Outlaw, unlike Chesnutt's previous work, is composed of covers of some 'Outlaw Classics'. The album includes material from Billy Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings. Chesnutt said “When I was first approached to record this CD, my reaction wasn’t just ‘yes,’ but ‘hell, yeah. I cut my teeth on this kind of music, and it’s an opportunity [that might not have otherwise presented itself] for me to pay tribute to some of my biggest heroes in country music.”[1] Producer Pete Anderson commended Chesnutt on the work he did with the record by saying “Mark Chesnutt put on a vocal display like I’ve never before seen in the studio. He stood in front of the mic and sang the whole record, from beginning to end, flawlessly [and in less than three hours]. We are all amazed at the results. There may be singers out there as good as Mark, but there are none better and, at this point in my career, I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with this caliber of talent.”[2]