Maps of Music

Hangin' Tough (1987)

Where the lyrics of Hangin' Tough take you, and where it was really made.

Waylon Jennings later said he was disappointed with this album and with his own performance on it.

Key places

Recording studio in Nashville (1987)

Recording site Sound Stage Studios — The album is credited as recorded at Sound Stage Studio in Nashville. The pin marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Hangin' Tough: 35th studio album by American country artist Waylon Jennings
• Released on MCA Records in 1987
• Italian article gives January 1987 as the release month
• Ten tracks in total, five per side
• Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty)
• I Can't Help the Way I Don't Feel About You
• Rose in Paradise
• Crying Don't Even Come Close
• Chevy Van
• Fallin' Out
• Deep in the West
• Between Fathers and Sons
• The Crown Prince
• Defying Gravity (Executioner's Song)

Background

• Recorded while Jennings had only recently become drug-free
• Jennings later said he was disappointed with the album and his performance

Recording

• Sound Stage Studio in Nashville is listed as the recording place
• Recorded By credit: Ron Treat
• Waylon Jennings on lead and backing vocals
• Reggie Young, Richard Bennett, Billy Joe Walker Jr., Larry Byrom and Gary Scruggs on guitars
• Ralph Mooney on steel guitar
• Mark O'Connor on mandola and mandolin
• John Jarvis on piano and synthesizer; Steve Schaffer on synclavier
• Jerry Bridges on bass; Matt Betton on drums
• Curtis Young on background vocals

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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

• Released on MCA Records in 1987
• Waylon Jennings's 35th studio album, per the English article
• Italian article gives January 1987 as the release month
• Recorded while Jennings had only recently become drug-free
• Recording location is listed as Sound Stage Studio, Nashville
• Track list includes Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty and Defying Gravity (Executioner's Song) by Jesse Winchester
• Credits list 13 musicians, Jennings included, on guitars, steel guitar, keyboards, bass, drums and vocals

Reappraisal

• Jennings later said he was disappointed with the album and his performance
• He said that after signing with MCA the label gave a couple of albums its best shot
• He said he was not leading the band during this period
• He said he was still smoking heavily after getting off drugs, and his voice showed the wear and tear
• He said getting his feet back on the ground took as much concentration as singing
• These remarks are Jennings's own retrospective, not a critic's review

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Jennings had only recently become drug-free when the sessions took place
• Jennings later said he was disappointed with the album and his performance
• The Italian article's track list opens side A with Baker Street, a Gerry Rafferty song
• The Discogs release credit names Ron Treat as recording engineer

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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