Lonesome, On'ry and Mean: A Tribute to Waylon Jennings

Amazon.com
Though his outlaw persona defined the late Waylon Jennings in the minds of many, this tribute underscores the expansive range of both his artistry and his influence. As with Dualtone's Dressed in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash, producers Dave Roe and Chuck Mead (from BR549) go beyond the obvious in both artist and song selection. Guy Clark's laid-back acoustic rendition of "Good Hearted Woman" makes the song sound like one of his own, while the sophistication of supper-club piano informs "Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get Over You)" as interpreted by Norah Jones. Punk-rock renegades John Doe and Henry Rollins, roots-rocker Dave Alvin, and country mainstays Cowboy Jack Clement (in a trans-generational duet with Pam Tillis) and Kris Kristofferson all find a kindred spirit in Jennings. With "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way," Robert Earl Keen subjects one of Jennings's best-known anthems to the album's most radical rearrangement, but many of the interpretations are more faithful to the originals. Junior Brown's "Nashville Rebel" could pass as a Waylon soundalike, and Radney Foster slips as comfortably into "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" as if it were favorite flannel shirt. --Don McLeese

Tracks:

Good Hearted Woman - Guy Clark
You Asked Me To - Nanci Griffith
Amanda - Dave Alvin
Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want To Get Over You) - Norah Jones
Let's All Help The Cowboys (Sing The Blues) - Cowboy Jack Clement
Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line - John Doe
Nashville Rebel - Junior Brown
Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way - Robert Earl Keen
I've Always Been Crazy - Carlene Carter
Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love) - Radney Foster
Storms Never Last - Allison Moorer
I Do Believe - Kris Kristofferson
Lock, Stock And Teardrops - Alejandro Escovedo
Waymore's Blues - The Crickets
Lonesome, On'ry And Mean - Henry Rollins

Amazon.com

Though his outlaw persona defined the late Waylon Jennings in the minds of many, this tribute underscores the expansive range of both his artistry and his influence. As with Dualtone's Dressed in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash, producers Dave Roe and Chuck Mead (from BR549) go beyond the obvious in both artist and song selection. Guy Clark's laid-back acoustic rendition of "Good Hearted Woman" makes the song sound like one of his own, while the sophistication of supper-club piano informs "Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get Over You)" as interpreted by Norah Jones. Punk-rock renegades John Doe and Henry Rollins, roots-rocker Dave Alvin, and country mainstays Cowboy Jack Clement (in a trans-generational duet with Pam Tillis) and Kris Kristofferson all find a kindred spirit in Jennings. With "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way," Robert Earl Keen subjects one of Jennings's best-known anthems to the album's most radical rearrangement, but many of the interpretations are more faithful to the originals. Junior Brown's "Nashville Rebel" could pass as a Waylon soundalike, and Radney Foster slips as comfortably into "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" as if it were favorite flannel shirt. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

A Fan Girl's Dream Come True.......2007-03-16

I've been a Waylon fan since I was a little girl listening to my Grandmother's vinyls. I've been a Rollins fan since I was a teen punk. To have them together is awesome. I was going to skip this, then I saw Rollins on it and had to go for it. I gave it 3 stars for the lackluster Norah Jones. Dragged the whole album down. I'm sure many disagree.

A Nice Way To Remember Waylon.......2007-02-08

This Album Got A LOT Of Great Songs That WE All Know From Waylons CD`s

There's Always Another Way To Do Things. . .Your Way........2006-04-09

Waylon Jennings was an influential American country singer and guitarist, born in Littlefield, Texas. He taught himself to play guitar as a young child, and formed his first band two years later. He worked as a DJ throughout his high school years, dropping out of high school to look for a career in music. During his time working as a DJ, he met and befriended Buddy Holly.

"On the night of February 3, 1959 (The Day the Music Died) the airplane carrying Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper) crashed outside of Mason City, Iowa, killing all passengers. Jennings had given his seat to Richardson, who had the flu and desperately needed rest. In his 1996 autobiography, Jennings admitted for the first time that in the years afterward, he felt severe guilt and responsibility for the crash. After Jennings gave up his seat, Holly had jokingly told him that he hoped the tour bus would stall. Jennings replied, with equal jocularity, that he hoped the plane would crash; these words would haunt him for years."
Wikipedia.com

Tribute albums are the way many of us are introduced to artists, and 2003's 'Lonesome, On'ry and Mean: A Tribute to Waylon Jennings" was released a year after Jenning's death. This CD serves as an introduction and tribute to one of the greats of both country music and American popular music in the 20th century. Some of the songs are performed by Waylon's friends Kris Kristofferson on "I Do Believe" and Junior Brown's "Nashville Rebel" or even sung by their songwriters Jack Clement's "Let's All Help the Cowboys Sing the Blues". There's no shortage of love for Waylon here. You do not get more alternate-country than the outlaw Waylon Jennings and his music. This is the sort of music that gives country its true message. Guy Clark opens the CD in fine fettle with "Good Hearted Woman" and is followed by that melodious woman, Nanci Griffith, on the excellent "You Asked Me To." New artists are also featured and Norah Jones sings the "Wurlitzer Prize." Her lovely voice blends so well with piano, guitar and bass. "Amanda" with Dave Alvin gives is a great surprise here. He has a special knack for old country and blues.

Junior Brown sings "Nashville Rebel," a song that reflects Jenning's personality. He has things to do and things to say in my own way. The next track written by Jennings, "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way," tells us that he had a new voice and attitude when he took to country music. Carlene Carter gives us a beautiful rendition of another of his songs, "I've Always Been Crazy." Although not written by Jennings, "Luckenbach, Texas" is as close as you get to a biography of the country outlaws. The title track comes at the end of the CD, performed by Henry Rollins.

Waylon Jennings was well known for his hard life and ways. He had a cocaine habit that he was able to overcome, but his reputation has an "outlaw" has grown to epic proportions. He and Johnny Cash, Kris Kristoffersen, and Willie Nelson became the outlaws, and performed on CDs and concerts across the US. He and his last wife Jessie Colter, had a son, Shooter Jennings, who carries on his parent's singing tradition.

For all his cult successes, Jennings was modest to the point of even putting down his own guitar playing. "Hell, I ain't no great guitar player," he said. "I just play my stuff. I'm very self-conscious about my guitar playing for some reason. I'm a singer, I never practice on my guitar."

This is a CD of remembrance to Waylon Jennings, and it lives up to his memory. Highly Recommended. prisrob April 8, 2006

A Fitting Tribute.......2004-03-10

This tribute album is filled with beautiful renditions of Waylon Jennings' songs. Dave Alvin's "Amanda", Nanci Griffith's "You Asked Me To", and Allison Moorer's "Storms Never Last" are exceptionally good. Junior Brown's worn, tattered vocals in "Nashville Rebel" sound remarkably like Waylon Jenning himself. The tribute to Jennings' life and music contained in the liner notes is moving; each of the performers briefly comments upon Jennings and his influence. However, as a tribute to Jennings, Kris Kristofferson's rendition of "I Do Believe" is worth the price of the album in and of itself.

Fine Set.......2004-01-27

This tribute to Waylon is a fine set. The musicians all seem to have an affinity for Jennings' music, even some of the less obvious choices. Guy Clark is one of the country outlaws; and "Good Hearted Woman" is given an affectionate dusting. Nancy Griffith's "You Asked Me To" highlights the Jennings/Shaver lovely melody, without grandstanding. Norah Jones' reading of "Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get Over You)" is a real high point on this excellent set with her bluesy piano giving the track a new sound. Joe Doe relates to the punk side of Waylon's persona and smokes sassily through "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line." "Nashville Rebel" has a great trad country feel with Junior Brown's deep bass voice and Lloyd Green's steel guitar diving deep into country. Radney Foster with Roger Credager does a nice job on the catchy "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)". Allison Moorer does a dynamite job with Jessi Colter's gorgeous tune "Storms Never Last," highlighting the rare softer side Waylon showed. Kris Kristofferson sang "I Do Believe" at Waylon's funeral; his version here is heartfelt with a great slow build. "Lock, Stock & Teardrops" by Alejandro Escovedo works extremely well. The liner notes give great information on Waylon. I forgot he was part of Buddy Holly's band; so the Cricket's version of "Waymore's Blues" fits well. Although it might seem unusual, I really like Henry Rollins' rocking version of the title tune. This is a nice set that Dualtone has put together, a tribute to one of our country greats. Enjoy!

Music Album:

Music Album