Waylon Jennings Album: “Dreaming My Dreams”

Put simply, this album is better than anything else you'll hear. It is that good. The songs are heartfelt, honest, and raw. The writing is great, but Waylon's performance is what is really incredible. It's tough but tender, and you can listen and hear so many emotions expressed in his voice.

Another nice thing is that all the lead guitar on this album was played by Waylon himself, as Jack Clement felt Waylon's voice and guitar worked very well of a package. I think he was right.

If you want Nashville's McCountry, you'll hate this. If, on the other hand, you like music, then this is your album. It goes beyond country, beyond its rock and blues influences, too. It is one of those albums that is for fans of MUSIC, regardless of genre. It is a well-crafted piece of art by an artist who created a revolution within Nashville with music like this.

This could be the finest country album ever put to tape. You will love it.

This album is to country what Van Halen I was to rock. Gritty, pure and from the soul, Jennings spans the spectrum from western swing in "Bob Wills is Still The King" to waltz/polka in "Waymore's Blues." Undeniably "outlaw" in nature, "Dreamin My Dreams" reflects the Waylon we wish we knew. Remember Elvis on Ed Sullivan? This is Waylon's lean, mean, yet tender duplicity that holds the banner of true country music that Brooks, McGraw, Byrd, and the other fill-in-the-blanks can only dream of.

This should be it.

Brian Wilson has Pet Sounds, The Beatles have Sgt Peppers - and Waylon has Dreamin My Dreams.

The songs are strong, the arrangements are tight, and the sound is gutsy, warm and robust - all at the same time.

Getting into Waylon is not easy, because there are dozens of Best Of Cds available, and many are filled with his own version of C&W standards, plus duets and combinations with Willy Nelson and others.

On Dreamin My Dreams, he masters the album as a piece of music in its own right, not simply as a collection of songs.

The CD is wonderfully re-mastered, so the sound is crystal clear. "Bob Wills is Still the King" never sounded so good.

But again, this isn't an album of individual highlights; rather, it's a celebration of a guy who travelled in the world in many more ways than one, and though his journey is now over, his catalogue is immense, and this CD stands as his opus magnus.

Dreaming My Dreams was released in 1975, a couple of years after Waylon Jennings had wrestled away artistic control of his music from the Nashville establishment. It was recorded in Tompall Glaser's "very cozy" upstairs recording studio. The first song is the electric guitar rocking, autobiographical Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way.

Somebody told me when I came to Nashville

"Son, you've finally got it made

Ol' Hank made it here and we're all sure that you will"

But I don't think Hank done it this way

Waylon then gets reflective with Don Williams' Gypsy Woman. This is one of Waylon's best songs. Waylon's raspy baritone gives the impression of a big man who has lived life the hard way, but still stands tall and is ready for more (all were true). His voice also had a persuasive vulnerability that has won listeners over for decades. It's easy to identify with his struggles, and easy to want to stand in his corner. There's a excellant version of Roger Miller's I've Been A Long Time Leaving (But I'll Be A Long Time Gone) included here, too. The Door Is Always Open was a hit for the two girl, one guy trio, Dave and Sugar, but the song seems like it was written for Waylon.

When night falls on that mansion and you're lying in his bed

When he begs you for attention, will you think of me instead

When he reaches out to touch you, is your face turned to the wall

Well the door is always open and the lights on in the hall

The title track is Waylon at his most tender, but this guy never gets mushy. Not Waylon, not ever. He gets back into rowdy form, with a live version of Bob Wills Is Still The King. Waylon's dominating vocal performance sounds great, and even though it's the only live song on the album, it fits right in. He had said Dreaming My Dreams was his favorite of all his albums, and it's easy to see why. This was Waylon Jennings at the top of his game.

I was just getting in to music. I listened to this on vinyl on a 10$ mono record player. I went out and bought every Waylon record I could find. No easy feat for a 12 yr old. I now have all but a few on CD. This album brings back so many memories. In my opinion this is Waylon's best album.