Is This Time a good place to start with Waylon Jennings?

Yes, This Time is recommended as a starting point for new Waylon Jennings listeners. A rugged blend of honky-tonk melodies and introspective lyrics that defines the outlaw country sound of the early '70s. Released in January 1974, This Time marked Waylon Jennings' fifth studio album and followed his breakthrough with Honky Tonk Heroes in 1973. By this point, Jennings had firmly established himself as a leading figure in the outlaw country movement, blending traditional country sounds with rock influences and personal storytelling.

Who is This Time for?

This Time works well if you're into dynamic journey with emotional peaks, heartfelt storytelling in every track and ideal for late-night drives.

How many songs are on This Time?

This Time has 15 tracks, running approximately 47 minutes.

This Time

Waylon Jennings · 1974

47 min · 15 tracks · country music

A rugged blend of honky-tonk melodies and introspective lyrics that defines the outlaw country sound of the early '70s.

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Top tracks — play these first

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This Time Start here — The title track serves as a poignant reflection on love and loss, encapsulating the album's emotional depth with its heartfelt storytelling and melodic simplicity.
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If You Could Touch Her at All — This track stands out for its raw vulnerability; Jennings' delivery captures the pain of longing and missed connections, making it an emotional centerpiece.
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Slow Movin' Outlaw — A signature song for Jennings, it reflects his self-image as an outlaw figure while blending catchy rhythms with relatable themes of defiance and identity.
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Heaven or Hell — This track showcases Jennings' ability to merge philosophical lyrics with a catchy tune, questioning the nature of existence in a way that's both accessible and profound.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album blends honky-tonk energy with reflective lyrics, showcasing Jennings' outlaw country style effectively.

What we noticed

The first half of the album features upbeat honky-tonk tracks, while the second half shifts to more introspective ballads.
Several songs incorporate traditional country instrumentation, including steel guitar and fiddle, which enhance the genre's authenticity.
The title track opens the album with a strong vocal performance that sets a confident tone for the following songs.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 6/10

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

dynamic journey with emotional peaks
heartfelt storytelling in every track
ideal for late-night drives
captivating medleys that surprise
playful energy with lively rhythms

Maybe skip if you

prefer instant gratification tracks
seek standalone, predictable songs

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — This Time showcases Jennings' outlaw country style, solidifying his artistic reputation.
Themes: outlaw country identity· honky-tonk storytelling· reflective Americana
Career context: Released in January 1974, This Time marked Waylon Jennings' fifth studio album and followed his breakthrough with Honky Tonk Heroes in 1973. By this point, Jennings had firmly established himself as a leading figure in the outlaw country movement, blending traditional country sounds with rock influences and personal storytelling.
Stylistic neighbors: Willie Nelson· Johnny Cash· Merle Haggard