sting, Sheryl Crow, Mark Knopfler, Travis Tritt, Jessi Colter and Carl Smith
- Musical range covers blues, rock and traditional country ballads
- Bonus track is an interview in which Jennings comments on the record
- Eleven songs plus the bonus interview make up the track listing
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- The bonus track is an interview in which Jennings talks about the record.
- "She's Too Good for Me" is credited to Sting and is sung with Sheryl Crow and Mark Knopfler.
- The title track was written by Tony Joe White.
- "No Expectations", a Rolling Stones cover, runs 10:05 and is the longest track.
- Discogs notes it as Waylon's last studio album released before his passing in 2002.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com