Waylon Jennings seemed to be trying for more looseness, more spontaneity, in his last two or three albums, and now with "I've Always Been Crazy" … he's started to arrive at what he must have had in mind. The album has an open, unfussy sound and a natural, flowing feel about it. And Jennings himself is as unbuttoned as it's wise for anyone to get….

"I've Always Been Crazy" is not perfect, of course; it goes out a little weak with Waylon's Girl, I Can Tell and Shel Silverstein's Whistlers and Jugglers. But generally it uses the throwaway, whether it be a single line or a whole song, the way a throwaway is supposed to be used, and it has that touch of wildness … one wants from Waylon and the Waylors. Last and far from least it has the voice of Waylon Jennings. And that's a lot.

Noel Coppage...