Customer Reviews

Waylon & Willie: Clean Shirt

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2 star:		(1)
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Waylon and Willie recorded several albums together, but some of them were made up of a mix of duets with solo tracks by one but not the other for contractual reasons. They did one for Waylon's label that included a mix of duets and Waylon solos (WWII) followed by one for Willie's label (Take it to the limit) that included different duets and some Willie solos.

On this album, they were both on the same label so they share equal billing, as it should be. Furthermore, they were both going out of fashion with country radio so they could record what they wanted, not being expected to produce hit singles. Free of contractual obligations and other pressures, Waylon and Willie recorded what I consider to be their best ever album together - even better than the first one they did back in the seventies.

The album is built around the concept of looking back on the past. In the opening track, they debate whether to head over the Mexican border and have a good time as they used to when they were young. The song titles of some of the other songs - I could write a book about you, Old age and treachery, Two old sidewinders, The good old nights, Put me on a train back to Texas - give you a clear idea of what this music is about.

Of the albums they did together, this is my favorite. Of course, they also worked on other projects together, including three albums as members, with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, of the Highwaymen. There was also the original Outlaws album, featuring Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser.

If you enjoy any of their other music together, you really ought to listen to this Waylon and Willie album. It is frequently overlooked but deserved to be much more successful than it actually was.

Tracks

If I could find a clean shirt
I could write a book about you
Old age and treachery
Two old sidewinders
Trying to outrun the wind
The good old nights
Guitars that won't stay in tune
The makings of a song
Put me on a train back to Texas
Rocks from rolling stones

This is the best Waylon & Willie CD made. Unless you happened to see them in concert together, no where else will you hear songs from them that give you a better view of the bond these guys had with each other. It's not "politically correct" on a number of levels, but then, neither were they. Amazingly, it's never been a very popular CD, but everyone I've played it for or loaned it to got one for themselves, which is the strongest endorsement available.

I may wear out the CD just by playing it while in the car. The lyrics are so amusing and just fit the two singers and their life style.

I had never seen this cd before finding it while browsing on Amazon. After listening to it, I now know why. What a disapointment. Weak songs that sound like leftovers from previous recording sessions. Don't waste the time with this one