Highwaymen

Highwaymen

by David Levine

One was a who worked as a janitor at Columbia and later became a movie star.
One was , played bass for the Crickets with Buddy Holly and gave up his plane seat to The Big Bopper that fateful night.
Another , taught Sunday school and wrote the Patsy Cline classic, "Crazy".
Yet another was who was later arrested trying to smuggle amphetamines in his guitar case (gosh, they'll never look there) over the Mexican border.

Between them, they have written over twenty Top Ten hits, at least four or five going number one. They've been drinking, snorting, smoking and singing together since the mid sixties. They quit everything except the singing, or so they say. Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings have recorded another album together as the Highwaymen. It's called The Road Goes On Forever and for these four country anti-heroes the road has certainly been going on for a long time. The record is thoughtfully overseen by super-mega producer Don Was. This C.D. really explores the many sides of country music: gospel, rock, blues, traditional and folk. The disc starts with a great tune by country rock scofflaw Steve Earle. It's titled The Devil's Right Hand (86K/au) and it's a love/hate ode to guns that should be the N.R.A. theme song... "It can get you into trouble but it can't get you out."
It Is What It Is (86K/au), is a hilarious blues-style tune that reflects the totally insane lives these guys have led. You definitely get the feeling of being part of an inside joke as these guys trade off lines about a lifestyle given up so they could survive. Check out the lyrics.
The End Of Understanding (86K/au) is a traditional country tune Willie wrote in 1962. Don Was understands what to do with these songs. He keeps things simple and pays homage to the style and he avoids the Nashville cheese factor, thank God.
The title track of this disc, called The Road Goes on Forever (86K/au) is a great song in the Johnny Cash style. It's about a couple who get in trouble with the law. She gets the money and he gets the chair. Nice, huh?
This is a really fun disc that is kind of like a country and western sampler. With every different style and four great country singers you get a little bit of everything. Johnny and Willie are giants in the country genre and come off as such. Waylon and Kris have definitely had their days in the sun but aren't as dynamic. Cash and Nelson's voices have such a signature you know when they take over. Sometimes, with Waylon and Kris I wasn't sure which was which. With excellent production, great songs and icons singing, this record really works. If you don't like country you still might like this. And don't forget, keep on pickin'.

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