Maps of Music

Folk-Country (1966)

Where the lyrics of Folk-Country take you, and where it was really made.

Producer Chet Atkins sold this album as folk music, but most of its songs are country-pop.

Key places

Nashville Sound Studio recording (1966)

Recording site RCA Studio B — The album was recorded at RCA Victor's Nashville Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, according to the credits. The point marks the city-level studio location given in the sources. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Folk-Country: second studio album and major-label debut of American country singer Waylon Jennings
• Released in 1966 on RCA Victor, dated 14 March 1966
• First collaboration between Jennings and producer Chet Atkins
• Twelve tracks: four songs written or co-written by Jennings and four composed by Harlan Howard
• The sound bears little resemblance to the outlaw style Jennings pioneered in the 1970s

Background

• Chet Atkins first heard of Jennings through comedian Don Bowman and country singer Bobby Bare
• Bowman had worked with Waylon on the radio in Lubbock
• In March 1965 Jennings made his first RCA recordings, a moderately successful but increasingly frustrated partnership
• Jennings later recalled that he was in awe of the legendary Atkins
• Atkins tempered Jennings' assertive vocal style and surrounded him with Nashville sound hallmarks used by RCA artists such as Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves
• Atkins let members of Jennings' band the Waylors play on the recording, a rarely repeated move that annoyed Waylon

Recording

• Recorded at RCA Victor's Nashville Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee
• Sessions took place on several dates, including 16 March 1965

Cover

• Atkins marketed the album to the folk-pop audience under the title Folk-Country

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.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

Reappraisal

• AllMusic: calls Folk-Country Waylon's true debut album for the RCA label
• AllMusic: says the record is very much embryonic in revealing the mature Jennings sound
• AllMusic: says its roots are clearly audible and the material, while safe, is more than satisfying
• AllMusic: says the single 'Stop the World (And Let Me Off)' is indicative of the countrypolitan fare Atkins was developing at the label
• AllMusic: says a listener can hear Jennings stretching the song to the limits of a mainstream country single

Records

• Billboard country album chart: peaked at No. 9
• Single 'Stop the World (And Let Me Off)': peaked at No. 16
• The single stayed in Jennings' live show for years after its release

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Atkins marketed Jennings to the folk-pop audience and named the album Folk-Country, though most songs are country-pop
• The up-tempo single 'Stop the World (And Let Me Off)' peaked at No. 16 and stayed in Jennings' live show for years
• Atkins allowed Waylors band members to play on the record, something rarely permitted afterward, to Waylon's annoyance
• The album credits 'I'm a Man of Constant Sorrow' to Jennings, but it seems to be an adaptation of the traditional song
• Don Bowman wrote the album's back cover notes

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

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