Maps of Music

The Ramblin' Man (1974)

Where the lyrics of The Ramblin' Man take you, and where it was really made.

The title song had already charted for Ray Pennington, who took it to #29 on the country charts in 1967. Waylon Jennings's own version went to #1.

Key places

Recording site Quad Studios — The album was recorded at Glaser Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, in July 1974. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Ramblin' Man: the 21st studio album by American country artist Waylon Jennings
Released in 1974 on RCA Victor; release date listed as September 1974
Produced by Jennings himself
Some tracks had co-producers: Tompall Glaser on 'Rainy Day Woman', Ray Pennington on 'Oklahoma Sunshine' and 'I'm a Ramblin' Man'
Standard jewel case with a transparent tray and a 6-page fold-out booklet

Released at what was still considered the height of the outlaw movement in country music
Slightly more commercial sound than some of Jennings's recent records, while staying true to his outlaw image and uncompromising musical vision
Title song 'I'm a Ramblin' Man' was written by Pennington, who recorded it in 1967 for Capitol Records
Jennings's version of the title song became his second #1 on the country chart and also appeared on Australian charts
The Bob McDill ballad 'Amanda' was not released as a single at the time of the album

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.

Released at what was still considered the height of the outlaw movement in country music
Its chart success reflected that moment in country music

AllMusic: says the album perfected the marketable version of the outlaw sketch from Honky Tonk Heroes, making it slicker, more commercial and more unstoppable
AllMusic: says it has a wilder sound and greater diversity of songs than its predecessor, and feels more blatantly outlaw
AllMusic: notes that even its moments of reflection feed into the outlaw picture
AllMusic: says the songs are not the equal of Honky Tonk Heroes or even This Time

Peaked at #3 on the country albums chart, Jennings's best showing since Love of the Common People in 1967
'Rainy Day Woman' was released in December 1974 as the second single and reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart
Jennings's version of 'I'm a Ramblin' Man' became his second #1 on the country chart
Jennings's version also appeared on Australian charts

Ray Pennington recorded 'I'm a Ramblin' Man' in 1967 for Capitol Records and took it to #29 on the country charts
Tompall Glaser co-produced 'Rainy Day Woman', while Pennington co-produced 'Oklahoma Sunshine' and 'I'm a Ramblin' Man'
The Bob McDill ballad 'Amanda' was not released as a single at the time; more than 4½ years later new overdubs were added to the original track and it went on his first greatest hits album
The song 'Amanda' was issued as a single later and became one of the biggest country hits of 1979
The album cover photo was shot at Muhlenbrink's, formerly the Red Dog Saloon