Waylon Jennings’ voice rises again on Songbird, the first in a series of newly unearthed albums curated by his son, Shooter Jennings. Compiled and mixed at Sunset Sound Studio 3, the collection brings listeners back to the years when Waylon was rewriting the rules of country music, capturing his voice and presence with a vitality that still feels immediate today.

Songbird gathers recordings tracked between 1973 and 1984 in various studios, many produced by Waylon and his trusted drummer Richie Albright. The all-star cast includes Albright, pedal steel legend Ralph Mooney, Tony Joe White, Jessi Colter, and other longtime Jennings co-conspirators who shaped the outlaw sound at its height. Shooter and engineer Nate Haessly kept the new mixes faithful to the original tapes, preserving the raw analog warmth of the performances while giving them a clarity that resonates in the present.

The title track is a revelation, a haunting take on Christine McVie’s Fleetwood Mac classic that highlights the tenderness beneath Waylon’s rugged delivery. With added support from Elizabeth Cook and Ashley Monroe on harmonies, the song bridges generations of country voices while reaffirming Jennings’ timeless artistry. Elsewhere on the album, fans will hear both familiar grit and unexpected shades of his musical personality, reflecting an artist who thrived on risk and reinvention.

Running at just over half an hour, Songbird is concise yet deeply rewarding, offering a fresh chapter in the Jennings legacy. More than twenty years after his passing, Waylon’s voice still cuts through with conviction, reminding us why he remains one of country music’s most enduring figures. With Shooter guiding these archival releases, Songbird is not just a lost treasure uncovered, but the opening line of a story that will continue across two more albums.