Best Outlaw Country Singer

[Aces_Full]

Who would you consider THE best out of these particular country legends?

Merle Haggard
Waylon Jennings
Johnny Cash
Willie Nelson
George Jones

 

[MAROON]

purely based on which cd would I grab first on a road trip - Jennings, Cash, Nelson, Jones, Haggard.

I don't consider Jones, Cash or Haggard to be "Outlaw Country" - now they all may have been outlaws to some extent, I still see them as Nashville. To me Outlaw Country will always be Willie, Waylon, David Allen Coe, Johnnie Paycheck, etc.

 

[bevosayshi]

You gotta throw Marty Robbins in there somewhere.

 

[The Eyes of Texas]

Well, since Haggard actually did time in prison, he's the only one of that group that truly qualifies as an outlaw country singer....mitigated by the fact that the governor of California pardoned him later on down the road.

 

[LITNIN HORN]

From your list, the best 'singer' would be either Merle or George Jones...GJ was not/is not 'Outlaw', and Merle is only somewhat a rebel. If not for his friendship with Willie, I don't think he would be considered anything but mainstream.

Johnny Cash was always an outlaw of sorts, but he was always part of the Nashville clan, as well. I think June Carter and family helped in that respect.

Willie and Waylon...Outlaws.

The fact is, Outlaw Country started when Willie moved from Tennessee back to Texas. He was the guy who figured out 'hippies' and 'red necks' would co-mingle when it came to good music and good times. Waylon followed the lead.

Willie is by far the original Outlaw...maybe not the 'best' singer...but definitely THE BEST.

 

[johnny chimpo]

Steve Earl should get some consideration.

 

[bluto]

i say pat green

 

[CanaTigers]

Merle and David Allen Coe have done the most time.

 

[LITNIN HORN]

i say pat green

 

[socks]

In reply to:

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[accuratehorn]

Waylon, Willie, David Allan Coe, maybe a little Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver, don't think George Jones was really part of the outlaw country movement, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash were always that way, they didn't really change direction during that era, but they fit right in, so maybe they should be included. Who else-Tanya Tucker?

 

[AuburnTexas]

Hank Jr?

 

[El Paso Way]

What is the criteria to be outlaw country? I think originally outlaw country started when singers who did not bend to the Nashville music styles basically told the Nashville record companies to go screw themselves, and came back to Texas or where ever to make their own music. I personally would think that Hank Williams would be the number 1 outlaw if this was the criteria. What pisses me off is when Willy associates with the likes of Kid Rock, Big and Rich and Snoop Dog.

 

[CanaTigers]

In reply to:

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[airportlobby]

Merle is the king.

 

[UT wildcatter]

Jerry Jeffy Walker is disqualified also, he's from New York and his name isn't even JJW

 

[boon]

I think merle was probably best on your list, but waylon is my favorite. not sure merle was considered outlaw. i own his boxset, pretty damn good. his early stuff is a lot different from his later stuff.

weren't 'the outlaws' willie, waylon, cash, and tompall glaser?
as someone earlier said, bocephus probably should be on the outlaw list.

too bad they'll all soon be gone

 

[Orange&White]

In my eyes it is Waylon and 2cd place is very far behind.

 

[WestGAHorn]

classic outlaw country....Willie...hands down....

more modern outlaw....Jason Boland & the Stragglers (not even close imo)

that's taking into fact that a lot of people consider alternative country or red dirt country to be outlaw country. It's been my understanding outlaw originated with Willie and has evolved into anything that isn't mainstream, hence my vote goes for Jason Boland.

 

[Murphy'sBoy]

For me it's David Allan Coe and Johnny Paycheck. It doesn't matter where someone was born.

 

[Aces_Full]

Well in saying Outlaw Country, I was meaning more in the way they lived their lives, not so much the musical movement that Willie started. In my book, all those guys were pretty much Outlaw. George Jones has had many run-ins with the law, so has Johnny Cash (plus he recorded a dang prison cd). And we know the other 3 are outlaw. They are all very good artists who pretty much lived the songs they wrote. I think my fav. singer of the bunch is Waylon, my fav song writer is Willie, and my fav. combo of singer/song writer is George Jones. Although, I love pretty much all of Merle's music too.

Hard to pick the best out of this group. They are all legends that will be sorely missed.

 

[A. BETTIK]

Interesting on the "Scamp" Walker disqualification... That he came from New York never bothered me. That transplant took you might say as I see it.

As for those mentioned, just ask yourself whom you'd want to listen to while playing a round of poker sippin' whiskey. My answer would be Merle.

 

[Aces_Full]

My fav. Merle song is probably Misery and Gin.

Fav. Willie prob Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain

Fav. George Jones prob Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes

Waylon like his versions of Good Time Charlie and Lucille

Cash prob Walk the Line