Ep514: Waylons Lost Tapes - Shooter Continues the Jennings Legacy @TheVinylGuide
Ep514: Waylons Lost Tapes - Shooter Continues the Jennings Legacy  @TheVinylGuide
Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Shooter Jennings (shooterjennings.com/) reveals the story of hundreds of unreleased recordings his father Waylon (facebook.com/OfficialWaylonJennings/) made between 1974-1984, including stunning covers now being released as "Songbird" (youtube.com/watch?v=r6OlvttAEvo) - plus more musical stories from the lives of the Jennings family.


Order the new "Songbird" LP here. (waylonshop.com/)


Topics Include:


• Shooter Jennings discusses upcoming Songbird release featuring his late father Waylon's unfinished recordings

• Most songs were actually complete with vocals and instruments already recorded professionally

• Waylon privately recorded after 1974 RCA battle, keeping hundreds of tapes unlabeled

• Tapes digitized in 2008 but sat untouched until Shooter systematically catalogued everything recently

• Discovery process was emotional journey revealing Waylon's constant studio experimentation and joy

• Found treasure trove including Fleetwood Mac's "Songbird" cover and multiple complete albums worth

• Shooter mixed everything on vintage 1976 analog console maintaining authentic original sound

• Three planned album releases starting with Songbird, featuring different themes and flavors

• Tony Joe White plays harmonica, Jessi Colter sings, original band members returned

• Cataloging required detective work, Googling lyrics, consulting surviving band members for identification

• Growing up as Waylon's son meant different childhood, touring summers, recognizing fame

• Family record collection included Beatles, Harry Nilsson, later Waylon bought entire collections

• Teenage Shooter brought home Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana; parents showed concern but support

• Waylon's deep friendship with Buddy Holly, plane crash guilt haunted him for years

• Eventually found closure visiting crash site, could finally look at wreckage photos

• Parents advised being authentic, not copying others; mother worried about rough crowd

• Shooter's career shows risk-taking from country to experimental electronic and industrial music

• Produced diverse artists from Duff McKagan to Marilyn Manson, always seeking creative challenges

• Early collaboration with father on Fenixon project mixed country with industrial influences

• Vinyl remains important, frequent Amoeba Records visits, special Record Store Day releases planned


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Ep514: Waylon's Lost Tapes - Shooter Continues the Jennings Legacy

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