Bobby Bare - vocals, guitar; Tom Hamilton - steel guitar, dobro; Dave Hargis - lead guitar; Gary Kubal - drums; Ken Smith - bass; Lewis Stephens - keyboards
This early show was dramatically different than its later counterpart, which was to be recorded for a live radio broadcast. Even so, Bare - sloppy and careless as ever as a performer - exudes his country outlaw charisma with conviction during this 13-song set featuring such classics as "Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother" and "Tequila Sheila."
Before Willie or Waylon were household names, Bobby Bare was banging' out great country classics, many of which were among the earliest in the repertoire to have double entendre titles. In fact, it was Bobby Bare who introduced Waylon Jennings to RCA Records and launched his career as a country singer, way back in 1965.
Bare has been on and off the country charts since the late 1950s, but his biggest success came in the latter half of the '60s and the '70s, when he took control of his career and his recordings and began producing himself.
There are some surprises during this show, most notably a hard-hitting read of "500 Miles Away From Home." Although Bare never crossed over to the mainstream pop arena - as did Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson or Waylon Jennings - he did blaze the trail that many of those country legends followed.