Artists like Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser bucked Nashville’s music row and birthed a movement
Kristofferson by Kris Kristofferson (1970)
His voice, rough-hewn but full of soul, poured out stories of love, loss, and existential angst in songs like “For the Good Times” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” Poignant gems like “Help Me Make It Through the Night” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” dared to explore taboo themes in country music. Nashville turned its back on this raw honesty, but when Joplin’s “Bobby McGee” soared to the top, the album, re-released as “Me and Bobby McGee,” finally found its home in the hearts of listeners and atop the charts.
Honky Tonk Heroes by Waylon Jennings (1973)
The air crackled with rebellion in 1973. Willie Nelson’s released “Shotgun Willie,” while Waylon Jennings’ South Plains baritone scorched his way through “Honky Tonk Heroes,” featuring nine songs written by an unknown songwriter from Waco, Texas, Billy Joe Shaver. Jennings ditched the Nashville studio musicians for his own band and embraced Shaver’s raw poetry. Neither were huge commercial successes, but they were artistic triumphs of the highest order. And their impact rippled through the industry, liberating and empowering musicians to reclaim creative control over their art.
¡Viva Terlingua! by Jerry Jeff Walker (1973)
Saying goodbye to stuffy studios, Jerry Jeff Walker stormed Texas with a mobile recording truck and set up camp in a bustling dance hall in Luckenbach. Five days jamming with his band, one night erupting with a packed house – “Viva Terlingua” breathes carefree rebellion. Tracks like “Gettin’ By” and “Little Bird” flutter with sunshine, but the “gonzo” spirit explodes when Gary P. Nunn throws out an unrehearsed “London Homesick Blues.” The crowd quickly picked up the “I wanna go home with the armadillo” refrain, making it an instant Austin anthem. Forget Nashville polish, Jerry Jeff Walker craved live grit, and an Austin legend was born.
Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson (1975)
In 1975, Willie Nelson surprised everyone with Red Headed Stranger, a stripped-down album recorded in Garland for a mere $4,000. Columbia, his new label, initially thought he’d sent them demos! But Willie’s vision proved masterful. The unadorned sound showcased his expressive voice and nimble guitar playing, perfectly complemented by his sister Bobbie’s evocative saloon piano. “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” became an instant No. 1 hit, while the title track, an old cowboy ballad about a preacher on the run after killing his unfaithful wife and her lover, captivated listeners with its tale of a fugitive wrestling with redemption. The album’s concept was conceived on a road trip from Colorado back to Texas, a testament to Willie and then-wife Connie Koepke’s creative spark.
Wanted! The Outlaws by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, Tompall Glaser (1976)
RCA Records cleverly recouped their previous losses on the pre-outlaw era of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson by repackaging overlooked tracks. Among them were gems like “Good Hearted Woman,” “Me and Paul,” and a 1970 duet between Jennings and his wife, Jessi Colter, covering Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds.” While Colter may have appeared as an unexpected addition to this rugged group, her spirited rendition of Mickey Newbury’s “Why You Been Gone So Long” emerges as the epitome of outlaw spirit on the album. Surprisingly, many rock enthusiasts embraced Wanted! as their introduction to country music, leading to a remarkable achievement of selling a million copies within a month. This eclectic collection became a testament to the genre’s broad appeal and the timeless allure of outlaw country.