Another winner.
Shooter Jennings has been working on Diamonds, the next installment of the three-part archival project that includes vintage recordings from Waylon Jennings’ vault that have never been heard before, for a while now, and the entire album is set for release on November 13th as a physical copy, and you can stream it on December 11th.
Of course, Waylon’s incredibly talented son Shooter, who is an artist and Grammy award-winning producer, is the man behind it all, and he put out the first installment of this three-part series of sorts last year, which was called Songbird.
It was an album full of archival songs that Shooter discovered just laying around, which were all recorded in the prime of Waylon’s career but never totally finished or release on an album. Shooter explained at the time that it was the first of a three-part project, and of course, Shooter who is Waylon’s son with the legendary Jessi Colter, produced it at Sunset Sound Studio 3, renamed by Jennings as “Snake Mountain,” where he produces all of the music he’s currently working on.
When he initially announced the album, Shooter said they actually didn’t need too much work, but he did add some background vocals and other instrumentation just to polish it up and make it ready to be put on a professional album in the modern world of 2025. You’ll hear gorgeous backing vocals from two current country artists in Elizabeth Cook and Ashley Monroe. The music on Songbird was incredible, all songs that were recorded in some form or fashion between 1973 and 1984, but didn’t make the final cut on any albums at the time for various reasons.
And the fans were ready for it, because Waylon notched his first top 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart with Songbird, which came in at No. No. 6 on Top Album Sales chart, while also entering the top 10 on four more charts including the:
“Top Current Album Sales (No. 6), Indie Store Album Sales (No. 7), Americana/Folk Albums (No. 8) and Vinyl Albums (No. 9). It also starts at No. 17 on Top Country Albums, No. 18 on Independent Albums and No. 116 on the all-genre Billboard 200.”
Shooter also explained that the discovery of all this archival material in general was “life altering”:
“Back in 2024 when I opened my dad’s personal recording archives, I found a treasure trove of unheard recordings. It was a life-altering event and immediately ignited a feeling of urgency to get these recordings out there to our family of fans who had so loyally kept him alive by listening to and singing his music.
Last year I released ‘Songbird’ and I was so touched and delighted at how well-received this music was for my dad. With his voice exalted, I was very excited to deliver on my promise for more music. So, here it goes! I give to you guys: ‘Diamonds.’
He explained that Diamonds is a higher energy, “younger man’s album”:
“In the process of combing through and cataloging all of his recordings, I started to get a grasp on all of the music that had not been heard before, and a story started to emerge in my mind. The way I wanted to reveal all of this music to the world was part of my job. With ‘Songbird; I knew it would be an emotional journey, hearing Waylon, in his prime, sing new songs to us was going to hit hard.
A set of songs almost immediately presented itself to me as Songbird. But there was a second set forming, anchored by the mysterious song ‘Diamonds.’ It was a higher energy album, a ‘younger man’s’ album, if you will.”
Surviving members of Waylon’s band, the Waylors, as well as legendary harp player Mickey Raphael (known for his decades of work with Willie Nelson) helped him finish up some of the songs, and some songs belonging to his mom, Jessi Colter, made their way onto the tracklist too:
“I immediately knew which songs were attaching themselves to the second album, and they all shared stories about the rollercoaster of relationships and unrequited love. Among the many Jessi Colter songs I found in the batch, two stood out as part of what ‘Diamonds’ was becoming, so I selected them to add to the album to weave the tale a little more colorfully.
Again, the Waylors and legendary harp player Mickey Raphael helped me close the book on a few of these songs. We had a blast. Now, I’m done and ‘Diamonds’ is in your hands. Pour yourself a cup of something, turn down the lights and let’s take a ride together.”
The music is all from Waylon in his prime, and Shooter previously described it as a “treasure trove,” which is really he only way to describe it. The way he’s gone about preserving the songs is beyond impressive, and it’s really such a beautiful way to honor his dad’s legacy. The music truly is great, it sounded exactly like everything Waylon actually did release in the prime of his career in the 70s and even 80s.
And today, Shooter released “Saturday Night Special,” which was written by Lee Clayton and first released commercially by Jerry Jeff Walker in 1978, and later on Clayton’s own album Naked Child in 1979, and Waylon recorded this around that same time. Clayton also wrote Waylon’s 1972 song “Ladies Love Outlaws,” one of my personal favorite, as well as the song “Silver Stallion,” which was recorded by The Highwaymen in 1979.
Once again, it’s hard to believe that Waylon never put this song out on a record. “Saturday Night Special” in particular just feels SO classically Waylon, for obvious reasons, and of course he put out so much great music over the years but it’s crazy to think he just had this sitting around in an old box.
Thankfully, we’re getting to hear it all now, and it’s just beyond impressive how Shooter put so much effort into recording everything the way it would’ve been done in the 70s, and that’s very apparent in terms of the fact that they sound exactly how Waylon would’ve finished them back then.
It’s a music lovers dream, the songs are as good as everything out he put out back then, and I think this is easily one of the best archival or posthumous albums for any artist ever.
Do yourself a favor and check out “Saturday Night Special” here:
“Saturday Night Special”
In September, Shooter put out “Same Old Blues,” which is a duet between his parents, Waylon and Jessi Colter:
“Same Old Blues”
The lead single was the title track, “Diamonds.”
“Diamonds”
