Ultimate Waylon Jennings

by Waylon Jennings

Overview

It's a music criticism cliche to complain about the title of a collection like Ultimate Waylon Jennings, to snipe that the album doesn't live up to the promise of its title when, after all, the Ultimate series is merely RCA/BMG's response to Sony's popular Essentials series. Still, when a compilation falls as short of the mark as this, it's hard not to grumble. Ultimate Waylon Jennings suffers from the need to be evenhanded and to extend the compilation to his less popular and less artistically successful '80s recordings, including a selection from the supergroup the Highwaymen. This comes at the expense of any '60s hit outside of "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line," any song from the immortal Honky Tonk Heroes, several hits (including many number ones), and a lot of great album tracks and minor hits. Of course, these kind of omissions are inevitable when a career as rich and prolific as Waylon's is condensed to a mere 22 tracks, but the problem is that there is too much emphasis on late-'70s material and too many tracks from the '80s (a full seven songs), and there are too many classic tracks missing. Nevertheless, there are enough classics present -- such as "The Taker," "I'm a Ramblin' Man," "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way," and "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" -- to make it an enjoyable listen, but there are so many good Waylon compilations on the market that there's not much reason to get this, even if it's billed as Ultimate. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	03/23/2004
Label:	Rlg/Bmg Heritage / Rca
UPC:	0828765726726
Rank:	8935

Tracks

1. Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line
2. The Taker
3. This Time
4. I'm a Ramblin' Man
5. Rainy Day Woman
6. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way
7. Good Hearted Woman
8. Are You Ready for the Country
9. Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)
10. Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys
11. I've Always Been Crazy
12. Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand
13. Amanda
14. Come With Me
15. I Ain't Living Long Like This
16. Theme from the Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)
17. Just to Satisfy You
18. Woman Do Know How to Carry On
19. I May Be Used (But Baby I Ain't Used Up)
20. America
21. Highwayman
22. Rose in Paradise

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Waylon Jennings   Primary Artist
Kris Kristofferson   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Johnny Cash   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Willie Nelson   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
The Highwaymen   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Rob Santos   Compilation Producer
Ken Mansfield   Producer
Sammy Johns   Composer
Jerry Bridges   Producer
Slick Lawson   Photography
Erwin Gorostiza   Art Direction
Bob Gruen   Cover Photo
Tom Scholz   Composer
Smay Vision   Design
Peter Nash   Photography
Chet Atkins   Producer
Ivy J. "Jimmy" Bryant   Composer
Chuck Howard   Composer
Jack Clement   Producer
Jimmy Webb   Composer
Ed Bruce   Composer
Gary Scruggs   Producer
Don Bowman   Composer
Waylon Jennings   Composer,Producer
Lenny Kaye   Liner Notes
Jim McBride   Composer
Rodney Crowell   Composer
Pete Bellotte   Composer
Ritchie Albright   Producer
Jimmy Bowen   Producer
Neil Young   Composer
Ray Pennington   Composer,Producer
Willie Nelson   Composer,Producer
Stewart Harris   Composer
Vic Anesini   Mastering
Kris Kristofferson   Composer
Chips Moman   Producer,Composer
Bobby Emmons   Composer
Giorgio Moroder   Composer
Bob McDill   Composer
Tompall Glaser   Producer
Patsy Bruce   Composer
Shel Silverstein   Composer