1981 Barbara Mandrell – Live
Barbara Mandrell Live is a live album by the American country music singer Barbara Mandrell, released in August 1981.
This album spawned two hit singles, “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” and “Wish You Were Here”. “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” became Mandrell’s signature song, and a return to her roots, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart in 1981. The song features an uncredited appearance by George Jones. “Wish You Were Here” peaked at #2 on the Billboard country charts, and also appeared on the (Billboard) Adult Contemporary charts, reaching #40. The album includes cover versions of popular songs, including “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and the Hank Williams’ hit “Hey Good Lookin'”, and closes with a full-length vocal version of “Country Girl”, the theme song to Mandrell’s 1980-82 television show, Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.
This album was one of Mandrell’s biggest-selling albums in the United States, receiving a “Gold” certification by the RIAA, after the album moved 500,000 copies. It is only one of two albums by Mandrell that received a certification by the RIAA in the United States. The album peaked at #4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart (her highest peak position on that chart), as well as #86 on the Billboard 200. In Cashbox Magazine, both singles peaked at #1 and the album itself reached the top spot in November of 1981.
Tracks
1 Intro . . . / Sleeping Single In A Double Bed (Dennis Morgan; Kye Fleming) 02:43
2 Unsung Heroes (Dennis Morgan; Kye Fleming) 03:52
3 She’s Out There Dancin’ Alone (Geoffrey Morgan) 04:08
4 Doin’ It Right (Charlie Bundy; Gary Smith; Gene Miller; Lonnie Webb; Mike Jones; Randy Wright) 02:20
5 Years / Love Is Fair (Dennis Morgan; Kye Fleming) 03:44
6 Hey Good Lookin’ (Hank Williams) 03:07
7 Wish You Were Here (Dennis Morgan; Kye Fleming) 03:03
8 Instrumental Medley (Bascom Lamar Lunsford; Scott Wiseman; Floyd Jenkins; Jimmy Forrest; Oscar Washington; Lewis Simpkins; Joe Maphis) 07:57
9 In My Heart (Fred Carlton) 02:19
10 I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool (Dennis Morgan; Kye Fleming) 03:54
11 The Battle Hymn Of The Republic () 03:58
12 Country Girl (Dennis Morgan; Kye Fleming) 02:59
Biography
Musicians
Bass | Charlie Bundy |
Drums | Randy Wright |
Guitar | Gene Miller |
Guitar | Barbara Mandrell |
Acoustic Guitar | Gene Miller |
Banjo | Barbara Mandrell |
Dobro | Barbara Mandrell |
Mandolin | Mike Jones |
Mandolin | Barbara Mandrell |
Steel Guitar | Mike Jones |
Steel Guitar | Barbara Mandrell |
Electric Piano | Gary Smith |
Piano | Gary Smith |
Synthesizer | Gary Smith |
Synthesizer | Lonnie Webb |
Sax | Barbara Mandrell |
Background Vocals | Charlie Bundy |
Background Vocals | Randy Wright |
Background Vocals | Gene Miller |
Background Vocals | Gary Smith |
Background Vocals | Lonnie Webb |
Vocals | Barbara Mandrell |
Other Musicians
10 I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool
Bass | Neil Stubenhaus |
Drums | Mike Baird |
Guitar | Marty Walsh |
Guitar | Fred Newell |
Acoustic Guitar | Fred Tackett |
Acoustic Guitar | Jimmy Capps |
Steel Guitar | Sonny Garrish |
Banjo | Fred Newell |
Piano | David Briggs |
Harmonica | Charlie McCoy |
Vibraphone | Charlie McCoy |
Percussion | Farrell Morris |
Background Vocals | Anita Ball |
Background Vocals | Lea Jane Berinati |
Background Vocals | Vicki Hampton |
Liner Notes
Producer – Tom Collins
Engineer – Les Ladd
Engineer (Assistant) – Johnny Rosen, Ken Corlew, Mervin Louque, Russ Martin, Steve Ham
Mastered By – Denny Purcell
Art Direction – George Osaki
Photography – Jim McGuire
Mastered At Woodland Studios
Recorded At Roy Acuff Theater, Nashville
Recorded By Fanta Sound