Never Say Die: Live
Recorded onstage at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium in January of 2000, Waylon Jennings's Lucky Dog debut revisits "Amanda," "Good Hearted Woman," "Waymore's Blues," "Never Been to Spain," etc. Wife Jessi Colter even reprises her biggest hits, "I'm Not Lisa" and "Storms Never Last." But don't dare mistake this collection as mere nostalgia. The title says it all. Given the 62-year-old Jennings's well-known health problems in recent years, these powerful, charismatic performances reflect an almost Lazarus-like renewal that begins with the opening number, Tony Joe White's "Closing In on the Fire," and doesn't end until the final notes of "Can't You See." Jennings holds his own in duets with stylistic disciplesMontgomery Gentry,Travis Tritt, and pioneer new traditionalistJohn Anderson, all of whom have to hustle to keep up. In the end, one tune truly sets the tone: White's inspired "Goin' Down Rockin'." As Waylon sings the chorus, "If I can't go down rockin' / I ain't goin' down at all," he clearly ain't kiddin'. That alone is cause for celebration.--Rich Kienzle