Are You Ready for the Country
Encyclopedia
Are You Ready for the Country is an album
by Waylon Jennings
, released on RCA Victor in 1976
. Its title track is a song from Neil Young
's seminal 1972 album Harvest. Are You Ready for the Country began an uninterrupted string of #1 albums for Jennings; although his previous two major releases, Dreaming My Dreams and Wanted! The Outlaws
, did hit #1, they were followed by the relatively unsuccessful Mackintosh & T.J.
soundtrack album. Despite the title, this outlaw country
album features covers of rock
songs, including "Can't You See" by the Marshall Tucker Band
. MacArthur Park (Revisited)
" won Waylon his first Grammy in 1969. "Old Friend" was written by Jennings about Buddy Holly
; the latter had been a close friend of his until his death
in 1959. Jennings chose the traditional gospel
hymn "Precious Memories" as the album's closing track; prior to the record's release, he had included very few such songs on his records. The album was eventually certified gold, with four top ten singles: the title song (#7), "So Good Woman" (#7), "Can't You See" (#4) and "I'll Go Back to Her" (#4). The original record had no liner notes
; the 2004
reissue on RCA Records contained extensive liner notes by Rich Kienzle, who provided a song-by-song summary of the album, along with background information on the latter's creation.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, released on RCA Victor in 1976
1976 in music
-January–February:*January 5 – Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot dead by Los Angeles police after refusing to drop what police only later determine is an air rifle....
. Its title track is a song from Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
's seminal 1972 album Harvest. Are You Ready for the Country began an uninterrupted string of #1 albums for Jennings; although his previous two major releases, Dreaming My Dreams and Wanted! The Outlaws
Wanted! The Outlaws
Wanted! The Outlaws is an album by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser, released in RCA Victor in 1976, and consisting of previously released material. Released to capitalize on the new outlaw country movement, Wanted! The Outlaws earned its place in music history by...
, did hit #1, they were followed by the relatively unsuccessful Mackintosh & T.J.
Mackintosh & T.J.
Mackintosh & T.J. is a soundtrack album to the film of the same name, featuring four songs performed by Waylon Jennings and another by Willie Nelson. It was released on RCA Victor in 1976. Three of the Jennings songs had been previously unreleased; four of the tracks on the album are instrumentals...
soundtrack album. Despite the title, this outlaw country
Outlaw country
Outlaw country is a subgenre of country music, most popular during the late 1960s and the 1970s , sometimes referred to as the outlaw movement or simply outlaw music...
album features covers of rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
songs, including "Can't You See" by the Marshall Tucker Band
Marshall Tucker Band
The Marshall Tucker Band is an American Southern rock band originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina. The band's blend of rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, country, and gospel helped establish the Southern rock genre in the early 1970s...
. MacArthur Park (Revisited)
MacArthur Park (song)
"MacArthur Park" is a song by Jimmy Webb, originally composed as part of an intended cantata. The song was initially rejected by The Association. Richard Harris was the first to record it, in 1968; the song was subsequently covered by numerous artists. Among the best-known covers are Donna Summer's...
" won Waylon his first Grammy in 1969. "Old Friend" was written by Jennings about Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
; the latter had been a close friend of his until his death
The Day the Music Died
On February 3, 1959, a small-plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, killed three American rock and roll pioneers: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as the pilot, Roger Peterson. The day was later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean, in his song...
in 1959. Jennings chose the traditional gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
hymn "Precious Memories" as the album's closing track; prior to the record's release, he had included very few such songs on his records. The album was eventually certified gold, with four top ten singles: the title song (#7), "So Good Woman" (#7), "Can't You See" (#4) and "I'll Go Back to Her" (#4). The original record had no liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
; the 2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
reissue on RCA Records contained extensive liner notes by Rich Kienzle, who provided a song-by-song summary of the album, along with background information on the latter's creation.
Track listing
- "Are You Ready for the CountryAre You Ready for the Country (song)"Are You Ready for the Country" is a single by American country music artist Waylon Jennings. Released in 1976, it was the second single and title track from the album Are You Ready for the Country. The song reached #7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Chart performance:...
" (Neil YoungNeil YoungNeil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
) – 3:12 - "Them Old Love Songs" (Donnie Fritts, Troy SealsTroy SealsTroy Seals is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.He is a member of the prominent Seals family of musicians that includes, Jim Seals and Dan Seals and Brady Seals...
) – 3:13 - "So Good Woman" (Jennings) – 2:03
- "Jack-A-Diamonds" (Daniel Moore) – 3:27
- "Can't You SeeCan't You See (The Marshall Tucker Band song)"Can't You See" is a song written by Toy Caldwell of The Marshall Tucker Band. The song was originally recorded by the band on their 1973 debut album, The Marshall Tucker Band. It was released as a single in 1977 and peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" (Toy CaldwellMarshall Tucker BandThe Marshall Tucker Band is an American Southern rock band originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina. The band's blend of rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, country, and gospel helped establish the Southern rock genre in the early 1970s...
) – 3:46 - "MacArthur Park (Revisited)MacArthur Park (song)"MacArthur Park" is a song by Jimmy Webb, originally composed as part of an intended cantata. The song was initially rejected by The Association. Richard Harris was the first to record it, in 1968; the song was subsequently covered by numerous artists. Among the best-known covers are Donna Summer's...
" (Jimmy WebbJimmy WebbJimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He wrote numerous platinum selling classics, including "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "The Worst That Could Happen", "All I Know", and "MacArthur Park"...
) – 6:39 - "I'll Go Back to Her" (Jennings) – 3:10
- "A Couple More Years" (Dennis LocorriereDennis LocorriereDennis Locorriere was the lead vocalist, guitarist of the pop group Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, later Dr Hook...
, Shel SilversteinShel SilversteinSheldon Allan "Shel" Silverstein , was an American poet, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of children's books. He styled himself as Uncle Shelby in his children's books...
) – 4:11 - "Old Friend" (Jennings) – 3:23
- "Precious Memories" (Jennings, Ken Mansfield) – 3:42