10 Great Covers Of The Beatles' Songs
3. Norwegian Wood - Waylon Jennings
Alongside Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and David Allan Coe, singer-songwriter Waylon Jennings helped define the Outlaw Country movement, bringing a gritty edge back to country music which the genre had largely been stripped of, thanks to the dominance of the slick, Nashville sound.
Jennings began his career at an early age, appearing on local radio at just twelve years old. He was a good friend of Buddy Holly, who arranged the aspiring musician's' first recording sessions, and for whom Jennings later played bass. Waylon escaped death by the narrowest margin, giving up his seat on a plane which later crashed, claiming the lives of Holly, Rtichie Valens and The Big Bopper.
Norwegian Wood first appeared on The Beatles' 1965 album, Rubber Soul. Credited to Lennon/McCartney, the song is considered a landmark in the development of the band, and is credited as being the first Western rock record to feature the sitar (played by George Harrison).
Jennings' version retains all the melodic charm of the original, but adds a unique atmosphere, quite different from The Beatles.