Waylon & Willie  (Audio CD) 
by Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson

So what if this disc doesn't represent the best work of either man--the warm smiles and hugs that dominate the CD's artwork tell the real story. Released in early 1978, Waylon & Willie was a celebration of their triumphant revolution against Nashville's constraints. By then, the war had already been won; each had wrested artistic freedom from the labels and subsequently delivered chart-topping solo albums and singles. The 1976 compilation Wanted! The Outlaws proved to be the ultimate victory--becoming the first country album to go platinum--so by the time they put this album together, Waylon and Willie were at the peak of their commercial powers. There's plenty of great music here as well among the five duets and six solo tracks (three by each), mostly new tunes with some older material thrown in. Not all of it is essential, and Willie's own guitar is nowhere to be found, allowing Jennings's Waylors to deftly handle the musical accompaniment. Still, the cultural importance of Waylon & Willie--it soared to No. 1 on the country chart, stayed there for three months, and went double platinum--makes it a valuable memento of "outlaw" country's heyday and of modern country history. --Marc Greilsamer