White Mansions/The Legend of Jesse James
This double-disc reissue documents one of the more curious careers in country music. Both 1978'sWhite Mansionsand 1980'sThe Legend of Jesse Jamesare Southern song cycles that were conceived by Britain's Paul Kennerley, then an unknown songwriter who somehow recruited a high-profile cast for each. A Civil War saga from the Southern perspective,White Mansionssuffers from caricature and cliché but benefits from signature contributions byWaylon Jennings,Jessi Colter, andEric Clapton.Jesse Jameshas more focus and narrative momentum, withLevon Helm,Johnny Cash, andEmmylou Harrisin lead roles. Though the albums are more noteworthy for artistic ambition than memorable material, Kennerley subsequently became a successful Nashville songwriter and Harris's husband from 1985 to 1993.--Don McLeese