Kenny Chesney and Kid Rock teamed up for “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” – and we found ourselves asking, what have we ever done to deserve such epic collaboration? Well, we have the country outlaw Waylon Jennings to thank for!
Much of country music today is built on the foundation that Jennings built many years ago. His songs showcasing his deep, real original sounding baritone voice were quite an influence on a lot of young musicians.
And His Influence Is Felt Across The Whole Of The Music Industry
In 2003, a little over a year since Waylon Jennings died following his long battle with diabetes-related illnesses, various talented and renowned artists in different genres came together for a tribute album called I’ve Always Been Crazy: A Tribute to Waylon Jennings.
And in a breathtaking collaboration, Kenny Chesney and Kid Rock joined forces for their rendition of Jennings’ “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love).”
Written by Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons, the song will make you pine for a simpler way of life. It tells the story of a couple whose success in life and desire for material things put a strain on their marriage. Jennings then suggests that it’s way much better to go back to the basics of love and move to the small town of Luckenbach, Texas.
“Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” was first released in 1977 as the first single off the album Ol’ Waylon and became Jennings’ first crossover hit as a solo artist.
Anyway, other artists included in the star-studded tribute album are Shooter Jennings’ band Stargunn for “I’ve Always Been Crazy,” Brooks & Dunn for “I Ain’t Living Long Like This,” and Jessi Colter for “Storms Never Last.” And they’ve perfectly demonstrated how deeply Jennings’ influence felt across the entire music industry.
So, make sure to listen to Kenny Chesney and Kid Rock’s epic country-rock collaboration in the video below.