Ol' Waylon
Encyclopedia
Ol' Waylon is an album
by Waylon Jennings
, released on RCA Victor in 1977
. It plays to Jennings' established outlaw country
image. The album features one of his signature songs, a track featuring Willie Nelson
called "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)
", as well as the Neil Diamond
song "Sweet Caroline
", a version of Kenny Rogers
' "Lucille
" and a medley of the two Arthur Crudup
songs previous recorded by Elvis
. Ol' Waylon eventually became one of Jennings' highest-selling albums, due in no small part to the phenomenal success of the chart-topping "Luckenbach, Texas"; it was also the singer's fourth solo album in a row to reach the top of the country charts, remaining there for thirteen weeks.
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 1977
1977 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1977.-January–February:*January 1 – The Clash headline the gala opening of the London music club, The Roxy....
. It plays to Jennings' established 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...
image. The album features one of his signature songs, a track featuring Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
called "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)
Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)
"Luckenbach, Texas " is a popular song sung by Waylon Jennings released in April 1977, at the height of outlaw country on the hit album Ol' Waylon...
", as well as the Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
song "Sweet Caroline
Sweet Caroline
"Sweet Caroline" is a pop song written and performed by Neil Diamond and officially released on September 16, 1969, as a single. It was later released on December 9, 1972 as a part of Diamond's Hot August Night album. There are three distinct mixes of this song...
", a version of Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
' "Lucille
Lucille (Kenny Rogers song)
"Lucille" is the title of a ballad written by Roger Bowling and Hal Bynum, and recorded by Kenny Rogers. It was released in January 1977 as the second and final single from the album Kenny Rogers. The song is about a man in a bar that meets a woman who has left her husband...
" and a medley of the two Arthur Crudup
Arthur Crudup
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup was an American Delta blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known outside blues circles for writing songs such as "That's All Right" , "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine", later covered by Elvis Presley and dozens of other artists.-Career:Arthur Crudup...
songs previous recorded by Elvis
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. Ol' Waylon eventually became one of Jennings' highest-selling albums, due in no small part to the phenomenal success of the chart-topping "Luckenbach, Texas"; it was also the singer's fourth solo album in a row to reach the top of the country charts, remaining there for thirteen weeks.
Track listing
- "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)"Luckenbach, Texas " is a popular song sung by Waylon Jennings released in April 1977, at the height of outlaw country on the hit album Ol' Waylon...
" (Bobby Emmons, Chips MomanChips MomanLincoln Wayne "Chips" Moman is an American record producer, guitarist, and songwriter. As a record producer, Moman is known for recording Elvis Presley, Bobby Womack, Carla Thomas, and Merrilee Rush, as well as guiding the career of the Box Tops in Memphis, Tennessee during the 1960s...
) – 3:22 - "If You See Me Getting Smaller" (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"...
) – 3:39 - "LucilleLucille (Kenny Rogers song)"Lucille" is the title of a ballad written by Roger Bowling and Hal Bynum, and recorded by Kenny Rogers. It was released in January 1977 as the second and final single from the album Kenny Rogers. The song is about a man in a bar that meets a woman who has left her husband...
" (Roger BowlingRoger BowlingRoger D. Bowling was a Nashville songwriter in the 1970s who specialized in Country music...
, Hal Bynum) – 4:07 - "Sweet CarolineSweet Caroline"Sweet Caroline" is a pop song written and performed by Neil Diamond and officially released on September 16, 1969, as a single. It was later released on December 9, 1972 as a part of Diamond's Hot August Night album. There are three distinct mixes of this song...
" (Neil DiamondNeil DiamondNeil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
) – 3:10 - "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself" (Buddy KnoxBuddy KnoxBuddy Knox was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his 1957 rockabilly hit song, "Party Doll".-Biography:...
) – 2:23 - "Belle of the Ball" (Jennings) – 3:26
- Medley: – 2:37
- "That's All Right Mama" (Arthur CrudupArthur CrudupArthur "Big Boy" Crudup was an American Delta blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known outside blues circles for writing songs such as "That's All Right" , "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine", later covered by Elvis Presley and dozens of other artists.-Career:Arthur Crudup...
) - "My Baby Left Me" (Crudup)
- "That's All Right Mama" (Arthur Crudup
- "Till I Gain Control Again" (Rodney CrowellRodney CrowellRodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
) – 4:18 - "Brand New Goodbye Song" (Moman, Reggie Young) – 2:54
- "Satin Sheets" (Willis Alan RamseyWillis Alan RamseyWillis Alan Ramsey is an American singer/songwriter, a cult legend among fans of Americana and Texas country. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in Dallas, Texas. Ramsey graduated from Highland Park High School in 1969, and was a prominent baritone in the High School's Lads and Lassies...
) – 2:43 - "This is Getting Funny (But There Ain't Nobody Laughing)" (Michael Smotherman) – 2:48
Production
- Produced By Chips Moman
- Production Assistants: Gretchen Brennison, Jeremy Holiday
- Engineers: Don Cobb, Neil Wilburn
- Mastering: Vic Anesini, Steve Hoffman
Personnel
- Drums: Ritchie Albright
- Bass: Sherman Hayes
- Guitars: Ritchie Albright, Johnny Christopher, Waylon Jennings, Gordon Payne, Rance Wasson, Reggie Young
- SteelSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
: Ralph Mooney - Keyboards: Clifford Robertson
- Horns, Horn Arrangements: Harrison Calloway Jr., Ronnie Eades, Muscle ShoalsMuscle Shoals Sound StudioThe Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett , Roger Hawkins , Jimmy Johnson and David Hood left FAME Studios to create their own studio...
Horns, Charles Rose, Harvey Thompson - Vocals: Johnny Christopher, Jessi ColterJessi ColterJessi Colter is an American country music artist who is best known for her collaboration with her husband, country singer and songwriter Waylon Jennings and for her 1975 country-pop crossover hit "I'm Not Lisa"....
, Gordon Payne, Steve Pippin, Carter Robinson, Toni Wine
Chart performance
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 15 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums | 65 |