Swampland.com

The Very Best of Outlaw Country

by: Various Artists

(Legacy)

The thing that sets this compilation apart from the plethora of others that are always being flooded into the market is the fact that it brings together Southern rockers and “outlaw” country artists on one excellent CD. It could be used as a perfect illustration of what GRITZ is all about, classic Southern rockers and young country artists who have been washed in the blood of Southern rock.

This one reminds me of my own old college “mix tapes,” except, that is, for the inclusion of hot new artists like Gretchen Wilson (“Here for the Party”), Shooter Jennings (“4th of July”) and Travis Tritt (“Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde”). These artists mix very well with The Allman Brothers Band (“Ramblin’ Man”), Marshall Tucker (“Can’t You See”), Molly Hatchet (“Flirtin’ with Disaster”), Lynyrd Skynyrd (“Gimmie Three Steps”).

Of course there are the founders of Outlaw country, Waylon Jennings (“Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way?”), Willie Nelson (“Whiskey River” Live), David Allan Coe (“You Never Even Called Me By My Name”), and Hank Williams, Jr. (“All My Rowdy Friends are Comin’ Over Tonight.” Add in some Billy Joe Shaver, Charlie Daniels, Jessi Colter, Steve Earle, Johnny Paycheck, Tanya Tucker, The Georgia Satellites and the legendary Johnny Cash (“Cocaine Blues”) and you have yourself a bonafide redneck party on one 20-track disc.

The disc includes a 12-page liner note booklet written by Rich Kienzle, which wraps with a statement I could not agree with more.

“Decades ago, country and rock followed two separate paths. Today, a collection like this proves that what began with Waylon and Willie, with The Allmans and Skynyrd, lives on, it thrives and excites audiences. That ain’t likely to change soon.”

-Michael Buffalo Smith

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