[.ca] Restless Wind: The Legendary Billy Joe Shaver 1973-1987

From Amazon.com:
In many respects, the true measure of an artist is his reputation among peers. Using this metric, Billy Joe Shaver remains one of country music's greatest assets. Culled from six records (three from the '70s and three from the '80s), this retrospective not only salutes the songwriter, but also sheds light on the gruff, effortless singer. Assisted along the way by friends including Dickey Betts, Willie Nelson, and son Eddy, Shaver sings with brutal honesty about love, faith, religion, rambling, fighting, and freedom. Despite the varied subjects, he never seems to contradict himself: He knows that all have a place in real life. More than "outlaw country," this is "outcast country." Eddy's guitar work, which accompanies all of the 1980s work, adds even more punch to his father's sound. By anyone's expectations, this would have been the definitive Shaver collection, but who'd have thought that Billy Joe and son would still be pumping out superb records throughout the 1990s? --Marc Greilsamer

The best of his breed!:
As much as I lover Willie and Johnny, they can't come close to Waylon, and even the God-like Waylon must bow a bit to Billy Joe. Look carefully at the songs from Waylon and crew that you like the most, and very likely they are penned by Shaver. This disc is simply the very best of this type. None even close.

• Black Rose
• Old Five and Dimers Like Me
• Bottom Dollar
• Lately I Been Leanin' Toward the Blues
• Texas Uphere Tennessee
• Ride Me Down Easy
• When I Get My Wings
• Restless Wind
• You Asked Me To
• Fit to Kill and Going out in Style
• Ragged Old Truck
• I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Going to Be a Diamond Someday)
• Amtrak (Ain't Coming Back)
• Low Down Freedom
• I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train
• Sweet Mama
• It Was Fun While It Lasted
• Good News Blues