Outlaws and Drifters

Outlaws and Drifters

Steppin' just outside the law for this country rock mixtape. Big names from the popular OUTLAW COUNTRY movement over the years. Primarily centred around Austin, Texas and around the south, artists also interacted back and forth with Nashville & Californian musicians to forge a distinctive sound all of their own. The outlaw sound is far grittier, ballsier and less polished than any of the productions coming out of Music City, certainly before the late 1970's. Elements of country fused with blues and rock n roll and a whole heap of attitude to create a much headier, vibsy, fun sound, a marked contrast to the highly tailored, commercial-respectable and melodically pure Nashville product. Artists like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson had helped outline the outlaw genre from as early as the mid 1950's, defined it in the 1960's and popularised it in the mid 1970's alongside the likes of David Allan Coe and Kris Kristofferson. Outlaw supergroup The Highwaymen took the music to astronomical levels of popularity and fame in the 1980's & 90's. 

While several outlaw related musicians are known for holding progressive liberal ideas, Nelson, Cash, Haggard & Kristofferson in particular, the Outlaw Movement as a whole was by and large apolitical with artists holding a range of ideals & opinions. The 'Outlaw Era' (1975-81) was, then, no woke love-in by any stretch. One unifying notion, however, that they all shared and strongly projected was the pursuit of personal freedom, the essential liberty of the individual expressed in song, lifestyle and their rugged appearance. It is this renegade attitude that sets outlaws apart and has made them so beloved.

 

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Members of supergroup The Highwaymen; Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson lay the foundations of this collection along with Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris and Guy Clark. The indomitable Steve Earle represents the next generation of country-stars-with-attitude. Other notable names include Tanya Tucker, Jerry Jeff Walker, Johnny Paycheck, Jessi Colter and Ray Price. Special guest appearances by country rockers Linda Ronstadt, Leon Russell and entertainers Dr. Hook add a little extra leftfield energy.

Special nod to the highly influential (and controversial) David Allan Coe who passed away this April aged 87. Of all the old-time stars on the cover art Willie Nelson is the only male still standing to bear witness to them wild old outlaw days along with Emmylou, Tanya & Jessi.

 

Continuous mix 3hrs

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