Waylon Jennings was a legend and a music icon. In this latest offering everyone has a chance to see Waylon at his best, and live ... re-live a concert with the greatest singer of our time. And, yes, I happen to be biased and opinionated about his music.
This album captures the essence of Waylon at a time in his career when he had mastered the life of a country sing. He worked the audiences like a master, providing more that just song and music - he was a part-time comedian. His music was as good as ever. He displays the commanding way he had with his trademark leather covered Telecaster - the staccato bark was roaring. For the true Waylon fans, the sound emanating from his guitar was a big part of the sound that captured your souls. Waylon's voice was at its best, strong and clear night after night. He had one of the greatest voices of all time, and you can hear it in each of his songs - powerful and clear.
Something Waylon brought to the stage was a sound that reminded you that he WAS the same singer from his records. While the tempo might change from year to year, and some songs may not be word for word that same as you heard on the single. However, you knew it was Waylon Jennings - this collection reminds you of that. He was real in a way that few captured.
The songs on this CD (and DVD) are the ones you paid to hear ... over and over. The ones you wanted to hear Waylon sing. He rocks on the songs you expect to rock the house, and closes with a powerful rendition of "I Ain't Living Long Like This" ... the best country-rock song. When you listen to "Me And Bobby McGee" it sounds like it was always Waylon's song. His duets with Jessi Colter (Mrs. Waylon Jennings) are two of the best they did. "Suspicious Minds" was a classic for this duo, and you knew when Waylon played the opening notes ... Jessi was coming. They follow that with "Honky Tonk Angels" which was a great song for them, but also showed the chemistry that had on stage.
The band he assembled for this era in his career was one of the best. They played Waylon's music the way it was supposed to be played. Mooney, Jigger, Jeff, Barry, and Kevin bring the sound of Waylon's distinctive style to life. They were amazing pickers, and truly, fantastic people - I met each of them, and always considered them friends.
Every song is great, and a great reminder of the man we lost too soon. If you are a Waylon fan, you'll love taking this trip back in time. And if you aren't a Waylon fan, this CD may make you wonder why.
I bought both the CD and DVD because they reminded me of everything that I loved about Waylon's music ... the way it captured my soul, and has held since I heard him sing so many years ago. Heck, I bought a copy to give to my ex-wife because we enjoyed so many shows ... and this was the Waylon we saw and knew.
Waylon is in superb voice on "Live from Austin, Texas", and the whole CD rocks, from the opening "Rambling Man" to the butt kicking encore of "Ain't Living Long Like This". VERY highly recommended.
A great DVD with a good selection of songs. Also featuring Ralph Mooney and Jerry Bridges, and of course Jessi.
Ahhhh... remember when country music used to be about how well you played and sang a good song instead of whether your product was marketable or not? This DVD will remind you of those days BIG TIME.
Waylon Jennings is definitely a country outlaw but his approach is without reproach (Hey! That was kinda catchy!). If you're lucky enough to see this disc, watch his left hand on the neck of the guitar as he strolls through these tunes. Next time through, watch his right hand for the pickin'...
Guitar players will tell you that good sound might start with the guitar and its strings and a good amp, but the real sound comes from the player's use of his/her fingers and Waylon's technique is shown off here quite well. He also has a great country voice. You can just picture him in a smokey roadhouse joint on the outskirts of a small town with every pickup within a ten mile radius parked out in the lot.
There are a few great pickers out there now... Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban among them, but Waylon Jennings was talented enough to develop a signature sound - one that sounds like no other. As is typical of the other LIVE on Austin City Limits series, that sound is beautifully captured here. Get this one, throw it in the player and just sit back and enjoy yourself thoroughly. Trust me; it'll be easy on the ears AND the eyes.
