Disco de Waylon Jennings: “Nashville Rebel [RCA DVD]”

This collection of 20 segments includes vintage television appearances, live concert footage from Opryland, music videos and a pair of TV commercials. It's a superb look at Jennings as both a live performer and a commercial commodity. The program opens as then-defunct hippie affectations were cropping up in the oddest of mainstream places. The 1970 appearance on the Johnny Cash show still finds Jennings Nashville-slick with his well-kempt hair, but the band displays extra-Nashville influences with a double-neck guitar and a flower-power sticker on the electric bass.

The leap to track 2 picks up four years later with a signature appearance on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert television program. These segments find Jennings' hair and beard grown out, and his music and band tuned to fit a rock audience. Jennings plays country rock (including excellent versions of Billy Joe Shaver's "Honky Tonk Heroes" and "Slow Rollin' Low"), but with the showmanship of a rock band. Aside from Red Rhodes western shirt, Jennings' group looks like a rock band, and they play with enough aggression to please the longhairs, headbands and rednecks in the audience. The staging and camera work are superb.

Next up are five segments taken from Jack Clement's TV show that feature a similar band, but with a different vibe. Set in a studio Jennings and band pull back ever so slightly, playing as much for each other as for the cameras. Jennings smiles his way through an extended take of "I'm a Ramblin' Man," offering up some awesome lead guitar as the band jams; Willie Nelson's "It's Not Suppose to be That Way" shows Jennings gripping presence as a ballad singer. A sit-down solo acoustic take of "Waymore's Blues," complete with lit cigarette in his guitar's headstock, is mesmerizing in the ease with which he segues from singing to chatting with his wife, Jessi Colter. The camerawork isn't up to that of the Kirshner shows, with zooms and tight close-ups that create more of a documentary feel.

Film of a 1978 Opryland concert finds Jennings still a potent force on stage, but working through a catalog of chart-topping hits is simply a less urgent showcase. The difference between the Kirshner and Opryland audiences is stark, with the former standing and hollering their encouragement, and the latter (primarily industry executives) seated, listening and applauding politely. "Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way" would surely have had the crowd on their feet just about anywhere but Opryland. The video is well shot and edited, with multiple cameras, video overlays and dissolves.

The mid-80s music video for "The Conversation" features Jennings and Hank Jr. in a barroom, engaged in a musical discussion about Hank Sr. "Never Could Toe the Mark" is choreographed as an intimate band sound check and "America" is a highly-produced piece whose stock images seem more like the director's vision that Jennings'. All three are interesting additions, but none of them pack the charge of the live appearances. The closing pair of TV commercials, particularly the 1976 spot for "Wanted! The Outlaws," are a treat, particularly for those who came to Jennings after his mid-70s peak.

This DVD is a superb companion to RCA/Legacy's recently released 4-CD Waylon Jennings box set. The earlier segments demonstrate the rock-like edginess Jennings brought to his music and the stage, and the later segments show the mainstream eventually catching up. Throughout, Jennings comes through as an individual bent on playing his music his way. The video transfers are excellent, and the sound is very good throughout. [©2006 hyperbolium dot com]

Note to Jennings collectors: this is *not* the 1966 American International Pictures film of the same title.

Oh, I wish I could find more of these - I've always been a Waylon fan and have seen him in person several times - great performer and being able to see him again was great. Not enough songs on the DVD, tho - even tho 20 is quite a bit. Loved the first one with his clean cut look, but it just wasnt't the look we've all been used to.

Got my husband up to even dance to "Are you Sure Hank done it this a way". Can't just sit and listen to the music.

This is a very comprehensive, compilation of some of Waylon's performances throughout the 1970's. These performances are great, and show Waylon, and his band, performing in many different settings. It also, contains some "videos", and some "commericals".

This dvd contains the following:

1.Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line - Johnny Cash Show 1970

2.Honky Tonk Heros - Don Kirshner's Rock Concert 1974

3.Louisiana Women - Don Kirshner's Rock Concert 1974

4.This Time - Don Kirshner's Rock Concert 1974

5.Slow Rollin'Low - Don Kirshner's Rock Concert 1974

6.Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean - Cowboy Jack Clement TV show

7.I'm a Ramblin' Man - Cowboy Jack Clement TV show

8.It's not Suppose to Be That Way - Cowboy Jack Clement TV show

9.Amanda - Cowboy Jack Clement TV show

10.Waymore's Blue's - Cowboy Jack's

11.Luckenback, Texas - Opryland 1978

12.Mamma's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboy's - Opryland 1978

13.Good Hearted Woman - Opryland 1978

14.Are You Ready For the Country - Opryland 1978

15.Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way - Opryland 1978

16.The Conversation with Hank Williams, Jr. (The Video) SIMPLY OUTSTANDING!!!

17.Never Could Toe the Line (Video)

18.America (the video)

19.RCA TV Commerical for Waylon's Greatests Hits

20.RCA TV Commerical for "Wanted!" "The Outlaws".

This is a great, comprehensive, enjoyable dvd by Waylon, his band, and with others.

This was a Chritmas gift to my Dad. He really enjoy's the older country music. This is one of the titles his brother told him about. It is not easy to find these titles in stores so finding them on-line was a great help for us. It was a pleasure to watch Dad watching the DVD. And since then we have purchased 3 more country DVD's for him. Thanks!

This is a awesome DVD!!! It is great to see his age progression!! The music is wonderful!!!! Only downside is it doesn't let you do 5.1 surround sound!!