Honky Tonk Heroes

by Waylon Jennings

Overview

When Waylon Jennings hooked up with songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, he found the perfect author for his obsessions, his fascinations, and his very image. Waylon had always been looking, perhaps unintentionally, for a common ground between country and rock, and Shaver's songs -- sketching an outlaw stance with near defiance and borrowing rock attitude to create the hardest country tunes imaginable -- were perfect. On his previous album, Waylon had sung that "ladies love outlaws," but now he found the music that would soon be called outlaw country, a defiant, ballsy blend of mythmaking and truth-telling. Shaver never had a better voice for his songs, and Jennings never had better songs for his style. Honky Tonk Heroes arrived at a crucial moment, a time when true honky tonk was fading, so only a dose of rock & roll could save it. And, no matter how much rock attitude is here, this is pure country in its stance and attitude -- yet Honky Tonk Heroes' very defiance makes it a perfect discovery album for listeners who never thought they would like country music. And the songs! Shaver earned his stripes here, with songs that were emotional, funny, and clever, utterly bringing the mythic outlaw ethic to life. "Black Rose," "You Asked Me To," and "Honky Tonk Heroes" remain among the greatest things Waylon ever cut, and every other song here matches them. Few country albums have ever been this consistent, and few records, from any genre, have been as consistently compelling. A wonderful album -- one that's hard to tire of. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	06/01/1999
Label:	Buddha Records
UPC:	0744659961922

Tracks

1. Honky Tonk Heroes
2. Old Five and Dimers (Like Me)
3. Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me
4. Low Down Freedom
5. Omaha
6. You Asked Me To
7. Ride Me Down Easy
8. Ain't No God in Mexico
9. Black Rose
10. We Had It All
11. Slow Rollin' Low
12. You Asked Me To

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Waylon Jennings   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm)
Willie Ackerman   Drums
Donnie Brooks   Harmonica
Dave Kirby   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Reggie Young   Guitar (Electric),Guitar
Byron Bach   Cello
Brenton Banks   Violin
Billy Ray Reynolds   Guitar
Dale Sellers   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Kyle Lehning   Trumpet,Keyboards
Tommy Williams   Fiddle
Bee Spears   Bass
Ralph Mooney   Guitar,Guitar (Steel)
Ritchie Albright   Drums,Guitar
Randy Scruggs   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Sheldon Kurland   Violin
Lennie Haight   Violin
Larry Whitmore   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Jerry Gropp   Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar,Vocals
Don Brooks   Harmonica
Henry Strzelecki   Bass
Stephanie Woolf   Violin
David Briggs   Piano
Billy Reynolds   Guitar (Rhythm)
Joseph Allen   Bass
Martha McCrory   Cello
William Paul Ackerman   Drums
Lawrence Herzberg   Violin
Steven Maxwell Smith   Violin
Andrew McMahon   Organ
Buddy Harman   Drums
Buddy Harmon   Drums
Andy McMahon   Organ
Steve Young   Guitar
Marvin Chantry   Viola
Billy Sanford   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Duke Goff   Bass
Eddie Hinton   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)

Technical Credits

Ken Mansfield   Audio Production,Producer
Ronnie Light   Audio Production,Producer
Tompall Glaser   Audio Production,Producer
Tom Pick   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Al Pachucki   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Waylon Jennings   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Billy Joe Shaver   Composer
Jeremy Holiday   Project Coordinator
Joel Whitburn   Chart Information
Dennis Ferrante   Master Transfers
Ed Osborne   Project Coordinator
Robin Manning   Project Coordinator
Mike Ragogna   Reissue Producer
Chuck Seitz   Recording Technician
Rich Kienzle   Liner Notes
Ray Butts   Recording Technician
Donnie Fritts   Composer
Mike Shockley   Recording Technician
Arlessa Barnes   Project Coordinator
Joanne Feltman   Archivist
Felicia Gearhart   Project Coordinator
Tom Tierney   Archivist
Roy Shockley   Recording Technician
Laura Gregory   Project Coordinator
Matthew Zeek Harris   Art Direction
Robin Diamond   Project Coordinator
Steve Strauss   Project Coordinator
Glenn Delgado   Project Coordinator
Jimmy Moore   Cover Photo
Lisa Butler   Project Coordinator
Glenn Korman   Archivist
Dana Renert   Project Coordinator
Catherine Seligman   Project Coordinator
Christina DeSimone   Project Coordinator
Mandana Eidgah   Production Coordination
Larry Parra   Project Coordinator
Claudia Depkin   Archivist
Troy Seals   Composer
Elliott Federman   Mastering
Glen Spreen   Arranger
Hillman Hall   Composer
Bruce Pollock   Project Coordinator