Downtown Los Angeles, circa 1983

Downtown Los Angeles, circa 1983
STMcC in downtown Los Angeles, circa 1983

Monday, June 11, 2018

“I DON’T EXPLAIN IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND." ~Waylon Jennings

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THE COMPLETE MCA RECORDINGS
by Waylon Jennings
released: 2004
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At one time I owned, individually, all four of the WAYLON JENNINGS albums collected in this 2-disc set: WILL THE WOLF SURVIVE? ('85) / HANGIN' TOUGH ('87) / A MAN CALLED HOSS ('87) / FULL CIRCLE ('88).

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Then one night in 1995, Julie Newmar, Susan Dey, Valerie Bertinelli, Judy Norton, Sally Field, Gene Tierney, and Dolly Parton broke into my house. The first six held me down and -- Oh! -- the things Dolly said she would do to me unless I gave them my Waylon CDs. Well, naturally, not being a total lunatic, I turned over the Waylon discs, and back out through the bathroom window those women went. I'm a little ashamed to admit that I was a victim of strong-arm robbery, but it was either that or death by suffocation... that is, AFTER the unspeakable acts of mind-melting, "Mama!"-crying torture that would have been perpetrated upon my body -- a fate worse than life itself!
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Now, I'll admit that initially I thought perhaps this all occurred while I was fast asleep and dreaming because, at one time or another, I have fantasized about all of those women (except for the gang's BigWig, of course), and also because Gene Tierney looked awfully alluring for a woman four years dead. And because, let's face it, that Parton part smacked of Nightmare City! And why MY Waylon albums? Why wouldn't they have just sent Chauffeur James out to get their own? I couldn't say, yet mysteriously, all four of these Waylon discs were missing in the morning and I discovered that I now had some rather interesting bruises.
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At any rate, I just recently reacquired those four Waylon albums, which were stolen from me, by purchasing THE COMPLETE MCA RECORDINGS. And I gotta tell ya, they sound every bit as good as I remembered. Well, to be Cowboy Code Honest, Disc 1 (WOLF & TOUGH) is a bit uneven. Oh, heck yeah, there are some first-rate Waylon cuts here: The bittersweet WHERE DOES LOVE GO?; the barking THAT DOG WON'T HUNT; the humorously sexy I'VE GOT ME A WOMAN; the #1 C&W hit ROSE IN PARADISE, with its nimble, smoky Country pickin'; and the raw, fully rollin' and half rockin' duet with Johnny "Man In Black" Cash, EVEN COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES.
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But while Waylon's terrifically expressive baritone rumbles through everything with its trademark intensity that conveys an "approach cautiously" warning, there is some (what I would term) "filler" here. This is not a defanged Waylon, but a Waylon perhaps a bit long in the tooth, fairly tame and satisfied to just snarl from his comfortable spot on the front porch rather than charging across the yard to take a big ol' bite out of some knuckleheaded trespasser.
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But now we address Disc 2, and the return of the DANGEROUS OUTLAW, the REAL Waylon "Waymore" Jennings:
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Tracks 1 through 11 constitute Waylon's audiobiography, A MAN CALLED HOSS; each song representing a chapter in his legendary life. It opens with LITTLEFIELD, a high-powered Country Swing piece that has the sweet fiddle juxtaposed with Waylon's "bulldozing" electric guitar clearing the way and announcing the Outlaw's return in no uncertain terms: "I'll bet I was the only boy that was ever expelled from Sunday school / Lover, fighter, wild horse-rider, and purdy dern good windmill-maker / Look out world, here I come!"
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The whole album's a winner: Sad, rough and rowdy, tender, and just flat-out rocking. "Sometimes it's hard to live like I was raised, trying to survive these modern days the old-fashioned way", Waylon sings in the closer, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?, just before launching into a full-blown electric guitar and tenor saxophone blitzkrieg to the fade out and tearing us a new one in the process. (Crank it up!)
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And if anything, FULL CIRCLE (tracks 12-21) is even better: "I was so ugly, the doctor slapped my Mama when I was born" is the hilarious opening line of TROUBLE MAN, which quickly transforms into a ferocious Maverick Man anthem. Watch it! This ol' boy ain't bluffin' -- this one BITES! And Waylon never sounded better.
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FULL CIRCLE moves from touching ballads evoking pathos to blistering Country rockers with Waylon's guitar snapping and that guttural growl in his voice enough to scare the hell out of demons!
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Shortly after FULL CIRCLE's release, I went to see the Outlaw perform at a small club in Los Angeles. On the way there, I wondered if he'd have enough guts to sing HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH TO LIVE IN L.A.? -- a funny critique of Angeleno insanity. Ha! He wasn't called an "outlaw" for nothing... he sang it, much to my delight. (And I didn't see anyone stand up and tell him, "Hey, you can't do that song HERE!")
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This collection closes with the bonus track, a duet with John Anderson, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN RAGGED AND RIGHT -- a real wang dang doodle!
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WAYLON JENNINGS: THE COMPLETE MCA RECORDINGS (including a nice booklet) is a great buy, whether you're already a Waylon fan or just about to discover the greatest singer to ever emerge from the Country-Western genre. I'm so glad to have this music again after that unfortunate little incident way back when.
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Wait a minute -- there's someone at the door. It sounds like a gaggle of girls. Probably selling Girl Scout cookies. I'll be right back...
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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15 comments:

  1. I'll take Dolly Parton and you can have all the angles and elbows "Twiggys." I thought I hadn't heard a Jennings song before. Am at youtube filtered my "most views"
    #1 Good Hearted Woman - he's gone soft!
    # 2 "Outlaw Shit" that's a Jennings song with young whippersnappers. Next!
    #3 "I've Always Been Crazy" - Yes! Aha I've heard this Jennings song before. (I was going to use the phrase "that song" but that could come off as "that song from those people." Killer (meaning good) song.
    $4 Luckenbach Texas, by golly I knew/know that too. Waylon and Willie and the boys.. that's some quality stuff. "Blue eyes crying in the rain" a Willie reference. Dang I forgot and now remember a whole genre.

    My favorite country singer and guitar guy is Jerry Reed. I like his music the best. By happenstance, as a kid I spent weekends at my dad's (pa.. well I never used that word) on weekends. Halfway up the stairs was a landing with a piano and a metronome on top that nobody used. And also a record player (stereo!). Circa 7:00am on Sundays Jerry Reed albums loud then soon joined by a "Rise and Shine!" (meaning get up!). Down the road in time, Smokey and the Bandit didn't hurt his rep to say the least.

    "to scare the hell out of demons!" ahaha. I enjoy your life chapters review, the songs, and inspiration for this post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! You da DogG, G!

      Yeah, I'm not really a Twiggy fan either. Too twiggy! (I wasn't hot for Miss Vicki, either. That's why I let Tiny have her.)

      I dig me some Jerry Reed! Ain't nuttin' wrong wid dat choice, McBro! He had a good sense of humor and mixed it with a bit o' intensity.

      My Pa used to wake me up for school by playing Roger's 'YOU CAN'T ROLLER-SKATE IN A BUFFALO HERD' cranked "up to eleven". (There are some very good reasons that I turned out the way I did. And I blame my parents!! [;^D)

      I couldn't even begin to guess how many concerts / Rock shows I've been to in my life. (Friday and/or Saturday nights at The Troubadour or Roxy's on Sunset Strip were regular weekends for me for awhile.)

      I've seen some great ones and some not-so-great ones, but the first time I ever saw Waylon live remains my #1 all-time favorite concert. (I saw a total of 4 Waylon shows.) The stories that the guy told between songs were so damned funny that it was like seeing 2 shows simultaneously: 1) The original Country "Outlaw" -- 'Rough & Rowdy', and 2) a first-rate stand-up comedian!! All for the price of 1 ticket.

      Your mention of the Outlaw Country Classic tune 'I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CRAZY' prompted me to share the following with you. For decades now, that particular tune has been my primary personal theme song, as mentioned in [Link> THIS OLD BLOG BIT HERE.

      I used to pretend there was a superhero group called the AKC (Ass-Kicking Committee). It was comprised of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Hank "Bocephus" Williams Jr.

      I used to say to a girlfriend of mine: "Don't make me have to call the AKC!" That'd straighten her right up!

      I leave you with some song suggestions, all by "Bocephus":

      ALL MY ROWDY FRIENDS ARE COMING OVER TONIGHT

      MY NAME IS BOCEPHUS (The Live Version!)

      THE BALLAD OF HANK WILLIAMS

      A COUNTRY BOY CAN SURVIVE

      DINOSAUR

      IF YOU DON'T LIKE HANK WILLIAMS

      See what you think of THAT attitude.

      Thanks for the comment, my friend!

      ~ D-FensDogG
      STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'

      POSTSCRIPT:
      New BOTB starting tomorrow.

      Delete
  2. McBrother Man, thanks for the tps McBigTime. I often send emails with "My notes are in green." I don't think the website does green text so my notes are in italics (if the site does that) or text.

    5: What’s your anger style?

    I think I'm akin paraphrasing. Take it up to the chest, no problem. Up to the neck, no problem. Up to the forehead... no problem. Up to here, the top of my head, watch out - 0 to 60 in 1 second. People get scared fast when mild mannered turns into angry.

    7: What is the best character name you’ve ever come across?

    Yoey O'Doughertry

    On the radio in Texas. (Sidenote, you'd like this. In Texas, back in the day it was legal to drink beer in the car as long as you weren't past the limit). The funniest line I remember from a DJ. He said a Mexican called him a Yankee (a Yanqui). He said, "I said, 'I'm not a Yankee. I'm from Texas!'"

    ALL MY ROWDY FRIENDS ARE COMING OVER TONIGHT

    The one song you note I heard (Monday Night Football). Hank goes nation-wide! Hadn't seen the video. Classic. And Vern!

    MY NAME IS BOCEPHUS (The Live Version!)

    Eh. Almost doesn't sound country. Bluesy, sounds like Stevie Ray Vaughn. Or Stevie Ray Vaughn sounds like Hank Williams Jr.

    THE BALLAD OF HANK WILLIAMS

    Instant classic 10/10. I dig the country references. (The youtube video is an album cover with the words "Original Classic Hits - Volume 7"). That's some prolficism. "...He fired some people that he didn't even know..." A great line among many.

    A COUNTRY BOY CAN SURVIVE

    Badass. That pretty much captures the whole scene. 10/10.

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    Interlude. I enjoy A Mighty Wind. The other day I mentioned the show organizer who played polo on a Shetland pony so if he fell it wouldn't be so far from the ground.
    ****

    DINOSAUR

    11/10. Out of the whole lot, that's my favorite.

    IF YOU DON'T LIKE HANK WILLIAMS

    Because I hadn't heard him much before. Hadn't heard this song before. Heard someone singing it changing the lyrics to ruder. Now I know the source. Funny stuff.
    ****

    That's a lineup of Real music, kudos and thanks BigBroMan.

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    Replies
    1. G McDOGG ~

      DOH! Uhp! I'm an idiot!

      I got so immersed in the BOTB voting and comments that I forgot I had a couple comments over here as well.

      >>... People get scared fast when mild mannered turns into angry.

      Yip! When the ordinarily mild-mannered blow a gasket, everyone around knows they really MEAN IT!

      >>... 7: What is the best character name you’ve ever come across? Yoey O'Doughertry

      Ha! Well, that one sure sounds familiar. Shucks 'n' Thanks!

      But wait! There's more...
      What does Texas and/or Texas radio have to do with Yoey O'Dogherty? I missed the transition somehow.

      I dig 'A Mighty Wind' almost -- almost -- as much as I do 'This Is Spinal Tap'.

      Glad you enjoyed most of the Bocephus tunes. He's a big favorite of mine in the Country genre. Actually, I'd put him at #2, right after Waylon.

      I accidentally left a song out. I fully intended to include the following one in the list from the other day, but I forgotted. (My mind ain't what it used to be, and it never was.)

      I'll make this one easier on ya by providing a live link you can just click from here and it'll take you right there:

      [Link> The Coalition To Ban Coalitions

      And if you liked that one, then maybe you'll like one which includes double the trouble -- Bocephus singing WITH Waylon:

      [Link> The Conversation

      Think there was enough "Real Man" in that room?

      I took a girlfriend to see Bocephus live one night at The Greek Theatre in L.A. Hank Junior was the only person at the concert who was drunker'n I was!! :^D

      ~ D-FensDogG
      Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends

      Delete
    2. POSTSCRIPT:
      I neglected to mention that the waitress whom Waylon flirts with in that video ("The Conversation"), who turns and smiles at him, was his real-life wife, Jessi Colter.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends

      Delete
    3. Part 1 of 2 or 2 of 1

      Yo Bro,

      No worries. I'm lagging behind on time. Ironic that 60+ hour weeks may kill me but the only way to retire by 60... and pay for beer in the interim. We'll find out who can go the distance in the long run (Eagles reference but you knew that). Notes in quotes.

      G McDOGG ~

      DOH! Uhp! I'm an idiot!

      "Not the guy who thought up Yoey Dougherty. I added a "r" between the t and y above 'cause it sounded more country. Old school not new fangled "country" singers with names like "Travis Treebark" Jimmy Jim Chestnut".... "Johnny Paycheck."

      I got so immersed in the BOTB voting and comments that I forgot I had a couple comments over here as well.

      "Looks like a possible tie."

      ... People get scared fast when mild mannered turns into angry.

      Yip! When the ordinarily mild-mannered blow a gasket, everyone around knows they really MEAN IT!

      "Yup. 'I've never seen him like that before.' Element of surprise."

      ... 7: What is the best character name you’ve ever come across? Yoey O'Doughertry

      Ha! Well, that one sure sounds familiar. Shucks 'n' Thanks!

      "You're welcome and kudos. And see above for O'Dougherty without the twangy "r".

      But wait! There's more...
      What does Texas and/or Texas radio have to do with Yoey O'Dogherty? I missed the transition somehow.

      "Abstract. And beer. With no 'What's this paper doing in my beer'."
      - Dude I put acid in there.' Mild mannered: At a construction site a guy asked me, 'Have you ever done acid'?
      - 'No,' I said.
      'You sure,' he said.
      - 'No, why?' I said.
      'Oh', he said. "Art (a crazy friend) said the reason you're so mellow is your mom used to put acid in your baby bottle.'"

      These ' and " quotation marks are getting out of hand.


      I dig 'A Mighty Wind' almost -- almost -- as much as I do 'This Is Spinal Tap'.

      "I actually like A Mighty Wind better because it's even keeled tone throughout. Spinal Tap has some kick-a moments like 11, the military concert, books on tape by people with the same last names."

      Glad you enjoyed most of the Bocephus tunes. He's a big favorite of mine in the Country genre. Actually, I'd put him at #2, right after Waylon.

      "I thought Waylon and they could be equal as it's hard to tell the difference between Hank Jr and Waylon. They both live by the songs that they wrote."

      I accidentally left a song out. I fully intended to include the following one in the list from the other day, but I forgotted. (My mind ain't what it used to be, and it never was.)

      I'll make this one easier on ya by providing a live link you can just click from here and it'll take you right there:

      Delete
    4. Part 2 of 2 (if I remember where I left off)

      [Link The Conversation

      "ahahha good stuff. Twin brothers of different mothers.. and fathers."

      Think there was enough "Real Man" in that room?

      I took a girlfriend to see Bocephus live one night at The Greek Theatre in L.A. Hank Junior was the only person at the concert who was drunker'n I was!! :^D


      "I've only been to the Greek Theatre in Berkeley... with some PDA's (that's what young whippersnappers now call public displays of affection... to see "new wave" which means groups with short or conscious hair.. and sometimes - well always electric guitars amidst synthesizers."


      A huge thank you, McBro. Inspired by your blog post and replies, I gave my... pa a CD of Hank Williams Sr and Willie Nelson on Father's Day and I said it brought back good memories. Perhaps obliquely alluded to in my earlier post... my dad lived in Texas for a number of years. Thus, the memories.

      Cheers.

      Delete
    5. POSTSCRIPT:
      I neglected to mention that the waitress whom Waylon flirts with in that video ("The Conversation"), who turns and smiles at him, was his real-life wife, Jessi Colter.

      "Score!"

      Delete
    6. McDOGG ~
      You'll be happy (although not surprised) to know that indeed I immediately caught the Eagles reference.

      Over the years, I've forgotten just how many different personas I've given to Yoey O'Dogherty. But I think my favorite may have been when I turned him into the drummer for a Funk band based out of County Cork, Ireland. (Ireland was the least "funky" place I could think of at the time. Still is.)

      Hey, I'm very pleased that the post inspired your Father's Day gifts. That's pretty cool! My Pa has been in the Spiritual realm for a long time now. Well, since 1996. But he was Country before I was Country, and he kind of got me thinking in that direction even before I became a big Waylon fan.

      Pa and I took a number of good road trips together, and when we'd return home, we got in the habit of going to this neat little local bar, having a couple beers and playing Willie's 'ON THE ROAD AGAIN', which they had on the jukebox.

      Also, from my earliest memories on, my Pa was a big fan of Roger Miller. And I'm sure that his blaring of 'YOU CAN'T ROLLER SKATE IN A BUFFALO HERD' first thing in the morning, to wake me up for school, explains why I turned out a screw loose and a beer too full.

      >>... Jessi Colter: "Score!"

      Hell yeah!

      [Link> Waylon & Jessi, or "Leather & Lace"

      ~ Stephen
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
    7. > when I turned him into the drummer for a Funk band based out of County Cork, Ireland. (Ireland was the least "funky" place I could think of at the time. Still is.)>

      Ahahaha. County Cork, that's some funny stuff. So how did we get so funky? (Nobody really knows what that word means - well I don't). The United States Of America. The U.S. of A. That's how, by cracky.

      Your dad and my dad may be similar and certainly how we view them. King Of The Road. You'll be happy to know I know the song well enough to only have to key "Roger Miller k" and knew this song would come up.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhzqUtJ3goE

      Delete
    8. KING OF THE ROAD is a total classic!

      I still listen to Roger Miller... and some Jim Stafford, too... just to make sure I never start to slip into "normal". That would be so foreign to me. But you gotta stay alert, because "this world" has a way of trying to pastuerize, homogenize, standardize, and communize everyone. One can never guard their individuality too carefully.

      Somehow, a little Roger and a little Jim keeps everything inside a wee bit slanted -- like a 4 beer buzz on a Saturday morning.

      You know what I'm yakkin' 'bout.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'

      Delete
  3. Engaging review, Reno! I've been a fan of Waylon's ever since my dad brought him home for a drink once, when we lived in Vegas. He was one of the few we would have gladly welcomed back - hilarious and courteous to kids and Mom. Thanks for the memory jog!

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    Replies
    1. Howdy, dIEDRE! ~
      Hokey-Smoke! You had Waylon in your house? How did THIS happen? What did your Dad do that put him into contact with Waylon? And who else had a drink in your Vegas home? (I didn't know you used to live in Vegas. How old were you at the time?)

      According to my Ma, I was ("legitimately") conceived at the El Cortez Hotel in downtown Las Vegas. But that's probably TMI.

      Your comment has my curiosity piqued! What gives? You dangled the bait and I took it! Now don't leave me hanging.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends

      Delete
    2. Howdy Reno!
      Ha! Would that I could have realized who some of my dad's new buddies were when he occasionally brought them home after a gig on the strip. Dad moonlighted in backup bands. Temporarily lodged in the awkward fog between baby fat and acne (you know, bobby sox and stockings) as I was at the time, I'm surprised I had the presence of mind to save Bobby Vinton's germs in a tissue in a Ziplock bag - for years ;-)
      El Cortez, huh? That might explain some of your musical tastes. Que te vaya bien, my friend!

      Delete
  4. Hokey-Smoke! How cool and interesting! Let's hear it for dads with famous connections.

    I like your poetic syntax and creative bibbidi-bobbidi-boo way with words. Really! Methinks you ought to write children's books. ...Oh, wait!

    Bibbidi-Bobbidy-Vinton's germs in a Ziplock bag. Ha!-Ha! This is starting to sound like an LSD trip. Or one of my normal nighttime dreams.

    Thanks for the clarification, my friend. Very neat!

    ~ D-FensDogG
    Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends

    ReplyDelete

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