"Be careful of something that's just what you want it to be," Waylon sings on the opening song. A little later: "Women have been my trouble since I found out they weren't men." These two quotes summarize this legendary album: perfection and suspicion, love and heartbreak. This is a mostly autobiographical album about an outlaw who made music the way he--and his fans--wanted it made.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CRAZY is pure Waylon Jennings--there's not much I can say beyond that. He wrote or cowrote most of the tunes, the highlites being the title track, "A Long Time Ago" (definitely an autobiographical number, written with Shel Silverstein), the slap-stick, Roger Miller-esque "As the 'Billy World Turns", and the growled "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand." But his choice of covers is impeccable. Tony Joe White's "Billy" is haunting and picturesque, delivered in a way that will entrance you. He covers several Buddy Holly hits in a worthy tribute to his departed comrade, and turns Cash's "I Walk the Line" into a mellow, bluesy ballad (it takes guts to do that; it takes skill to pull it off). Merle Haggard's "The Bottle Let Me Down" is revamped (with original steel picker Ralph Mooney sitting in). The album ends on master-songwriter Shel Silverstein's "Whistlers and Jugglers."

This is a legendary album. Waylon Jennings, to this day, remains unchallenged as one of the greatest performers of all time. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CRAZY is the story of this man's life, more or less...with blasting steel, driving drums, and a voice that will make you forget every other singer you ever heard. It don't get much better than this. Ah, heck, I'll go ahead and say it--you'd have to be crazy to pass this one up.

From Waylon's own mouth --"I never was a Cricket." He wanted that made clear. Buddy and The Crickets had parted ways because the Crickets did not want to stay in NY. Buddy asked Waylon & Tommy Allsup to be in his band for the fateful Winter Tour, but that group was never called "The Crickets." This is wrong info that many people repeat, but no matter how many times it is said or printed, it still is wrong.

If you love Waylon, don't miss the oppurtunity to purchase this album.

Along with Dreaming My Dreams and Are You Ready For The Country, this record displays the best sides of Waylon. Several of the songs are auto-biographical and his sense of humor stands out here more than any other release.

We had this on 8 track tape in the mid 70's. It was the first Waylon music I listened to and led to a couple decades of following his music and concerts. There are several good songs but Billy was my favorite. A couple friends sharing life and moving on . I could relate to it. I recommend it for Waylon fans.

Here is a brilliant and versatile artist that I believe is better than J.Cash, or W. Nelson but for some reason didn't get the accolades deserved of his talent.