Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Masterpiece, September 16, 2003
By A Customer
This is truly a masterpiece by the man that is quite possibly the greatest country artist of all time. I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself is a laugh riot, Lucille offers a touching look at a wifes leaving, This is Getting Funny (But There Ain't Nobody Laughing) explores the awkwardness of breakups, and Belle of the Ball magnificently expresses a man's loving beyond his stature. Of course Luckenbach, Texas is here, too. But the standout track is If You See Me Getting Smaller, which almost seems like an elegy since his passing. If you can listen to that song and not feel at least a little sad that he's gone, you are a bigger man than me.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Country" music at its peak..., July 3, 2005
This was the first album I ever owned. I still have the original LP and recently revisited it. Growing up around country music from birth, the stereotypes of the country sound - of drinking, pickup trucks, wives leaving and all the other things that came through the expression of country's raw roots - climaxed with this album. It became popular. Everything after this album became derivative and country slowly moved toward the "pop" sound it has achieved today.
By this time, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson (couldn't say one without the other) had become not only famous, they had become icons, bringing "outlaws" to the mainstream. CBs, truckers, Smokey and the Bandit and the whole genre had gone mainstream. 'Luckenbach, Texas' became a huge hit (which is quite a paradox because the song speaks directly to the fatigue that Waylon, and many others, had experienced due to achieving stardom).
It would seem that an attempt was made at a big selling album as the songs "Lucille" and "Sweet Caroline" were popular in their own rights. But it worked. It is a great, great album.
The hidden gem on here is the second song "If You See Me Getting Smaller." It is highly personal and confessional and you can feel the emotions of a man coming to grips with the consequences of decisions made in his life.
"Willie, you're my constant companion
You know the light and shade
We have spent a million dollars
To find out what we've made
We have made the maidens marvel
At the things we do and say
Down, down and out brother
Up, up and away
If you see me getting smaller I'm leaving
Don't be grieving
Just got to get away today..."
It's only four stars because it is a super short LP, as are the songs. I was left hungry for more. But I have never tired of listening to it. A little comedy, a little bit of confession and even a little bit of religion makes this a gem for anyone's collection.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not today's country [ in a good way ], January 3, 2004
I give this a three when grading on a curve. I'm not rating that way based off of other people's albums but Waylon Albums. For instance if I lost my Waylon albums, which ones would I buy back first? This is not among those first. If you don't have any Waylon records this is definetely not the place to start in my opinion. Sure it's a good record. Obviously- it's a WAYLON record! There is always something good things about a Waylon album. But this one is very short and not particularly essential. Good album, nothing great. However when you compare it to his live at jds release or Honky Tonk Heroes or Dreamin' or This Time or well, his top albums- this one does fall into the mediocre range from that perspective. So enjoy it if you've got those other ones but don't start here by any means. That's my advice.
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~ Waylon Jennings
~ Waylon Jennings
~ Waylon Jennings
~ Waylon Jennings
~ Waylon Jennings
by Waylon Jennings 
