<\/p>\n
There\u2019s often the perception that artists operating in the same genre must be rivals. It\u2019s a narrative that\u2019s been amplified for the media for years but often, it\u2019s simply not the case at all. In 1984, four of the biggest Country music artists in the genre \u2013 Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson \u2013 came together as The Highwaymen (a name that took some years to land after the release of their first two albums). The four artists had been admirers of one another for years, with a history between them that surpassed their time in the spotlight up to that point. By the time the legends came together, each was at a different point in their career with Nelson being the biggest star at the time.<\/p>\n
The first project from the foursome was 1985\u2019s \u2018Highwayman\u2019, which features a mixture of covers and originals across the 10 tracks. The title track was the first single, a cover of Jimmy Webb\u2019s song, and it was a huge hit. The album was produced by Chips Moman and it saw the foursome sharing lead vocals in different combinations. \u2018Highwayman\u2019 showcases all four of the artists on lead vocals while three songs on the record \u2013 \u2018Jim, I Wore a Tie Today\u2019, Cash original \u2018Committed to Parkview\u2019 and a cover of Steve Goodman\u2019s \u2018The Twentieth Century is Almost Over\u2019 \u2013 featured Cash and Nelson on lead vocals.<\/p>\n