In the 1970s, "Outlaw Country" emerged from Nashville, TN, as an attempt by country artists to have more creative freedom and expand their horizons beyond the traditional country sound. Artists like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson made waves by stepping outside the commercial Nashville box and serving as an example to other artists on how to use their creative control, whether that meant singing about whiskey and rebellion or not. Here are some of our favorite outlaw albums from this era of country music.
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1. Johnny Cash - "At San Quentin"
After the release of "At Folsom Prison" in 1968, Johnny Cash not only received praise for his execution of such a unique idea but also began to create that "outlaw image" that many Nashvillians at the time were unfamiliar with. He followed it up with the release of "At San Quentin", which was recorded at San Quentin State Prison on February 24, 1969. With songs like "Wanted Man" and "Starkville City Jail", Cash not only acknowledged those inside the incarceration system but also the feelings they have about the system that gives them their "outlaw" persona.
2. Willie Nelson - "Shotgun Willie"
After signing with Atlantic Records in the early 1970s, Willie Nelson finally had access to the creative freedom he had been searching for for so long. With this, he followed up by creating "Shotgun Willie", which was released in 1973. Although this album wasn't initially a commercial success, it eventually became one of the foundational albums of the outlaw country movement, proving that artists like Wilson could find success on their own terms.
3. Kris Kristofferson - "Kris Kristofferson"
With his self-titled debut album released in 1970, Kristofferson stepped onto the scene of the outlaw country movement and put himself right at the center of it. This classic Kristofferson release features hits like "Sunday Morning Coming Down" and "Me and Bobby McGee", establishing him as someone who could not only be an outlaw but also an introspective one.
4. Jessi Colter - "I'm Jessi Colter"
Produced by Waylon Jennings in 1975, another central figure in the country outlaw movement, "I'm Jessi Colter" showcased the feminine side of a sector of country music that had become increasingly male-dominated. Leaning on the side of soul-rock country as opposed to just country, Colter proved that you didn't have to be a man to be an outlaw and that you didn't have to be just country, either. This album also achieved massive commercial success, including a Top 5 position on the Billboard Hot 100 and placements on the Pop and Country Albums Charts.
Photo By: Ole Hagen/Redferns
