Recorded just outside of New York City at the Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY, this show would seem to have been billed in an odd place for a live radio broadcast of one of country music’s most legendary "outlaw" singer/ songwriters. But New York’s top country station at the time, in fact, WEOK, presented this radio broadcast for the Silver Eagle Cross Country Music Show syndicated series - and Bare was certainly up for the challenge of bringing his characteristic style of redneck country to the listening masses.
Captured on a tour he'd launched to promote his Drinkin’ from the Bottle,…entire summary
Bobby Bare - vocals, guitar
Tom Hamilton - steel guitar, dobro
Dave Hargis - lead guitar
Gary Kubal - drums
Ken Smith - bass
Lewis Stephens - keyboards
Recorded just outside of New York City at the Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY, this show would seem to have been billed in an odd place for a live radio broadcast of one of country music’s most legendary "outlaw" singer/ songwriters. But New York’s top country station at the time, in fact, WEOK, presented this radio broadcast for the Silver Eagle Cross Country Music Show syndicated series - and Bare was certainly up for the challenge of bringing his characteristic style of redneck country to the listening masses.
Captured on a tour he'd launched to promote his Drinkin’ from the Bottle, Singin’ from the Heart album on Columbia, Bare lays down most of his best tunes on the album for this performance - "Jogger" and "Me And Jimmie Rodgers" in particular, tunes Bare says contains references to his heroes. The record itself, interestingly enough, was a collection of songs all written by the late satirist/songwriter/poet Shel Silverstein, who had always been a close friend of Bare’s.
Kicking things off with "Good For Nothing Blues,” Bare sets the stage for a musical recreation of his real life insanity. While singing the song, he sums it all up with lines like "Hide your dishes and your daughters - anything that might get broke,” and, "The only thing my mother ever left me was alone.” When he moves to the chorus of the song, he adds "I prefer your condemnation to your sucking sympathy.”
"Good For Nothing Blues” is followed by the classic Bare standard "Drunk And Crazy,” and the selection seems more appropriate to this recording than one might think. Other highlights include Bare’s take on "Call Me The Breeze,” originally made famous by Lynyrd Skynyrd on their debut 1973 album, and Bare’s hilarious "Dropkick Me Jesus," a tune he dedicates to "all the football fans out there.” A definite gem.
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