636: HONKY TONK HEROES | WAYLON JENNINGS (WITH BILLY JOE SHAVER)

Honky Tonk Heroes is a country music album by Waylon Jennings, released in 1973 on RCA Victor. It is widely regarded as one of the most influential albums in the history of country music, as it helped launch the outlaw country movement that challenged the Nashville sound and its conservative restrictions. The album features songs written or co-written by Billy Joe Shaver, a Texas songwriter who had a rough and rebellious life that inspired his lyrics. Jennings met Shaver at a bar in Nashville and was impressed by his songs, especially “Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me”. He invited Shaver to write songs for his next album, but Shaver had to wait for six months before Jennings finally agreed to record them.

The album was produced by Tompall Glaser, who had a studio called Hillbilly Central that was more relaxed and creative than the RCA studios. Jennings brought his own band, The Waylors, to play on the album, instead of using the usual session musicians. He also used his own artistic vision and style, rather than following the advice of the RCA executives or his previous producer, Chet Atkins. The album has a raw and energetic sound that combines elements of rock and roll, blues, and honky tonk. Jennings’ vocals are expressive and confident, while his guitar playing is distinctive and powerful

The album contains ten tracks, nine of which are written or co-written by Shaver. The only exception is “We Had It All”, a ballad written by Troy Seals and Donnie Fritts that was released as the first single from the album. The title track, “Honky Tonk Heroes”, is a song that celebrates the lives of hard-living country singers who defy the rules and conventions of society. It was originally recorded by Shaver on his debut album, Old Five and Dimers Like Me, but Jennings changed the rhythm and arrangement of the song to make it more upbeat and catchy. The song became a hit in Australia, reaching No. 1 on the country charts there.

Another popular song from the album is “You Ask Me To”, which was released as the second single and reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It is a love song that expresses gratitude and devotion to a partner who accepts the singer for who he is. The song was later covered by Elvis Presley on his 1975 album Promised Land4

Other notable songs on the album include “Old Five and Dimers Like Me”, a reflective song that acknowledges the singer’s flaws and mistakes; “Black Rose”, a bluesy song that tells the story of a man who falls in love with a woman who turns out to be evil; “Low Down Freedom”, a song that laments the loss of love and freedom; and “Omaha”, a song that describes the singer’s longing for his hometown

Honky Tonk Heroes received critical acclaim upon its release, and has been praised by many music critics and fans as one of Jennings’ best albums, and as a landmark in country music history. It was ranked No. 304 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in 2003, and No. 37 on CMT’s list of the 40 greatest albums in country music in 2006. It also influenced many other country artists, such as Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam, Hank Williams Jr., and many more