Outlaw Country article
Outlaw Country for Newcomers: Where to Start
Getting into outlaw country is straightforward. The genre is compact, the key records are short and the entry points are clearly signposted. Here is how to begin.
Getting into outlaw country is straightforward — the genre is compact, the key records are short and the entry points are clearly signposted. Here is a practical path through the essential material.
Start With the Compilation
The 1976 compilation Wanted! The Outlaws is the best first listen — it covers Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser in a single hour and gives a clear overview of the outlaw country sound. It was the first country album to go platinum, which tells you something about its accessibility. It is available on every major streaming service. Listen once through without skipping; the sequencing is part of the experience. This single album will tell you whether the sound interests you enough to go deeper.
Then Choose Your Path
From the compilation, most listeners split between two paths. If Waylon Jennings' voice and the harder, blues-inflected sound appeals, go to Honky Tonk Heroes (1973) next, then Dreaming My Dreams (1975). If Willie Nelson's more lyrical, acoustic approach resonates, go to Red Headed Stranger (1975). Both albums are under 35 minutes; listen to each twice before moving on. For a breakdown of the key albums, see our albums guide.
Expand to the Songwriters
Once you have the two central artists covered, turn to the songwriters. Kris Kristofferson's debut album (1970) is a foundational text — the songs are extraordinary and the production is minimal. Townes Van Zandt's Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas (1977) is the best single introduction to a writer who influenced every serious outlaw country and Americana artist who followed him. Billy Joe Shaver's Old Five and Dimers Like Me (1973) is essential for understanding the lyric writing that drove Jennings' best records.
Modern Listening
The tradition continues. Tyler Childers' Purgatory (2017) and Sturgill Simpson's Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (2014) are the most critically acclaimed recent records in the same tradition. Cody Jinks and Jason Isbell are both worth knowing. For a full picture of how outlaw country connects to today, see our subgenres guide.
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