Waylon Jennings - Honky Tonk Heroes/Waylon & Willie

The Legacy X2 series can often be a crapshoot: sometimes two classic albums are packaged together, sometimes one is a dud, and at other times albums from two different periods in an artist's career will be side by side. Ultimately, it's all about clearing inventory off the shelves. In this case, two of Waylon Jennings' most critically acclaimed and aesthetically satisfying albums are placed side by side, 1973's Honky Tonk Heroes and 1978's Waylon & Willie. The former set features a number of tunes written by Billy Joe Shaver that would become staples in Jennings' live shows, particularly the title track and "Ride Me Down Easy." That said, there isn't a weak moment here, and one of the non-Shaver tunes, Donnie Fritts' "We Had It All," was a smash. The latter set is the record that brought to roost worldwide the famed 1970s outlaw movement and set the already successful careers of Jennings and Willie Nelson into hyperdrive. For Jennings this lasted only a few years, but this album was the place where Nelson began in earnest his climb to superstardom, not only in the country genre but in the pop market as well. Nelson had been on the scene in Nashville for a long time, but it wasn't until he returned home to his native Texas that he became an institution. The enduring single from this album was the duet "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys." This track, despite the presence of others that are superior, has become the standard-bearer for 1970s outlaw country. Both of these discs are the remastered versions and both contain bonus tracks, making them fine picks for either a novice or a seasoned fan. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Pachucki Engineer Andy McMahon Organ Arlessa Barnes Project Coordinator Barny Robertson Organ, Keyboards, Vocal Harmony Becky Williams Vocal Harmony Bee Spears Bass Bill K. Myers Illustrations Bill Noss Hand Lettering Bill Stafford Project Coordinator Billy Reynolds Guitar (Rhythm) Billy Sanford Guitar (Electric) Brenton Banks Violin Brooke Nochomson Project Coordinator Bruce Pollock Project Coordinator Buddy Emmons Guitar (Steel) Buddy Harman Drums Byron Bach Cello Carter Robertson Keyboards, Vocal Harmony, Organ Catherine Seligman Project Coordinator Chet Flippo Original Liner Notes Chips Moman Guitar, Producer Christina DeSimone Project Coordinator Christine Chagnon Reissue Design Chuck Seitz Recording Technician Claudia Depkin Archivist Dale Sellers Guitar (Electric) Dana Renert Project Coordinator Dave Kirby Guitar (Rhythm) Dee Moeller Piano, Organ Dennis Ferrante Master Transfers Don Brooks Harmonica Duke Goff Bass Ed Osborne Project Coordinator Eddie Hinton Guitar (Rhythm) Eddy Anderson Drums Elliott Federman Mastering Felicia Gearhart Project Coordinator Fred Newell Guitar (Rhythm) Glen Spreen Arranger Glenn Delgado Project Coordinator Glenn Korman Archivist Gordon Payne Guitar (Acoustic), Vocal Harmony, Harmonica, Guitar Henry Strzelecki Bass Herb Burnette Art Direction, Design Jeremy Holiday Production Coordination, Project Coordinator Jerry Gropp Guitar (Rhythm) Jessi Colter Organ, Piano Jimmy Moore Cover Photo Joanne Feltman Archivist Joel Whitburn Chart Information John Hudson Product Manager John Leslie Hug Guitar Ken Mansfield Producer Kyle Lehning Trumpet, Organ, Piano Larry Parra Project Coordinator Larry Whitmore Guitar (Rhythm) Laura Dorson Project Coordinator Laura Gregory Project Coordinator Lawrence Herzberg Violin Lennie Haight Violin Lisa Butler Project Coordinator Mandana Eidgah Production Coordination Marvin Chantry Viola Matthew Zeek Harris Art Direction Mike Hartry Digital Transfers Mike Ragogna Reissue Producer Mike Shockley Recording Technician Ralph Mooney Guitar (Steel) Rance Wasson Vocal Harmony, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Randy Scruggs Guitar (Rhythm) Ray Butts Recording Technician Reggie Young Guitar (Electric), Guitar Rich Kienzle Liner Notes Ritchie Albright Drums Robin Diamond Project Coordinator Robin Manning Project Coordinator Ronnie Light Producer Roy Shockley Recording Technician Sheldon Kurland Violin Sherman Hayes Bass Stephanie Kika Project Coordinator Stephanie Woolf Violin Steve Strauss Project Coordinator Steven Maxwell Smith Violin Tom Pick Engineer Tom Tierney Archivist, Project Coordinator Tommy Williams Fiddle Tompall Glaser Producer Traci Werbel Project Coordinator Waylon Jennings Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Author, Producer, Vocals Will Ackerman Drums Willie Nelson Vocals, Producer, Guitar (Rhythm)