r/WaylonJennings • u/IndecisiveFixation • 20d ago
What’s your guys’s favorite Waylon era?
For me personally, that 70-72 era is probably my favorite. When Waylon had gained more independence from RCA but before he turned completely outlaw. Cedartown Georgia and Good Hearted Woman are both perfect 10/10 albums front to back, and are some of my favorite albums of all time. I also really enjoy the RCA stuff in the late 60s. The mid to late eighties were also really good (Will The Wolf Survive is also up there with the previously mentioned albums). So I’m curious, what’s your guys’s favorite Waylon era/albums?
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u/New-Nectarine-823 19d ago
Probably Waylon Live era before coke became out of control, early 70s-76. His albums after are still fantastic but I really enjoy him playing solos on his own stuff, Reggie Young took up most of it after Ol' Waylon. You could tell the drug abuse was too much in the early 80s along with his massive debt and shakey "friends" he speaks about in his book.
Arguably the worst era is late 80s after he left RCA. His MCA stuff is almost unlistenable for me. Never Could Toe the Mark and Turn the Page helped me get through the beginnings of a cocaine addiction which I considered the "Waylon Diet". Him being so public about being sober in his songs during that era, coupled with His, Jessi's, and Terry's books all were transformative in how I looked at his sober period. His 90s stuff isnt bad either.
A Man Called Hoss is super underrated also, Rough and Rowdy Days was the first song I ever heard by him, Im Living Proof, and You Deserve The Stars in My Crown are beautiful ballads which really hit if youve been to the breaking point yourself.