Only the Greatest as a title may have two meanings: the first implies the music included here, and the second implies the artist.

There is a case to be made for the latter, but in the case of the former, this is only partially true.

Waylon Jennings was one of the most evocative country music artists ever produced.

In his long career he did everything his own way, no matter what it cost him.

The 12 songs are a testament to the greatness of his mature period as an artist.

These are the singles and album tracks recorded during the 1960s when Jennings had actively gone to war with his label about using his own band in the studio and recording the material he chose, not his producers or label A&R men.

His readings of Neil Diamond's "Kentucky Woman" and Bobby Bare's "Such a Waste of Love," offer the power of his voice in a setting that was equal parts honky tonk, folk, rock, and even pop.

Each track here is a winner, from the best known, such as "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" to the least, such as Harlan Howard's underappreciated classic "California Sunrise.".