Personnel: Waylon Jennings (vocals, guitar); John Anderson, Johnny Cash (vocals).
All tracks have been digitally mastered using 24-bit technology.
After bottoming out in a haze of drugs and bad decisions, Outlaw Country pioneer Waylon Jennings left his longtime label RCA for MCA Records, turning out four albums during his mid-1980s tenure there. Those albums are included in their entirety on this double-disc collection, which documents the period where Waylon began to relocate himself both personally and musically. His full-fledged artistic reawakening didn't really kick in until the '90s, but there are still many signs of life to be found here. Though Jimmy Bowen's very '80s-sounding production gives the tracks a bit of an impersonal feel, there's no dampening a spirit like Waylon's, and the singer's country soul comes through loud and clear on wisely chosen covers (Los Lobos' "Will the Wolf Survive?," Steve Earle's "The Devil's Right Hand") and trenchant new material (the powerfully heartbreaking "Crying Don't Even Come Close" stands out mightily).
Granted, there are a few curious moments--it's hard to figure why Waylon chose to cover the '70s pop hits "Baker Street" and "Chevy Van"--but they don't sink the ship. To hear Waylon tearing into the bluesy Rodney Crowell co-write "Woman I Hate It" or deftly navigating Jesse Winchester's metaphysical ballad "Defying Gravity (Executioner's Song)" is to be reminded of the gifts that made Jennings a country star in the first place.
Already own this item? Sell Yours and earn some cash.
It's fast and free to list! (Learn More.)
Reviews
Review this Product
Webmasters, Bloggers & Website Owners
You can earn a 5% commission by selling The Complete MCA Recordings CD on your website. It's easy to get started - we will give you example code. After you're set-up, your website can earn you money while you work, play or even sleep!
Authors/Publishers
Are you the Author/Publisher? Improve sales by submitting additional information on this title.
This item ships from and is sold by Fishpond World Ltd.
Help
My Cart
Ships within 24 hours from UK supplier
