Incredible early work from Willie Nelson – quite different from his outlaw material of the 70s, but equally compelling in its own sort of way! As you'd guess from the title and cover, the set came out at a time when Willie was a real up-and-coming songwriting in country music – responsible for hits for artists like Faron Young, Patsy Cline, and others – and finally given the chance to start as a singer on his own. Willie's style is as amazing as his songs – very different than the mainstream, and often inflected with plenty of jazz – which, for some odd reason, as wonderful as it sounds, is what also kept Nelson away from stardom for most of the 60s. Yet don't let that put you off at all, as the presentation of the material is sublime – completely personal, almost heartbreaking, and still with all those charms that most of the rest of the world didn't discover with Willie for another decade or so. Titles include "Funny How Time Slips Away", "Crazy", "Mr Record Man", "One Step Beyond", "Wake Me When It's Over", "The Part Where I Cry", "Hello Walls", and "Darkness On The Face Of The Earth". (Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

(Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

(Folk/Country, Rock) CD

One of two unique albums from Willie Nelson – recorded during a brief time when Atlantic Records was dabbling in country, and called on Willie and gave him the freedom to work in a way he wasn't able to do while at RCA! This material's almost a lost chapter in Willie's career – sandwiched between his long runs at RCA and Columbia, and representing a moment when Nelson was keenly in touch with all the new energy on the Austin scene – using it to infuse his already great songwriting with bolder energy in the vocals and instrumentation, and a more badass approach overall! Titles here include the classics "Whiskey River" and "Shotgun Willie" – plus "Slow Down Old World", "Devil In A Sleepin Bag", "You Look Like The Devil", "Bubbles In My Beer", "She's Not For You", "So Much To Do", and "Local Memory". This version features a bonus LP of all sorts of rare tracks recorded during the same sessions – titles that include "Both Ends Of The Candle", "Under The Double Eagle", "I Gotta Have Something I Ain't Got", "I'm So Ashamed", "I Drank All Of Our Precious Love Away", "Save Your Tears", and two takes of "My Cricket & Me", plus alternates of titles on the album. (Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

A classic run of records from Waylon Jennings – brought together in a single package! First up is Lonesome Onry & Mean – a pivotal album for Waylon Jennings – the record where he really found the new direction that would finally get him the fame he deserved – delivered in a way that's free from all the later cliches, and which also ties Waylon pretty strongly to the hipper currents of the underground – especially that point where singer/songwriter genius intersected with country! The production is his own, and vastly different than the late 60s records – even though we love those to death too – and that magical Jennings vocal approach does fantastic things to tunes by Steve Young, Mickey Newbury, Kris Kristofferson, and others! Titles include the fantastic "Lonesome Onry & Mean", plus "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues", "Freedom To Stay", "Lay It Down", "You Can Have Her", "Pretend I Never Happened", "San Francisco Mabel Joy", "Sandy Sends Her Best", and a great take on "Me &Bobby McGee". Honky Tonk Heroes is genius material from Waylon Jennings – one of those career-defining records from the early 70s that completely put him on top, and heralded a whole new generation in country music! The set's maybe equally noteworthy as a showcase for the up-and-coming Billy Joe Shaver, who wrote much of the songs on the record – and it's also a great showcase for the important production talents of Tompall Glaser, who really gets the spirit of the music right! Titles include great versions of "Honky Tonk Heroes", "Old Five & Dimers Like Me", "Ride Me Down Easy", "Black Rose", "Willy The Wandering Gypsy & Me", "Omaha", and "Ain't No God In Mexico". This Time is one of those Waylon Jennings records from a time when he could do no wrong – fighting the stronger powers at RCA to really find his voice – recording at the studio of Tompall Glaser, with great production help from Willie Nelson – who was enjoying his own transformation at the time too! As with the previous two gems from this period, the choice of material and presentation is great – songs by Willie, JJ Cale, and Billy Joe Shavers – in a set of titles that include "Heaven Or Hell", "It's Not Supposed To Be That Way", "This Time", "Pick Up The Tempo", "If You Could Touch Her At All", "Walkin", "Slow Rollin Low", "Louisiana Woman", and "Slow Movin Outlaw". Ramblin Man is Waylon Jennings at peak mid 70s perfection! Ramblin' Man fits in stylistically with the gruff honky tonk hero mode he first fully realized a couple albums earlier, but he's still fiercely blazing trails here, pairing his gruff lead vocals with sweeter female harmonies on some tracks, changing the groove from laidback swagger to fast-paced honky tonk, working in some tender ballads with the gruffer numbers...Waylon at his best. Starts up with the eternal title track and equally classic "Rainy Day Woman" and hardly lets up in greatness from there, with "Cloudy Days", "The Hunger", "It'll Be Her", a great cover of the Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider", "Memories Of You And Me", "Amanda" and more. Features bonus tracks too – "Laid Back Country Picker", "The Last One To Leave Seattle", "Big Big Love", "Got A Lot Going For Me", "The Last Letter", and "The One I Sing My Love Songs To". (Folk/Country, Rock) CD

Includes George Porter Jr. of the Meters and Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead and with special guest Willie Nelson. CD

A stone classic from Chip Taylor – a very hip cat who was raised in New York, wrote a number of big pop hits in the 60s, but was always much more comfortable with country music in the end! The album's not straight country – but instead that perfect blend of rock roots and Nashville inspiration that was bubbling up in the American underground in the wake of the Byrds and Burrito Brothers – tried by many, but delivered by only a rare few like Chip at a level this good! The tunes are great – very thoughtful songwriting that puts Taylor on a par with Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson – and the backup group features some great steel guitar from Pete Drake, who really helps set the mood. Titles include "I Read It In Rolling Stone", "Son Of A Rotten Gambler", "The Real Thing", "101 In Cashbox", "Last Chance", and "I Wasn't Born In Tennessee". LP, Vinyl record album

Blue-tinged work for those days when your heart is breaking and your soul is aching – a really wonderful batch of tracks that are heavy on those late 60s/early 70s moments when male singers were starting to open up a bit and let their emotions show! The vibe here is very different than Bobby Gillespie's own music – and the set brings together bits of country, roots rock, and soul – really special tracks that have a perfect blend of heartfelt vocals, well-penned lyrics, and the kind of arrangements and production that really send the whole thing over the top! The best thing about the collection is that it brings together songs we never would have thought to combine like this – a masterful set list that includes "I Don't Want To Talk About It" by Crazy Horse, "Wait & See" by Lee Hazlewood, "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" by Thin Lizzy, "The Coldest Days Of My Life" by The Chi-Lites, "Roll Um Easy" by Little Feat, "Magnolia" by JJ Cale, "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" by Willie Nelson, "Love Sick" by Bob Dylan, I'll Be Long Gone" by Boz Scaggs, "Strong As Death" by Al Green, "Kind Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Dark End Of The Street" by Ry Cooder, "I Feel Like Goin Home" by Charlie Rich, "When My Mind's Gone" by Mott The Hoople, and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Nick Cave. CD

Blue-tinged work for those days when your heart is breaking and your soul is aching – a really wonderful batch of tracks that are heavy on those late 60s/early 70s moments when male singers were starting to open up a bit and let their emotions show! The vibe here is very different than Bobby Gillespie's own music – and the set brings together bits of country, roots rock, and soul – really special tracks that have a perfect blend of heartfelt vocals, well-penned lyrics, and the kind of arrangements and production that really send the whole thing over the top! The best thing about the collection is that it brings together songs we never would have thought to combine like this – a masterful set list that includes "I Don't Want To Talk About It" by Crazy Horse, "Wait & See" by Lee Hazlewood, "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" by Thin Lizzy, "The Coldest Days Of My Life" by The Chi-Lites, "Roll Um Easy" by Little Feat, "Magnolia" by JJ Cale, "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" by Willie Nelson, "Love Sick" by Bob Dylan, I'll Be Long Gone" by Boz Scaggs, "Strong As Death" by Al Green, "Kind Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Dark End Of The Street" by Ry Cooder, "I Feel Like Goin Home" by Charlie Rich, "When My Mind's Gone" by Mott The Hoople, and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Nick Cave. LP, Vinyl record album

A compilation of early recordings by Rod Stewart, Billy Joel, David Bowie, Linda Ronstadt, Dave Edmunds, Boz Scaggs, Warren Zevon, Jeff Lynne, Willie Nelson, Nick Lowe, and Greg & Duane Allman. LP, Vinyl record album

Waylon's close runner-up to Honky Tonk Heroes in overall quality, and one of the greatest outlaw albums ever! As with close buddy Willie Nelson's albums from the period, Dreaming My Dreams showed just how great he could be after wrestling full creative control from the label. The firm, proud attitude helps make the album one of the most cathartic hardcore country listening experiences you can have, as well as simply being packed with great songs. 70s country doesn't get much better, and certainly no truer than this. Book ended by 2 fine tributes to heroes, "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" and "Bob Wills Is Still The King". Other tracks include "Waymore's Blues", "I Recall A Gypsy Woman", "High Time (You Quit Your Lowdown Ways)", "Let's All Help The Cowboys (Sing The Blues)", "The Door Is Always Open", "Let's Turn Back The Years", "She's Looking Good", and "Dreaming My Dreams With You". 2 bonus tracks – "All Around Cowboy" and "Ride Me Down Easy". CD

All songs performed live and broadcast on 107.1 KGSR, Austin TX. Music from Kim Richey, Jesse Winchester, Beck, Kelly Willis, John Hiatt, Bob Schneider, David Gray, Steve Earle, Patti Smith, Gomez, the Jayhawks, Joe Ely, Willie Nelson, and more. CD

One of the great early moments from Kinky Friedman – and a record that ranks right up there with some of the more groundbreaking early 70s work from artists like Steve Young, Guy Clark, or even Willie Nelson! Nelson actually produced a few tracks – and the record features some work by him, Waylon Jennings, and Tompall Glaser – on titles that include a great version of "They Ain't Makin Jews Like Jesus Anymore", plus "Something's Wrong With The Beaver", "Rapid City South Dakota", "Popeye The Sailor Man", "Homo Erectus", and "Before All Hell Breaks Loose". (Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

The legendary debut of Dwight Yoakam – a honky tonk classic delivered with inimitable swagger! It's not only one of the finest country albums of its decade, we'd honestly rank Guitars Cadillacs Etc Etc up there with best country albums ever. Really! The mid 80s isn't one of the best remembered eras in country music – even hardscrabble heroes like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson were fumbling around for the right balance of traditionalism and modernism at the dawn of the CD era – so there's no overstating what a huge breath of fresh air Yoakam was at time. He pays heartfelt homage to roots rock and honky tonk tradition, but he honed his craft in the LA club scene of the early 80s, giving his way with a classic sound an edge like no others at the time. A masterpiece. Titles include "South Of Cincinnati", "Bury Me", "Guitars Cadillacs", his killer version of Cash's "Ring Of Fire", "I'll Be Gone", "Miner's Prayer" and more. (Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

All songs performed live and broadcast on 107.1 KGSR, Austin TX. Music from Buddy Miller, Mavis Staples, Sam Phillips, Tom Russell, Joseph Arthur, Ozomatli, Patty Griffin, Willie Nelson, The Neville Brothers, Steve Earle, Ani DiFranco, CD

Includes performances by Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, John Mellencamp, Eddie Vedder, Johnny Winter, Ron Wood, George Harrison, The Band, Neil Young, Chrissie Hynde, Willie Nelson, and others. (Cassettes, Rock) Cassette

Bob Dylan takes on the American songbook once again – revisiting the territory of classic 20th century songwriters that he touched on the Fallen Angels album, but in an overstuffed mode that definitely warrants the Triplicate title! The triple-length format really has Dylan going to town on the material – and maybe doing a lot more than just trying to ape an older singer like Frank Sinatra – as the arrangements are often surprisingly fresh, and almost hit the kind of country/standard mode that Willie Nelson hit with his Stardust recording. In fact, given the rasp and world-heavy tone of Dylan's voice, and the strong use of both acoustic and steel guitar on some of the tunes, the whole thing maybe feels more like a vision of midcentury, seen through a lens that gives the sound of Nashville a lot more importance in the canon. The set was recorded at the Capitol Studios, which seems a great place to capture this vibe – and titles include, not surprisingly, "Stardust", plus "This Nearly Was Mine", "Stormy Weather", "Once Upon A Time", "The Best Is Yet To Come", "As Time Goes By", "Imagination", "Day In Day Out", "There's A Flaw In My Flue", "These Foolish Things", and "You Go To My Head". LP, Vinyl record album

The last album ever recorded by Townes Van Zandt – and a set that shows just how strong his talent was, right up until the end! The album came out two years after Townes passed away in 1997, and features core recordings of the legend on vocals and guitar, augmented by studio backings added to flesh out the sound of the material – yet done in a way that's very respectful to the spirit of the original tunes! The vocals are wonderful – maybe even more powerful at this point in Van Zandt's career than on some of the earlier recordings – and titles include a version of the great "Pancho & Lefty", which seems to have learned from the Merle Haggard/Willie Nelson version of Townes' classic – plus "Tower Song", "For The Sake Of The Song", "Waitin Round To Die", "Sanitarium Blues", "Greensboro Woman", "Dollar Bill Blues", and "To Live's To Fly". LP, Vinyl record album