Tag: Country
-
Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser, Wanted! The Outlaws, 1976 on RCA Victor
The album that solidified the rise of outlaw country, and was the first country album to be certified platinum. Great collection of mostly previously released songs with a few new titles, including: two songs each from Waylon, Jessi, Willie, and Tompall plus two Waylon & Willie songs and one Waylon & Jessi song. Tompall Glaser…
-
Sturgill Simpson, The Ballad of Dood & Juanita, 2021 on High Top Mountain Records
The seventh studio album from Sturgill Simpson with guest Willie Nelson on “Juanita.” A concept album set in Kentucky during the Civil War, this may be the last album under his own name. I just love Simpson’s approach to music and composition as well as the whole band here, which includes: Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan,…
-
Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson, Poncho & Lefty, 1983 on Epic
Another Willie Nelson duet album, this one from 1983 with fellow “outlaw” Merle Haggard with title track from Townes Van Zandt. Great collection of songs, including Nelson’s own “Opportunity to Cry,” the title track, and the pairing of “Reasons to Quit” with “No Reason to Quit.” My copy—via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN—is a Columbia…
-
Guy Clark, Old No. 1, 1975 on RCA Victor
Guy Clark’s debut album, out in 1975 on RCA Victor, reissued here by Vinyl Me Please in their Country track in 2024. Cover painting by his wife Susanna Clark. Backing vocalists here include Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, and Steve Earle – among a shortlist of the folks Guy Clark was a tremendous influence on. Liner…
-
Maria McKee, Maria McKee, 1989 on Geffen
This was the debut solo album from the lead singer of Lone Justice. She’s joined here by Richard Thompson and Marc Ribot on guitar and Steve Wickham on fiddle. She’d go on to record six more solo records and some live recordings – but I don’t think any of them did very well in the…
-
Emmylou Harris, Thirteen, 1986 on Warner Brothers
Harris counted this as her 13th studio album, ignoring Gliding Bird which came out on an independent label. It was produced by Harris and her then-husband Paul Kennerley and recorded in Nashville. Guests include VInce Gill, Rodney Crowell, and Carl Jackson. Tracklist includes covers of Bruce Springsteen’s “My Father’s House” (from Nebraska) and Merle Haggard’s…
-
Lucinda Williams, Ramblin’ On My Mind, 1979 on Folkways
Attributed to “Lucinda” mono-nymically, this was Williams’ debut solo album, released in 1979 on Folkways (which became Smithsonian Folkways in 1987). She’s accompanied by John Grimaudo on 6-string guitar (she plays 12-string and sings), and the album was produced by Tom Royals, an attorney for whom this is the only producing credit – he was…
-
Willie Nelson, Phases and Stages, 1974 on Atlantic
This was Nelson’s 17th studio album and second (and last) of the Atlantic era, following Shotgun Willie, produced by Jerry Wexler and recorded at Muscle Shoals in Alabama. As the listening notes explain, while Nelson disclaimed the autobiographical elements of the record, “when you make . . . the most devastating divorce record of all…
-
Billy Joe Shaver, Old Five and Dimers Like Me, 1973 on Monument
This was Shaver’s debut album, produced by Kris Kristofferson. I know Shaver more through tributes (2022’s Live Forever) and other famous artists recording his songs more than I knew him. “Live Forever,” the song, was covered by Robert Duvall in the film Crazy Heart but was also done by the Highwaymen. This is the kind…
-
Brandy Clark, Your Life is a Record, 2020 on Warner Records / Slate Creek
Clark’s third studio LP, produced by Jay Joyce. Includes “Bigger Boat” (a duet with Randy Newman) and “Who You Thought I Was.” I think Clark is a fantastic modern songwriter rooted in classic country storytelling and worldplay. This is a bit more aimed at mainstream pop audiences, but I think it’s very successful. We’re either…
-
Willie Nelson, Willie Nelson and Family, 1971 on RCA Victor
Nelson’s 12th studio album, while he was still at RCA Records, before moving to Atlantic. Some covers – “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “Sunday Mornin’ Coming Down,” “Fire and Rain,” and “Today I Started Loving You Again” – as well as some Nelson originals like “I Can Cry Again” and “That’s Why I Love…
-
Steve Earle, Guitar Town, 1986 on MCA Records
Earle’s debut album from the mid-eighties – note the proud “Digital Recording” stamp on the cover (where now you’d see “All Analog” promoted). Topped the country charts, and the title single made #7 on the country singles charts. I think Earle’s really matured into a wonderful elder statesman of a certain kind of roots /…
-
Waylon Jennings, The Taker / Tulsa, 1971 on RCA/Victor
Love this early 70s Waylon Jennings. It’s only 30 minutes long but has great takes on some Kris Kristofferson tunes like “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” It was recorded at RCA “Nashville Sound’ studio and in LA, and produced by Danny Davis and Ronny Light.…
-
Marty Stuart, Busy Bee Cafe, 1982 on Sugar Hill Records
No, that’s not the same Sugar Hill that put out Rapper’s Delight – it’s a folk/bluegrass label out of North Carolina, later merged in Concord and now Rounder. Although Stuart’s recorded output starts in the 80s, he spent years touring with Lester Flatt and in Johnny Cash’s road band. This was his second album, the…
-
Kris Kristofferson, The Silver Tongued Devil and I, 1971 on Monument
This was Kristofferson’s second album, following what was originally released as Kristofferson but later retitled Me and Bobby McGee to capitalize on the hit version released on Janis Joplin’s Pearl. This was a more commercially successful release, including one of my favorite Kristofferson songs “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again).” It’s…
-
Various Artists, Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver, 2022 on New West Records
Fantastic collection of covers of the original outlaw country troubador. Standouts for me are Miranda Lambert and Margo Price but really all the tracks are wonderful. Produced by Charlie Sexton and Freddy Fletcher. My copy is the limited edition on “Old Chunk of Coal” grey vinyl via Vinyl Me Please.
-
Waylon Jennings,Honky Tonk Heroes, 1973 on RCA Victor
I grew up with Waylon & Willie commonly playing around our household and in the last decade have come back to appreciate and collect their albums after a long time away from them. On Honky Tonk Heroes most of the songs are Billy Joe Shaver songs and the record was Jennings’ first after renegotiating his…
-
Doug Sahm, Groover’s Paradise, 1974 on Warner Bros
Doug Sahm’s quite an interesting figure I knew little about until Vinyl Me Please introduced me to this LP. He was a founding member of the Sir Douglas Quintet (formed in San Antonio but named to suggest they were part of the British invasion, like The Buckinghams), who moved out to California and were part…