Highwayman
The Highwaymen · 1985
34 min · 10 tracks · country music
A rich tapestry of storytelling woven with harmonies, melding traditional country sounds with the outlaw spirit of its legendary contributors.
Top tracks — play these first
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Highwayman — The album's title track showcases each artist's distinct vocal style while telling a compelling story that spans generations and lives lost to time.
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Desperados Waiting for a Train — This song serves as a poignant reflection on friendship and mortality, highlighting the lyrical depth that characterizes the album's narrative approach.
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The Last Cowboy Song — A tribute to the fading cowboy lifestyle, this track encapsulates themes of nostalgia and change, resonating deeply with fans of traditional country music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and harmonies while maintaining a cohesive flow through its storytelling approach.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of four-part harmonies, with each artist taking turns on lead vocals across different tracks.
- Several tracks incorporate traditional country instrumentation, such as acoustic guitars and fiddles, creating a classic sound.
- The title track opens the album with a strong narrative focus, setting a storytelling tone that persists throughout the record.
- The sequencing alternates between upbeat songs and more reflective ballads, maintaining listener engagement.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent narrative flow
- heartfelt storytelling experiences
- immersive listening sessions
- reflective and contemplative moods
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1985, Highwayman marked a significant collaboration among four iconic country artists: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. This project came after their respective successful solo careers and served as a revival of interest in outlaw country music. The album's release followed Jennings' commercial peak and Cash's artistic reinvention throughout the early '80s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Willie Nelson· Waylon Jennings· Johnny Cash
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Highwayman 3:03
- 2 The Last Cowboy Song 3:11
- 3 Jim, I Wore a Tie Today 3:22
- 4 Big River 2:49
- 5 Committed to Parkview 3:21
- 6 Desperados Waiting for a Train 4:37
- 7 Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) 3:47
- 8 Welfare Line 2:37
- 9 Against the Wind 3:50
- 10 The Twentieth Century Is Almost Over 3:35
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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