Kris Kristofferson Album: “Live From Austin, Tx: Kris Kristofferson [Digipak]”

Description :

Personnel: Kris Kristofferson (guitar); Glen Clark, Stephen Bruton, Billy Swan (guitar); Donnie Fritts (keyboards); Tommy McClure (bass instrument); Sammy Creason (drums). <p>The LIVE FROM AUSTIN, TX, series scores another win with this 1981 concert set from country icon Kris Kristofferson. Released in 2006, just in time for the Kristofferson revival (the tribute album THE PILGRIM, which featured several high-profile artists covering the artist's songs, was released in the same year), the disc features the legend at his singing-and-songwriting best. Not only are the performances outstanding, but the set list includes many of Kristofferson's finest compositions, including the yearning "Help Me Make It Through the Night," the melancholic "Casey's Last Ride," and the perennial favorite "Me and Bobby McGee." The concert, recorded for the legendary TV show AUSTIN CITY LIMITS, is also available on DVD.

Performed in '81, this concert takes us back to the days when Kristofferson was still a "contemporary" songwriter...i.e., he was still having chart success as a writer. He has since become a legend (hell, he was a legend somewhere around the time his first song got recorded), and is an influence to songwriters of every genre, from country to rock, from folk to R&B. Ironically enough, all of those genres find their way onto this stellar live CD.

It's the concert that almost never was...the night of the scheduled show, a rat chewed through some wires, sending the studio into a blackout. Kristofferson returned the next night invigorated (and armed with a new rat joke) and ready to play the whole night through. These sixteen songs are among his best...from the opening rocker "Star Crossed" to the closing gospel ballad "Why Me." Upbeat, rockin' versions of "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Loving Her Was Easier" parallel the Waylon Jennings covers, yet sound as if they were written to be rocked out. Kristofferson gets controversial on "Magdalene" and sentimental on "For the Good Times" and reflective on "The Pilgrim" and stoned on "Sunday Morning Coming Down." The over-all effect of LIVE FROM AUSTIN TX is this: Kris Kristofferson at his performance peak. He's still the best dang singer/songwriter out there, and if you have any doubts in your head about that, just pick up a copy of this album and LISTEN. Listen with your heart and soul, because that's where this music is going to hit you hardest.