Honky Tonk Heroes

Waylon Jennings

1973

3.14

Rating

17348

Votes

Distribution

Country

Album Summary

Honky Tonk Heroes is a country music album by Waylon Jennings, released in 1973 on RCA Victor. With the exception of "We Had It All", all of the songs on the album were written or co-written by Billy Joe Shaver. The album is considered an important piece in the development of the outlaw sub-genre in country music as it revived the honky tonk music of Nashville and added elements of rock and roll to it. Jennings had invited the then unknown Shaver to Nashville to write the songs for Jenning's next album after hearing him sing "Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me" before the 1972 Dripping Springs Reunion. When Shaver arrived in Nashville, he spent six months pursuing Jennings before again convincing him to make an album of his songs. Jennings had recently renegotiated his contract with RCA Records. The label granted him creative control over his work to avoid losing him to Atlantic Records. As his usual producer, Chet Atkins, was reluctant to release a record consisting of songs written by an unknown songwriter, Jennings replaced him with Tompall Glaser. Jennings replaced the Nashville session musicians with his own band, The Waylors. The executives of RCA Records were reluctant to release the album, and delayed it until July 1973. Honky Tonk Heroes had a good reception by the critics on release. It reached number 14 in Billboard's Top Country albums chart. The singles "You Asked Me To" and "We Had It All" did well, reaching number 8 and 28, respectively. The album was listed in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Keywords from Reviews

Reviews

Sort by: Top Date

Apr 22 2022 Author

My 16 year old self would've wanted to punch me for saying this, but I actually really liked a Country album. Didn't overstay its welcome and after a stressful day of work, felt soothing. Had some great acoustic guitar and bass to accompany the outlaw imagery. Would say Omaha was the best of the bunch.

Sep 17 2021 Author

This is what country is about. Waylon takes pain and hope and love and blends it all together in a great album. He’s definitely a pillar of country for a reason.

May 13 2021 Author

First album generated that I gave more than one listen for the day. Shaver writing for Waylon. Awesome.

Jul 08 2021 Author

Waylon gets in, handles his business, and gets out. Great lyrics (no, really, some true classics in here) and slick early-70s production make this a good time to listen to.

Oct 15 2021 Author

I loved it. It took me back to my childhood when I worked for my dads drywall company in hill yard (an area of spokane) and would go get lunch across the street and they played country music with slide steel guitars

Apr 08 2021 Author

one of my favorite all time country albums. The birth of Outlaw country and by far Waylons best work (only album you really need by him imo). I always thought Willie Nelson was the better of the 2 but that this album may have been the best between them all. The tone, the lyrics, the non twang-y country and his deep voice all just took Country in the best direction it's ever been taken, mixed with blues and rockabilly

Mar 03 2021 Author

Well, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I still really hate that whimpering steel guitar sound with a deep and abiding passion and the lyrical content of most of these songs absolutely do not connect with me. But not all of them. There are some solid tracks here. Enough to give it a middling grade from me, at least.

Aug 23 2021 Author

Not a huge country fan, but don't mind this kind of "classic country". Songwriting is great and production is clean. Would have liked the songs to open up a bit more and have time for longer solos and more jamming, but I guess that wasn't the style.

May 09 2025 Author

I don't like country music, but the first track started and maybe I've just been listening to the wrong country music?? The first country album I think I would go back to, such easy listening. It gets an extra star because it made my 3yr old daughter want to dance with me. 6/5

Mar 25 2021 Author

Take me back to Nashvillle right now. Lush with the kind of pathos and grit that all of favourite country music shows. Real characters in profound circumstances. Pure songwriting magic.

Oct 29 2021 Author

Pretty good listen, but it's short and forgettable. Favorite track might be Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me

Mar 25 2021 Author

An underrated classic artist. Need to remember Waylon more!

Jun 25 2021 Author

This was actually pretty cool! Really liked the first song and seems like some funny/cool old country to have in your lexicon.

Jan 20 2021 Author

Surprisingly really enjoyable. Old country is so much better than new country damn

Mar 21 2025 Author

Alveg heyrt verra honk í tonk í stöff. Vistaði meira að segja upphafslagið á playlista. En þetta verður þreytt áður en platan klárast og hún er ekki nema 27 mínútur og 10 sekúndur að lengd. Yeehaw.

Jun 24 2025 Author

1001 country albums that sound like each other

Aug 15 2025 Author

🪕 Rating: 4.9 / 5 🍺 Short Review: Sounds like a jukebox in a saloon where everyone’s too tired to lie but too proud to cry.

Jun 25 2025 Author

This was a welcome reminder that when I say "I hate country music," what I actually mean is that I despise what commercialism did to country music. Starts strong and never drags. This kind of experience is why I'm here; perhaps the list could lose just a small portion of the Morrissey and middle of the road Brit nostalgia in favor of more varied influential albums?

Jun 22 2025 Author

Waylon just has a voice like no others and isn’t boring while using it.

Jun 17 2025 Author

Outlaw country

Jun 10 2025 Author

Outlaw country is easily my favorite country subgenre. Seems almost unrecognizable to the modern trash coming out. Somehow comes in at under 30 minutes despite the songs feeling like they take their time and aren't rushed. Rating: 4.8

May 21 2025 Author

I love Waylon’s playing and singing and Billie Joe’s songwriting. There are very few perfect country albums and this is one

May 18 2025 Author

Really good country album. No complaints.

May 14 2025 Author

Waylon is a legend, and I knew that I was going to love this. And I did. This is everything that is great about classic country, especially outlaw country. My only regret is that this album is so short (27 minutes), but there is a lot more Waylon out there to listen to.

Feb 18 2025 Author

One of the kings of country at the top of his game. Quick and punchy, rollicking one minute and mourning the next. A quintessential country album. Best song: Honky Tonk Heroes

Jan 09 2025 Author

I was introduced to Waylon through Alvin and The Chipmunks. They covered his song Luckenbach Texas, and I loved it. Honkey Tonk Heroes is a five star album, beginning to end.

Oct 19 2023 Author

Weird thing, the chorus’ of the first 4 songs all finish on a variation of “like me” or “and me”. Enjoyed it

Apr 01 2021 Author

I'm finally able to appreciate classic country.

Jan 25 2024 Author

Nr. 108/1001 Honky Tonk Heroes 3/5 Old Five And Dimers 2/5 Willy The Wandering Gypsy And Me 4/5 Low Down Freesom 4/5 Omaha 3/5 You Ask Me To 3/5 Ride Me Down Easy 3/5 Ain't No God In Mexico 3/5 Black Rose 3/5 We Had It All 2/5 Average: 3,0/5 Ultimately forgettable Country album.

Dec 18 2024 Author

“My feet would fit a railroad track I would made one Hell of a train” - Peak Southern Poetry -

Nov 21 2025 Author

Not my genre but this is the real deal.

Nov 21 2025 Author

So pure and classic. This is what all those alt-country dudes are aiming for

Nov 18 2025 Author

This is a hell of an album, and my first by Mr. Jennings. Short, sweet, outlaw as hell, somehow kind of modern? Great melodic hooks, great storytelling. Fantastic stuff and I’m glad I finally listened to it.

Nov 06 2025 Author

This is a damn good album. The title track and Omaha aren’t just good country songs, they’re good songs in general. Also it’s an album that doesn’t out stay its welcome. Good stuff.

Oct 24 2025 Author

Awesome

Oct 16 2025 Author

Just real good, soulful, honest country music. When it's good, it's great.

Oct 13 2025 Author

Some great old school country. I love it. I will be playing some Waylon more often.

Oct 08 2025 Author

Damn near perfect country record. Deep, mellow, unhurried, bittersweet. One is deeply appreciative for the turns Waylon took and even if one's cynical about Outlaw Country (marketing concept as much as anything), there's no arguing with the quality of the outputs.

Sep 26 2025 Author

An absolute fucking classic. Billy Joe Shaver was a poet and cowboy mystic. His songs are what make this an all-timer.

Sep 25 2025 Author

Pure bad assery.

Sep 18 2025 Author

Absolutely amazing I love country music so much im gonna explode

Sep 17 2025 Author

Cowboy shit

Sep 11 2025 Author

Country guapo, para escuchar

Sep 11 2025 Author

Wow! Die erste Entdeckung. Das gefällt sehr gut.

Sep 05 2025 Author

Whooo… a perfect storm of an album. Hotshot young writer meets legend. Legend says let’s do something then ducks writer. Writer convinces legend to do it. Chet Atkins says no way… Waylon says, good go. Calls his boys, makes one of, if not the best country albums of all time. Sells like hot cakes. Starts whole movement.

Aug 27 2025 Author

This is the two hundred sixth album I’m rating. I listened to one of his songs and it was really good. Adding to my Playlist - Honky Tonk Heroes, Old Five and Dimers (Like Me), Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me, Low Down Freedom, Omaha, You Ask Me to, Ride Me Down Easy, Ain’t No God in Mexico, Black Rose, and We Had it All. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. All in all I liked 10/10 songs. I like country.

Aug 18 2025 Author

This is a great album!!

Aug 03 2025 Author

My kinda country. Compact sing song tunes, soft and buzzy. This is an album.

Jul 22 2025 Author

This was class. Expected half hour of dukes of hazard music but was thoughtful songwriting and really nice production. Will add this to a playlist.

Jul 14 2025 Author

Classic Waylon. We lost the giant when he passed.

Jul 11 2025 Author

9.7/10. Maybe greatest country album of all time.

Jun 17 2025 Author

If anyone ever makes a movie about me, I want this album to play at a pivotal scene where I’m struggling with a big decision. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, THIS is Country music. And it doesn’t get much better than this.

May 31 2025 Author

An absolute banger of an album. Every song is near country perfection. I had never heard this album before but I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to discomer it. The band is stellar, the playing on every track filled with nuance, subtlety, space and attention to detail. Speaking of detail this is an beatiful sounding album. The details in the instrumentation is beautifully rendered. The details of each instument is easily discerened but never in your face, always balanced in in service of the song. A nearly perfect album. 5 stars

May 30 2025 Author

Wow! Amazing

May 30 2025 Author

This is a certain kind of fantastic. I may have heard this before, years ago, as my dad had a cassette with Merle on one side and Waylon on the other side, and I don't remember the album titles... but believe me when I say that modern country is a pale shadow of the real roots country. Bob Wills is still the king!

May 29 2025 Author

The audio quality is so good, so dynamic and rich. I love how country music like this excels at story telling. That instrumentation on You Ask Me To. The track lengths and album length, chefs kiss. A nice mix here. You can slow dance with your partner or ride the rails with them. Sounds nice if you ask me.

May 11 2025 Author

Solid album. I'm never putting Country on, but I really like this style. It has enough rock and roll in it to make it interesting.

Apr 24 2025 Author

Релакс хонкитонк, все как надо, уже спокойно скачу на лошади по полю

Apr 14 2025 Author

As always, I feel somewhat conflicted that the name on the record isn't the name of the person who wrote the music. In my eyes, this is Billy Shaver's record, filtered through the possibly more marketable Waylon Jennings. That being said, it's great. I've always had a soft spot for outlaw country. I just love the blues, man.

Feb 19 2025 Author

Thoughts before listening: I'm very excited for this. Waylon's great, and I'm pretty sure Billy Joel Shaver wrote this album. I'm sure this will get the normal "country music sucks" 1-star reviews so unless I'm WAY off on what this will sound like, I'll likely be giving it 5-stars to help right the ship a bit. Review: This is 100% a 5-star album full of so many classics of the outlaw country movement. This is my favorite era of country music and Waylon is one of the all-time greats.

Feb 19 2025 Author

I'm really pleased that this album makes the cut. Coming from the 'Nashville of the North', Liverpool (UK), I am quite familiar with C&W music. Liverpool is one of the few, if not the only, cities in the UK of having had a dedicated C&W radio channel. My brothers friend was the son of the legendary Joe Butler - C&W dj. This is a great album and my stand out favourite is, 'we had it all'. 5 stars all the way!

Feb 17 2025 Author

Never heard of this one, and absolutely love it

Jan 23 2025 Author

Unexpected masterpiece of engaging songwriting. Perfection.

Jan 22 2025 Author

Two great songwriters spawned a whole movement. Johnny Cash may have the picture with the double birds, but these two did it on record. Outsider music in the country tradition has created an enduring through line to 2025. This album is why Sturgill Simpson exists. The production sounds like the Smokey bar on the cover. And those are the hard drinking, hard living cats that made it happen. I love all the songs on this album, hard guys willing to put themselves out there for the sake of the song.

Jan 17 2025 Author

I'm a Honky Tonk Hero.

Jan 10 2025 Author

This album is a 4 but I'm giving it a 5 out of spite. Too many losers on here who think Radiohead is the best to ever do it, but cringe at the thought of a country album. This is Waylon Jennings we're talking about.

Dec 28 2024 Author

Nice

Dec 25 2024 Author

It's just about all I could ask for from a classic country album. Hard-hitting yet mellow vocals, a beautiful soundscape that makes you wanna turn into a cowboy, and with some well crafted lyrics written by Billy Joe Shavers. Very solid indeed. Top 3 Favorites: You Ask Me To, Honky Tonk Heroes, and Black Rose No bad songs 4.50-4.75/5

Dec 18 2024 Author

It doesn’t get any better than this album. This is an outlaw masterpiece.

Dec 13 2024 Author

Love

Dec 07 2024 Author

Waylon was a Honky Tonk Hero

Dec 01 2024 Author

Is it a perfect album? Probably not. Is it damn good? Certainly.

Nov 14 2024 Author

yee haw

Oct 30 2024 Author

I love Waylon and his brand of country. Apart from that, the songwriting here is really good and was a good listen from start to finish.

Oct 27 2024 Author

Essential country album. They don't make them like this anymore.

Sep 18 2024 Author

Loved this. Always wanted to get into Waylon but didn't know where to start. This is the place.

Sep 01 2024 Author

Day238 - i love waylon jennings and billy joe shaver wrote him a classic. ain’t no god in mexico and black rose are fantastic songs

Aug 01 2024 Author

Awesomeness

Jul 21 2024 Author

Quite possibly the most perfect country album ever.

Jul 02 2024 Author

legendary outlaw country artist waylon jennings with his signature baritone voice. what could be better? how about if you have another outlaw legend cowrite the entire album (sans one song)? this album is fuckin’ amazing and a can’t say enough about it. stellar rhythm section and waylon’s voice, so emotive. he can go from tough guy to vulnerable at the drop of a hat. so good. highlights: “honey tonk heroes” “old five and dimers like me” “low down freedom” “you ask me to” “black rose”

Jun 20 2024 Author

Honestly, some very good old country. I really love some good steel guitar playing. The high harmonies are a treat whenever they show up. The peak of the album is at the end, which I was a little confused/worried about in the middle of my listen-through, but it made the end of the album that much better. Favorite Song(s): Old Five and Dimers (Like Me), You Ask Me To, Black Rose, We Had It All

Jun 13 2024 Author

Classic country album. Essential

May 01 2024 Author

Great album and great rhythm section. I like the songs my favorite was You Ask Me To and the title track.

May 01 2024 Author

Such a great record! One of my favs. The drums sound killer, love the groove at the end of honky tonk heroes. This is peak waylon imo

Apr 01 2024 Author

Yes please. Loved this. Short, to the point and with a fuck tonne of attitude.

Mar 29 2024 Author

Vet

Mar 29 2024 Author

jaa errug gezellig

Mar 28 2024 Author

Great country. Not overdone or hokey, just quality.

Mar 24 2024 Author

What country should have always been.

Mar 21 2024 Author

Outlaw Country is basically the only kind of country I will support, and this is the OG.

Mar 15 2024 Author

The original outlaw singing songs written by the best outlaw song writer.

Mar 11 2024 Author

Gold

Mar 03 2024 Author

Hell yea. Would definitely not have been on my radar. Although Sturgill Simpson has been a recent favorite of mine and now I can clearly see a straight line from Waylon to Sturgill. Glad to have this in my rotation now.

Feb 16 2024 Author

This is why I'm doing this project. Loved it and I never would have thought I'd love a Waylon Jennings album. Fantastic in every respect.

Feb 15 2024 Author

REAL COUNTRY MUSIC I grew up in the southeastern United States, with most of my childhood in the 90s. I was surrounded by “country music” and I hated it (there were exceptions like Garth and songs here and there). I didn’t know why, it seemed fake and largely was. Years later I discovered Waylon, Willie and newer artists making interesting country music like Sturgill Simpson (Metamodern Sounds In Country Music kicked a door open for me). This is as good as it gets in country in my view. It’s beautifully short at 29 minutes, but Waylon manages to take you on a journey throughout. His voice sounds great, the playing is fantastic, and it’s hard to find a better line than “the devil made me do it the first time, the second time I did it on my own.” This is saloon music for wayward souls. Favorites: title track, Black Rose, Ain’t No God in Mexico

Feb 15 2024 Author

yee haw

Feb 05 2024 Author

have loved this album literally all of my life. It was on heavy rotation as I grew up.

Jan 24 2024 Author

Really love it !

Jan 22 2024 Author

I listen to Waylon, Willie, Chris and Johnny (the highwaymen) every day.

Jan 21 2024 Author

This music is from an age when music was well written at every level and in every aspect: lyrics, instrumentals, voice, content--before songs and tunes became entries in formulas and more focused on image instead of musical craft. These "old five-and-dimers," Cash, Jennings, Nelson, and so many others are legends for music like this.