Wanted! The Outlaws

WANTED! THE OUTLAWS has been named the most influential country CD of all time (I'm not making that up, I just forget where I heard it). Listen to it, and understand why--every song on here, even the Waylon/Jessi version of "Suspicious Minds"--reeks of country music. This is the album--with a few tweaks, I believe--that spawned the music you listen to today. What self-respecting modern-day singer/songwriter doesn't count Willie and Waylon as influences (and most, if you question them enough, will spurt out Jessi Colter's name as well).

What makes this CD so delictable, aside from it's impressive talent credits (add in Tompall Glaser, who--through a most unfortunate twist of fate--has had his fame pale next to his partners in crime) and superb songwriting? Maybe it's its blend of styles. A pure, solid country backbone, with a rock n roll sex appeal. A honky-tonk drinkin attitude, with a love-ballad aftertaste. Waylon Jennings growls out the lyrics to Billy...Read more

Outlaws are often the stuff of country and western songs.

In the annals of popular music, this CD is a bit of an outlaws tale. After this album came out in the mid 1970's, Nashville's total dominance of Country & Western was ended. Austin Texas, a sleepy small town in the middle of the Lone Star State, became a rival center for country, blues, rock, and other music genres.

Willie & Waylon contribute most of the sound, style, and songs here. Perhaps this is to be expected, since they were already "names" at the time this CD was originally released: Waylon as a performer, Willie as a songwriter. But Jessi Colter has a great voice, and Tompall Glaser provides great instumental accompaniment as the rhythm section.

Willie and Waylon were pure gold after this, and while Jessi Colter & Tompall Glaser were not heard from much afterward, they do live on here.

Waylon Jennings had several big singles and successful concert tours after he and Willie Nelson went...Read more

I remember back in the late 70's sitting in the back of my parents car on numerous roadtrips across Texas listening to this album. Now even though I was into rock and roll at the time, this album still held my attention on those long trips. I bought my own copy a few weeks ago when I heard that Waylon had passed to that great honky tonk in the sky. Man what a great album! My boyhood memories have been coming back to me with each listen. There is not a weak track on this record, with many of them finding their way to Willie and Waylons greatest hits albums. As mentioned by earlier reviewers, Jesse Colter is the hidden gem of this album. The album includes ten new tracks that did not make the original cut, but are all strong. "Why you been gone so long" by Jesse is really outstanding. Finally, the newest track "Nowhere Road" is a Steve Earle song recorded in 1996 by Willie and Waylon (Earle produced it). All I can say is this song should be playing on...Read more