Waylon Jennings

The Outlaw of Country Music

Waylon Jennings was one of the pioneers of the “outlaw country” movement in the 1970s. Born in 1937 in Littlefield, Texas, Jennings developed a love of music early on, learning to play guitar at age 8. He dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music, landing a spot as Buddy Holly’s bass player just before the singer’s tragic death in a 1959 plane crash.

Jennings moved to Phoenix in the 1960s and soon caught the attention of RCA Records. His early country hits like “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line” showcased his rough, rock-influenced sound. But Jennings chafed under the restrictive rules of the Nashville music industry. In the early 70s, he joined forces with Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser to create what became known as the “outlaw” subgenre of country.

Jennings’ outlaw albums like Honky Tonk Heroes and Dreaming My Dreams contained dark, introspective songs that helped redefine the country genre. Major hits from this era included “Luckenbach, Texas,” “I’ve Always Been Crazy,” and “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way.” Jennings became known for his gritty baritone and rebellious persona.

Over his long career, Jennings released over 60 albums and earned platinum certifications for classics like Wanted! The Outlaws, Sweet Dream Woman, and Are You Ready for the Country. He won two Grammy awards and numerous Country Music Association awards, including Male Vocalist of the Year in 1975. Jennings was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, just a year before his death.

Though his hard-living lifestyle took a toll on his health, Jennings’ musical legacy lives on. His outlaw country sound helped shape the genres of alt-country and americana. Artists from Hank Williams Jr. to Sheryl Crow have named Jennings as a major influence. Jennings’ “outlaw” attitude changed Nashville and country music forever.

Discography

Albums

  • Never Could Toe the Mark (1984-06)
  • Black on Black (1982-02)
  • Waymore’s Blues (Part II) (1994-09-13)
  • Sweet Mother Texas (1986-02)
  • Fenixon (2014-04-19)
  • Waylon (1970-01)
  • Honky Tonk Heroes (2000-02-15)
  • Hangin’ On (1968)
  • Don’t Think Twice (1970-03)
  • Full Circle (1988)
  • Good Hearted Woman (1972-02)
  • A Man Called Hoss (1987-06-01)
  • Singer of Sad Songs (1970-11)
  • Leather and Lace (1981-02)
  • Goin’ Down Rockin’: The Last Recordings (2012)
  • Will the Wolf Survive (1986)
  • Too Dumb for New York City, Too Ugly for L.A. (1992-08-11)
  • Country-Folk (1969-08)
  • Lonesome, On’ry and Mean (1973-03)
  • The Lost Nashville Sessions (2016-09-02)
  • Waylon and Company (1983)
  • The Taker / Tulsa (1971)
  • This Time (1974-04)
  • Ladies Love Outlaws (1972-09)
  • Right for the Time (1996-05-21)
  • I’ve Always Been Crazy (1978-09)
  • The Ramblin’ Man (1974-09)
  • Waylon Sings Ol’ Harlan (1967-06)
  • Ol' Waylon Sings Ol' Hank (1992)
  • What Goes Around Comes Around (1979-11-01)
  • Love of the Common People (1967-08)
  • Hangin’ Tough (1987)
  • Waylon Forever (2009-04-20)
  • Music Man (1980-05)
  • The Eagle (1990-02)
  • Ol’ Waylon (1977-04)
  • Closing In on the Fire (1998-06-16)
  • Only the Greatest (1968-07)
  • Just to Satisfy You (1969-03)
  • Cowboys, Sisters, Rascals and Dirt (1993)
  • Jewels (1968-12)
  • Waylon & Willie (1978)
  • Dreaming My Dreams (1975-06)
  • Are You Ready for the Country (1976)
  • Heroes (1986)
  • The One and Only (1967-11)
  • Waylon Forever (2008-10-21)
  • Music From Mackintosh & T.J. (1976)
  • Folk-Country (1966-03-14)
  • Honky Tonk Heroes (1973-07)
  • Renegade Outlaw Legend (1997)
  • Leavin’ Town (1966-10)
  • Cedartown, Georgia (1971-08)
  • Turn The Page (1985-07)
  • JD’s (1964-12)
  • It’s Only Rock & Roll (1983-03)

Singles

  • Amanda / Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way (1980)
  • The Taker / Shadow of the Gallows (1970)
  • Mac Arthur Park / But You Know I Love You (1969-08)
  • Rose in Paradise (1987)
  • Cedartown, Georgia (1971)
  • The Chokin' Kind / Love Of The Common People (1967)
  • Hold On, I'm Comin' (1983)
  • Jole Blon (1959)
  • I May Be Used (But Baby I Ain’t Used Up) (1983)
  • The Broken Promise Land (1986)
  • Silent Night, Holy Night (1984)
  • Wild Side of Life / It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels (1981)
  • Another Blue Day / Never Again (1961)
  • The Conversation (1983)
  • The Taker / MacArthur Park (1974)
  • (That's What You Get) For Loving Me / Time Will Tell the Story (1966)
  • You Can Have Her (1973)
  • Drinkin’ and Dreamin’ (1985)
  • I'm a Ramblin' Man / Rainy Day Woman (1974)
  • Walk On Out of My Mind (1967)
  • Are You Ready for the Country (1979)
  • Fallin’ Out / Deep in the West (1987)
  • Amanda (1979)
  • Storms Never Last (1981)
  • Time to Bum Again / Norwegian Wood (1966)
  • If Ole Hank Could Only See Us Now (Chapter Five... Nashville) (1987)
  • Something's Wrong in California / Farewell Party (1969-02)
  • Dreaming My Dreams With You / Can’t You See (1977)
  • Dreaming My Dreams With You (1975)
  • Don’t You Think This Outlaw Bit’s Done Got Out of Hand (1978)
  • Will the Wolf Survive / I've Got Me a Woman (1986)
  • I Got You (1968)
  • We Had It All (1973)
  • Sweet Dream Woman (1972-05)
  • The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don’t Want to Get Over You) / Lookin’ for a Feeling (1977)
  • Lucille (You Won't Do Your Daddy's Will) / Medley of Hits (1983)
  • My Baby Walks All Over Me / The Stage (1963)
  • Rainy Day Woman / Let’s All Help the Cowboy Sing the Blues (1974)
  • I Ain't Living Long Like This / It's the World's Gone Crazy (Cotillion) (1979)
  • I've Always Been Crazy / I Never Said It Would Be Easy (1978)
  • Yours Love / Six Strings Away (1968)
  • Good Hearted Woman (1983)
  • Shine / White Water (1981-11)
  • My Baby Walks All Over Me / Never Again (1966)
  • Are You Ready for the Country (1976)
  • The Race Is On (1964-10)
  • The Dukes of Hazzard (1980)
  • Suspicious Minds (1976-05)
  • You Ask Me To / This Time (1974)
  • Mississippi Woman (1971)
  • The Devil’s on the Loose / Ain’t No Road Too Long (1985)
  • My Rough and Rowdy Days (1987)
  • Come With Me / Mes'kin (1979)
  • That's The Chance I'll Have To Take / I Wonder Just Where I Went Wrong (1965-05)
  • Amanda (1981)
  • Theme From the Dukes of Hazzards / Theme From Chips (1982)
  • Stop The World (And Let Me Off) / The Dark Side Of Fame (1965)
  • Green River / Silver Ribbons (1966)
  • Waltz Me to Heaven / Dream On (1985)
  • Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) (1977)
  • Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line (1968)
  • What You’ll Do When I’m Gone (1986)
  • The Days of Sand and Shovels / Delia’s Gone (1969-05)
  • Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line / Brown Eyed Handsome Man (1970-12-01)
  • The Ballad of Forty Dollars (1986-09)
  • Brown Eyed Handsome Man / Sorrow (Breaks a Good Man Down) (1969)
  • Singer of Sad Songs / Lila (1970)
  • Women Do Know How to Carry On (1982)
  • Clyde (1980)
  • Good Hearted Woman (1973)
  • You Never Can Tell (C'Est La Vie) (1982)
  • Mental Revenge (1967)
  • Anita You're Dreaming / Look Into My Teardrops (1965)
  • Breakin’ Down (new mix) (1983)
  • I Recall a Gypsy Woman (1975)
  • I've Always Been Crazy / Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand (1980)
  • Never Been to Spain (1973-03-02)
  • Rave On / Love Denied (1963-10)
  • Nadine (1979)
  • Sweet Mother Texas (1986)
  • (Don't Let the Sun Set on You) Tulsa / You'll Look for Me (1970)
  • Good Hearted Woman / Suspicious Minds (1977)
  • I'm a Ramblin' Man (1974)
  • You Ask Me To (1973)
  • America / People Up in Texas (1984)
  • The Real House Of The Rising Sun / I Don't Believe You (1965)
  • Another Blue Day / My World (1968)
  • This Time / Mona (1974)
  • Under Your Spell Again / Bridge Over Troubled Water (1971-06)
  • Working Without a Net (1986)
  • Four Strong Winds (1964)
  • There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang (1978-06-02)
  • Can’t You See (1976)
  • Even Cowgirls Get the Blues / American by Birth (1986)
  • White Lightning (1962)
  • Suspicious Minds (1970-10)
  • Anita, You're Dreaming/Love of the Common People (1968)
  • Never Could Toe the Mark (1984)
  • Bob Wills Is Still the King (1975-10-31)
  • Pretend I Never Happened (1972-09-18)