Take It to the Limit (Willie Nelson album)

Take It to the Limit
File:NelsonJenningsTakeItToTheLimit.jpg
Studio album by Willie Nelson with Waylon Jennings
Released	April 1983
Genre	Country, outlaw country
Length	33:44
Label	Columbia
Producer	Chips Moman
Waylon Jennings chronology
It's Only Rock & Roll (1983)It's Only Rock & Roll1983 Take It to the Limit (1983) Waylon and Company (1983)Waylon and Company1983
Willie Nelson chronology
Always on My Mind (1982) Take It to the Limit (1983) Tougher Than Leather (1983)

Take It to the Limit is an album by Willie Nelson with Waylon Jennings, released in 1983 on Columbia Records.

Background

Take It to the Limit was the third Jennings/Nelson duet album and the second to be produced by Chips Moman. Whereas their previous album together, 1982's WWII, had contained more Waylon solo tracks, this LP includes five tracks sung solely by Willie. The title actually reads Wille Nelson with Waylon Jennings, likely the result of the LP being released on Nelson's label CBS (the previous two duet albums had been released on RCA). The title song was written by Eagles' members Randy Meisner, Don Henley and Glenn Frey and performed by the Eagles on their 1975 album, One of These Nights, while "Homeward Bound" was originally by Simon and Garfunkel. Take It to the Limit was the next-to-last collaboration between Jennings and Nelson; of the four duets albums released by the singers, 1978's Waylon & Willie achieved the greatest success. Despite the fact that neither singer was in top artistic form and Jennings' most successful days were already over, the record managed to chart, peaking at #3, as did WWII. "Why Do I Have to Choose" also reached #3, while the title track reached #8 on the singles chart.

Reception

In his review of the album for AllMusic, James Chrispell writes, "it sounds like these two hombres are just plain tired and saddle-sore from all the high riding days of the past. Most of the tunes are covers of previous hits by other artists and have little in association with what Willie (or Waylon) are about except for their take on George Jones' "Why Baby Why." By this time, fans were beginning to say the same thing." Author Joe Nick Paroski stated in his 2008 book Willie Nelson that the LP "reflected a growing distance. The effort sounded half-hearted, as if they were recording together only because it made good business, and it clocked in at a mere thirty-four minutes."

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link

Track listing

1. "No Love at All" (Johnny Christopher, Wayne Carson Thompson) – 2:42
2. "Why Do I Have to Choose" (Willie Nelson) – 3:12
3. "Why Baby Why" (Darrell Edwards, George Jones) – 2:40
4. "We Had It All" (Donnie Fritts, Troy Seals) – 3:06
5. "Take It to the Limit" (Randy Meisner, Glenn Frey, Don Henley) – 3:50
6. "Homeward Bound" (Paul Simon) – 3:29
7. "Blackjack County Chain" (Red Lane) – 2:59
8. "'Til I Gain Control Again" (Rodney Crowell) – 4:57
9. "Old Friends" (Roger Miller) – 3:33
10. "Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)" (David Allan Coe) – 3:16

Production

• Producer: Chips Moman
• Art Direction: Virginia Team
• Cover Illustration Bill Imhoff
• Photo of Willie: Beverly Parker
• Photo of Waylon: Charlyn Zlotnick

Personnel

• Drums: Gene Christman, Paul English
• Bass: Mike Leach, Bee Spears
• Guitars: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Chips Moman, Reggie Young, Grady Martin, Johnny Christopher
• Keyboards: Bobby Nelson, Bobby Wood
• Saxophone: Jon Marett
• Harmony Vocals: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Toni Wine, Lisa Silver, Harry Huffman, Chips Moman, Bobby Wood, Johnny Christopher, David Alan Coe, Garry Talley

Chart performance

Chart (1983)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums	3
U.S. Billboard 200	60