Maps of Music

Waylon Live (1976)

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

The album's best-known song first appeared as the B-side of a 1975 number one country single.

Key places

Recorded at the Western Place, Dallas (1976)

Recording site The Western Place — Jennings and producer Ray Pennington recorded one of the three shows for this album at the Western Place in Dallas in late September 1974. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at the Opry House, Austin (1976)

Recording site Arlyn Studios — Two of the three shows for this album were recorded at the Opry House in Austin on back to back nights in September 1974. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Waylon Live: first live album by Waylon Jennings
• Released in 1976 on RCA Victor
• Assembled from three shows recorded in late September 1974
• The original LP is one of Jennings' most highly praised releases
• Includes Rainy Day Women, This Time, and Good Hearted Woman
• A revised CD followed in 1999 and an expanded deluxe edition in 2003

Background

• Jennings first gained fame as a live performer at a club called J.D.s in Phoenix, Arizona, in the early 1960s
• A protégé of Buddy Holly, he toured with Holly before Holly's death in 1959
• Signed to RCA Victor in 1966 by Chet Atkins on the basis of his local fame across Arizona
• He grew disillusioned with the lackluster sound of his recordings compared with his live shows
• By 1972 RCA gave in to his demands to record with the Waylors and produce his own records
• Honky Tonk Heroes in 1973 is widely regarded as ground zero for the outlaw country movement

Recording

• Recorded while the single I'm a Ramblin' Man was riding high on the country singles charts
• Producer Ray Pennington worked with Jennings on the recordings
• One show at Dallas' Western Place and two at Austin's Texas Opry House
• The two Austin shows were played on back to back nights
• Drummer Richie Albright and steel guitarist Ralph Mooney are among the band

Cover

• Neil Zlozower is credited as photographer on the original release
• Jim Osborne is credited for the cover illustration on the original release

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

Tracklist

Disc 1

Disc 2

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

• Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that the album is nearly flawless and a snapshot of Waylon Jennings at the height of his powers
• He called it one of the great country records and one of the great live albums, capturing a movement at its peak
• Marc Greilsamer of Amazon.com wrote that the band was at the peak of its powers when the tapes rolled over three nights in fall 1974
• He described the singer alternately growling menacingly and purring seductively
• He praised bassist Duke Goff and drummer Richie Albright for the steady, unshakable rhythm
• He also cited steel guitarist Ralph Mooney for vividly coloring the record throughout

Reappraisal

• In his essay for the 2003 expanded edition, Rich Kienzle called Ralph Mooney the unifier within the Waylors
• Kienzle wrote that Mooney's sharp toned, economical style gave the band's disparate musical elements cohesion
• Kienzle said Mooney played exactly what each song needed, no more and no less
• Kienzle argued that with Mooney riding shotgun, the sound could not have been anything but country

Records

• Reached No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart
• Reached No. 46 on the pop albums chart
• The 1999 revised CD restored nine extra tracks Jennings had wanted
• The 2003 expanded deluxe version contained 42 tracks taken from the three shows

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The original plan was a double album, but it was dropped because double albums were not considered viable in country music, though they were popular in rock.
• The album's best-known song, Bob Wills Is Still the King, first appeared as the B-side of the 1975 number one hit Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way.
• Jennings introduced the Bob Wills song as written on a plane between Dallas and Austin.
• On Me and Paul, Jennings changed the tag line to a reference to his friend Tompall Glaser.
• The 1999 revised CD restored nine extra tracks, including Lonesome, On'ry and Mean and The Taker.
• The 2003 expanded edition drew 42 tracks from the three shows.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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