Waylon Jennings was 64 years old when he passed away last February. His career had taken him through 40 years of scuffling, rocking, rolling, writing, interpreting and traveling til he built a reputation as an outlaw and a poet, a picker, a one of a kind performer. The people who joined together on this CD to pay tribute to his memory have come from a variety of genres and comfort zones to remember this iconic rebel. Jennings dropped out of school at 16, did odd jobs, and drifted around Texas until he found a job as a disc jockey in Lubbock. Here he became friends with Buddy Holly, and ended up playing bass in Buddy's band for the winter tour of the Midwest, 1959. Jennings gave his seat on a small plane to a performer known as "the Big Bopper." The Bopper, Buddy and Richie Valens were flying to the next gig. Jennings, Dion and other band members would have to drive. Just before take-off Jennings joked, "I hope your ol' plane crashes." It did, and Jennings and the rest of the rock'n'roll world were devastated.

He plugged away at music, taking the lessons learned from Holly, refining his sound mixing rockabilly with blues, rock and country. He did things his way, arguing with Nashville producers over the sound and direction his records should take, and remaining true to his vision. He acted as a template for the visionary country artist, winning battles that would allow newer artists unheard of freedoms. Artists, such as those who appear on this tribute, are the recipients of this increased openness.

Guy Clark starts things off with a cozy rendition of "Good Hearted Woman." Supported by the marvelous Verlon Thompson, Clark takes ownership of the song and in doing so, pays Jennings the best tribute there is. Nanci Griffith follows with a version of "You Asked Me To." There's a moody accordion, played by Susie Monick (who doubles on banjo), and then Griffith's husky voice. Some solid piano chording from James Hooker and Pat McInnerny's drums provide a firm foundation. Dave Alvin's take on "Amanda" is slow and rootsy, as one might expect. Mike Daly's steel guitar sounds good. Norah Jones is next, and she Norahfies "Wurlitzer Prize." She certainly has a syle that defines her, and I have to admit...I like it!

Cowboy Jack Clement and Pam Tillis duet on "Let's All Help the Cowboys (Sing the Blues)" a tune that Clement produced for Jennings for his first #1 album back in 1975. The duet is soft, sweet and authentic. Mellow. John Doe rocks things up with a rockin' "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line," which leads well into Junior Brown's "Nashville Rebel." This song, written by Harlan Howard, virtually defined Jennings; "I've got things to do, and things to say, in my own way."

Robert Earl Keen does a powerful rendition of "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way," Carlene Carter turns in a fine "I've Always Been Crazy" and Radney Foster is joined by Roger Creager on "Luckenback, Texas." It slows things down again and prepares you for the final act. Allison Moorer plays a dreamlike "Storms Never Last;" Kris Kristofferson does "I Do Believe." He says it's one of the last songs Waylon wrote and is "probably [his] favorite because it's the essence of the man [he] knew and came to love like a brother." Alejandro Escovedo's "Lock, Stock and Teardrops" is a bit too morose, and slows things down too much. The Crickets do a rockabilly "Waymore's Blues" (they sound a bit like JJ Cale, in fact...so relaxed) and then Henry Rollins finishes things off with the title song. That's right I said Henry Rollins. And he rocks it up. He sounds "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean!"

I hear there's going to be another Waylon Jennings tribute album. It'll probably feature some big names, and A-list songs, but it can't possibly be any deeper felt than this album produced by Chuck Mead, Dave Roe, Scott Robinson and Dan Herrington. So long Waylon, it's been good to know ya!