John Anderson - lead vocals, guitar; Mike Jordan - piano; Ax Lincoln - tack bass; Larry Emmons - bass; Jim Wolf - drums; Tom Morley - fiddle; Vern Pildren - lead guitar; Bucks Reed - pedal steel
This is Anderson's late show from the Sundance, New York club, Mixdown in 1982. Captured for the Silver Eagle Cross Country radio broadcast series as part of New York's WHN Sundance Radio series, the set features a myriad of Anderson tracks, bluegrass romps and classic country covers.
Anderson is credited with starting the "New Traditionalists" country movement, and had some of the best country hits to come out of the 1980s, including "Honky Tonk Angel." To be sure, though, he certainly owes a considerable debt to the Bakersfield, CA movement spearheaded by Merle Haggard and Buck Owens.
He does some interesting covers in the show, including a rave-up country version of the Chuck Berry classic, "Memphis, Tennessee." Anderson hadn't developed much of his original material at the time this show was recorded, but is clever in his choice of material. He adds a particularly contemporary edge to many country classic songs, such as "Statue of Fool." He also tackles traditional bluegrass, with an up-tempo version of the Osborne Brothers' song, "Rocky Top." He does venture into some originals, including "Having Hard Times," which he wrote for his first album. He ends the evening with another original from his first album, "Lonesome Low Dog Blues."
Anderson continues to tour and record, and although he never had the breakthrough success of the more modern country male vocalists such as Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban or Tim McGraw, he must be given credit for staying true to his traditional country music roots. This concert is like a trip back in time to good 'ole fashioned Nashville.