‘Luckenbach, Texas’ at 40: How Waylon Jennings Created an Outlaw Fantasy

Subtitled “Back to the Basics of Love,” Jennings’ 1977 crossover hit pined for a simpler way of life that may have never existed

Dec 4, 2017 · 6 min read

Image for post — Waylon Jennings’ song “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” was released 40 years ago, earning him an indelible crossover hit. Credit: Paul Natkin/Archive Photos/Getty

Image for post — Waylon Jennings’ song “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” was released 40 years ago, earning him an indelible crossover hit. Credit: Paul Natkin/Archive Photos/Getty

By Jeff Gage

There isn’t much to see in the town of Luckenbach, Texas. It’s barely even a town. A…

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