Shooter Jennings Archives Unreleased Waylon Jennings Music
Waylon Jennings unreleased music archive
Shooter Jennings has launched a significant archival project dedicated to rescuing and releasing a collection of long-lost studio recordings belonging to his father, country music icon Waylon Jennings. The project, which officially began following the identification of hundreds of unlabelled digital files, aims to present a comprehensive trilogy of albums that showcase previously unheard material. Shooter, a Grammy-winning producer, has spent the past year overseeing the restoration of these tapes at the historic Sunset Sound Studio 3, ensuring the final output remains faithful to the era in which the music was originally captured.
The production process relies on a commitment to analog authenticity, with Shooter utilizing a custom 1976 DeMedio API mixing board to maintain the sonic character synonymous with his father’s classic sound. By bringing in surviving members of Waylon’s touring band, The Waylors, along with contemporary vocalists, Shooter has added final production polish while ensuring the creative spirit of the original sessions remains intact. He noted that the experience has provided a new perspective on his father’s artistry, revealing a sentimental and traditional depth that often contrasted with the outlaw image for which the elder Jennings was widely known.
The first installment of the trilogy, titled Songbird, was released on October 3, 2025, and focuses on recordings tracked between 1973 and 1984. Shooter has confirmed that the subsequent two albums are currently in development and will feature additional unreleased tracks, including collaborative sessions with his mother, Jessi Colter. The project serves as both a historical preservation effort and a final creative dialogue between father and son, intended to introduce these lost works to both long-time fans and a new generation of listeners.
You can explore the latest releases and project updates via the Shooter Jennings Archive Portal.
