Honky Tonk Heroes (1973)

Honky Tonk Heroes is the nineteenth studio album by Waylon Jennings, released in 1973 on RCA Victor. Most of the songs on the album were written or co-written by Billy Joe Shaver. The album is considered an important piece in the development of the outlaw sub-genre in country music as it revived the honky tonk music of Nashville and added elements of rock and roll.

Jennings had recently renegotiated his contract with RCA Records, granting him creative control over his work. As his usual producer, Chet Atkins, was reluctant to release a record consisting of songs written by newcomer Shaver, Jennings replaced Atkins with Tompall Glaser. Jennings recorded the album with his own band the Waylors.

Honky Tonk Heroes had a good reception by music critics. It reached number 14 in Billboard's Top Country albums chart. The singles "You Asked Me To" and "We Had It All" reached number 8 and 28. The album was listed in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die in 2005.

Background

Waylon Jennings and his manager Neil Reshen had renegotiated the singer's contract with RCA Records in 1972, which gave him creative control over his work. By 1973, Atlantic Records was attempting to sign Jennings who, with fellow country singer Willie Nelson, had become dissatisfied with RCA because of the company's conservative influence upon their music. Nelson, who had signed with Atlantic, was becoming more popular, and this persuaded RCA to renegotiate with Jennings before it lost another potential success.

Jennings' creative input in the recording process had increased on the releases of Good Hearted Woman (1972), Ladies Love Outlaws (1972) and Lonesome, On'ry and Mean (1973). Jennings attempted to duplicate the sound of his live performances in the recording studio. He used his backing band, The Waylors, and his own choice of material.

Recording and composition

Jennings met Billy Joe Shaver at the 1972 Dripping Springs Reunion in Dripping Springs, Texas. As Shaver took part on a guitar pull with other songwriters, he interpreted his original "Willy the Wondering Gypsy and Me". Jennings, who was resting at the back of the trailer, heard Shaver and asked him if he had written "any more of them 'ol cowboy songs". Impressed by Shaver's originals, Jennings offered him to record an entire album of his songs. Shaver then travelled to Nashville, Tennessee, where he tried to unsuccessfully locate Jennings, who avoided him for six months. With the help of local D.J. Roger "Captain Midnight" Schutt, Shaver found Jennings at a RCA recording session with producer Chet Atkins. He tried to confront the singer, who offered Shaver $100. Shaver refused the money and told Jennings that he was willing to fight him if he would not listen to his songs.

Jennings offered to record "Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me" and told Shaver to sing another song – if Jennings liked it he would record it and Shaver could sing another; but if he did not like it, Shaver would have to leave. Shaver sang "Ain't No God in Mexico", followed by "Honky Tonk Heroes" and "Old Five and Dimers and Me". Jennings was impressed, and he decided to record an entire album of Shaver's songs.