Waylon Live (The Expanded Edition)

Though it was unreleased until 1976, Waylon Live captures Waylon Jennings in 1974, still riding the wave of white-hot excitement generated by Honky Tonk Heroes. Engineered by Al Pachucki — who recorded all of Elvis’s classic concert albums — every sound rings with purpose and clarity. There is flavor enough to transport listeners back to the Western Place in Dallas and the Opry House in Austin, where these songs were recorded over a few dates in September 1974. Even better, there is a wonderful raucousness to the playing. You can really feel the band interacting with the audience, who are essential to the feel of the performance as the band. This is the greatest backing group Waylon ever had, and this is their crowning achievement. Drummer Ritchie Albright and bassist Duke Goff give every song a foot-stomping groove, while harmonica man Roger Crabtree and guitarists Billy Ray Reynolds and Larry Whitmore put the icing on top of each song. But the concert’s MVP is undoubtedly pedal steel player Ralph Mooney, who brightens every corner with his soul and zing.