Maps of Music

Only the Greatest (1968)

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

Despite its title, Only the Greatest is not a best-of collection. It was Jennings' eighth LP for RCA Victor in four years.

Key places

Recording site RCA Studio B — The album was recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville, Tennessee. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Only the Greatest: ninth studio album by American country music artist Waylon Jennings
Released in 1968 on RCA Victor
Includes the single "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line", which Jennings took to #2 on the country music charts that year
Produced by Chet Atkins, according to Spanish Wikipedia
Italian Wikipedia lists 12 tracks, with Jennings on vocals and guitar

Eighth LP for RCA Victor in four years
Not a "best of" package, despite the title
Contains the singer's first pair of Top 5 country hits: "Walk On Out of My Mind" (#5) and "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" (#2)
"Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" was released in July 1968 as the second single from the album
The single was Jennings' biggest success yet
Jennings chafed under the constraints imposed by RCA Victor
He remained frustrated that the sound of his live shows with his backing band the Waylors did not come across on record
The album mainly relied on outside songwriters, including Harlan Howard, Bobby Bare, Jerry Chesnut, Billy Sherrill and Neil Diamond

Musicians listed on Italian Wikipedia include Wayne Moss, Fred Carter and Jerry Reed on guitar
Charlie McCoy plays harmonica, trumpet and organ; Harold Ragsdale plays vibraphone and organ
Drummers include Buddy Harman, Jerry Carrigan and Richie Albright
Recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville, Tennessee

1	Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line	2:21
2	California Sunshine	2:13
3	Weakness in a Man	2:51
4	Sorrow (Breaks a Good Man Down)	2:08
5	Christina	2:14
6	Such a Waste of Love	2:34
7	Walk On Out of My Mind	2:21
8	Kentucky Woman	2:21
9	Long Gone	2:31
10	You’ll Think of Me	2:12
11	Wave Goodbye to Me	2:04
12	Too Far Gone	2:54

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.

Billboard, in a review of the album, said that it and "Walk On Out of My Mind" were "typical of the robust, compelling vocal style" that Jennings became known for
Billboard's review singled out the album's vocal style as the reason the record stood out
The single "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" was Jennings' biggest success yet at release

Nathan Brackett and Christian Hoard, in The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, wrote that Jennings began to "really assert his rough-hewn sensibility" on "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line"
The same guide placed the song as the point where Jennings' rough-edged sound became clear

"Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" spent eighteen weeks on the Hot Country Singles charts
The single peaked at #2 and held that peak for five weeks
"Walk On Out of My Mind" rose to #5
In Canada, the song reached Number One on the RPM Country Tracks charts for the week ending September 30, 1968

Jennings said he waited a year to record "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" because Charlie Louvin's bass player had recorded the original version for Capitol Records
In his autobiography, Jennings said "Harper Valley P.T.A." kept the song out of the number-one slot
Jennings performed the song as part of a medley on The Johnny Cash Show
Contrary to the title, the album is not a "best of" package
Jennings' backing band, the Waylors, had a live sound he wanted on record but did not get in the studio