In last week’s Chain Gang Helen Jones served up the wonderful Jaime Wyatt, ably assisted by Shooter Jennings. For my connection this week I’ve turned to Shooter’s old man Waylon. Here he also lends a hand to another artist, in this case it’s Neil Young and a track from his 1985 album country album ‘Old Ways’ that also features Willie Nelson. Waylon Jennings adds his distinctive guitar sound and harmony vocals on a number of tracks, but here we have a more full blown collaboration that is a genuine duet. The album itself was recorded in Nashville and as well as Waylon and Willie, it features a whole host of distinguished names including Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins, Béla Fleck, Marty Stuart and Spooner Oldham. At the time neither Young’s record company Geffen, nor his core fanbase were very pleased with it. However, looked at more objectively, it’s a great record, maligned more because it didn’t conform, than it being a bad record. The album contains some great songs and for me has stood the test of time very well indeed.
In last week’s Chain Gang, Clint West made the connection between Shooter Jennings' old man Waylon, who amongst other things, added his distinctive guitar sound to a number of tracks on Neil Young’s 1985 country album 'Old Ways'. For my link this week, I’ve chosen to focus upon Neil’s most…
When I knew I was going to be covering the letter W in the latest round of the A-Z of Americana I considered a number of options – Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, Wilco… but I ended up going with one of Texas’ favourite sons, Waylon Arnold Jennings. Waylon Jennings was…
Happy Monday morning everyone. If you're sitting in an air conditioned freezing office looking at the sun through tinted windows, warm yourself with this piece from RS Country: "For the vast majority of Steve Earle's studio LPs, beginning with the 1986 neo-traditional classic Guitar Town, he has used other inspiring works to…
From buying my first record aged 10 and attending my first gig at 14, music has been a lifelong obsession. A proud native of Suffolk, I have lived in and around Manchester for the best part of 30 years. My idea of a perfect day would be a new record arriving in the post in the morning, watching Ipswich Town win in the afternoon followed by a gig and a pint with my mates at night,
