Maps of Music

Diamonds (2026)

Where the lyrics of Diamonds take you, and where it was really made.

The title track was recorded in 1978, but this album only comes out after Waylon Jennings's death.

Key places

American Studios, Nashville (1978)

Recording site Nashville — The source says I Never Said It Would Be Easy was recorded here on 14 April 1978, the same day as I've Always Been Crazy. The pin sits at city-center level because only the city is known. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Sunset Sound Recorders, Los Angeles (2026)

Recording site Sunset Sound — The album's studio list names Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles as one of its two recording studios. The source does not say which track was recorded here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Diamonds: the 48th studio album by American country singer Waylon Jennings
• Released posthumously, after Jennings's death
• Physical release set for 13 November 2026
• Streaming release set for 11 December 2026
• Released by Thirty Tigers and Son of Jessi
• Opening and title track Diamonds recorded on the night of 28 December 1978
• Glen Campbell plays guitar on the title track alongside The Waylors
• Campbell also co-wrote the title track with Jennings
• Richie Albright and Tony Joe White produced the session; Jennings handled post-production

Background

• In April 2026, billboards appeared in California showing Jennings smoking in his 1974 Cadillac Eldorado
• The billboards carried the words Diamonds and 2026
• The Eldorado is owned today by Kid Rock
• West Coast Customs converted the car into a tribute to Jennings in April 2017
• On 19 June 2026, CBS News confirmed the album name as Diamonds and reported that the album would come out later in the year
• On 20 June 2026, the album was posted to record shops across the country, revealing the tracklist, album art and some of the personnel

Recording

• The title track was recorded at night on 28 December 1978
• I Never Said It Would Be Easy was recorded on 14 April 1978 at American Studios, the same day as I've Always Been Crazy
• Saturday Night Special was the only track found in a fully unfinished state in the whole batch of recordings
• On Saturday Night Special, only the keys and Jennings's vocal tracks had been laid down
• Shooter brought in The Waylors and Mickey Raphael to finish the song
• Born Too Late was recorded sometime in the 1980s and is the eleventh track, second to last on the album
• Its writer Zack Van Arsdale posted it to YouTube on 21 February 2012
• Before this album it had never been officially released in any form
• The album version is expected to have a different final mix and comping and is about 20 seconds shorter than the YouTube version

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

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

At release

• The first single, the opening and title track Diamonds, was released on 21 June 2026
• Album name confirmed by CBS News on 19 June 2026
• Tracklist, album art and some personnel posted to record shops on 20 June 2026
• Physical release scheduled for 13 November 2026
• Streaming release scheduled for 11 December 2026
• Released by Thirty Tigers and Son of Jessi
• The album is Jennings's 48th studio album and is set to be released posthumously
• Born Too Late appears on the album for the first time in any official form, after only a 2012 YouTube upload
• I Never Said It Would Be Easy was released only as the B-side to I've Always Been Crazy in June 1978
• I Never Said It Would Be Easy never appeared on an album or as a single
• I Never Said It Would Be Easy has never been on streaming platforms
• That left the track largely forgotten in Jennings's catalogue
• Saturday Night Special was finished by The Waylors and Mickey Raphael after Shooter found it unfinished
• The album's version of Born Too Late is expected to differ from the YouTube version in final mix and comping

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• In April 2026, billboards in California showed Jennings in his 1974 Cadillac Eldorado, with Diamonds and 2026 written on it
• The Eldorado is owned today by Kid Rock, and West Coast Customs made it a tribute car to Jennings in April 2017
• Saturday Night Special was the only track found completely unfinished, and Shooter enlisted The Waylors and Mickey Raphael to complete it
• Born Too Late was posted to YouTube by its writer Zack Van Arsdale in 2012 and was not officially released until this album
• The album version of Born Too Late is expected to be about 20 seconds shorter than the YouTube version
• I Never Said It Would Be Easy was the B-side of I've Always Been Crazy in June 1978 and has never been on a album, a single, or streaming

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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