Customer Reviews

Country's Greatest Stars Live: Vol. 1

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This is a three hour show that aired in 1978 under the title 50 Years of Country Music. It has a balanced mix of the older more established country singers and some of the newer generation (from the 70s viewpoint). It is especially valuable in that many of the performers shown here are no longer with us (i.e. Johnny Cash, Roy Acuff, Ray Charles, Bill Monroe, Ernest Tubb, Minnie Pearl, Charlie Rich, Tammy Wynette, and Chet Atkins). Although there is a track listing on the Country Music Hall of Fame's website, here is an abridged version.

Disc 1 First hour hosted by Glen Campbell; second hour by Dolly Parton

Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell
Wabash Cannonball - Roy Acuff
I'll Get Over You - Crystal Gayle
Silver Haired Daddy of Mine - Gene Autry (vintage clip)
Back in the Saddle Again - Glen Campbell
Louisiana Man - Doug Kershaw
I'll Go To My Grave Loving You - Statler Brothers
You and Me - Tammy Wynette
Your Love Put a Song In My Heart - Johnny Rodriguez
Take These Chains From My Heart - Ray Charles
Bye Bye Love - Glen Campbell and Ray Charles
Greatest Hits medley - Glen Campbell
Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
Blue Moon of Kentucky - Bill Monroe
Muleskinner Blues - Dolly Parton and Bill Monroe
Our Love is Home Grown - Earl Scruggs Revue
Patsy Cline medley - Loretta Lynn
I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love - Larry Gatlin & Gatlin Bros.
Cowgirl and the Dandy - Dolly Parton
Carter Family medley - The Carters with Jan Howard
If You're Ever in Nashville - Carlene Carter
Bob Wills medley - Merle Haggard & Texas Playboys
Hits medley - Dolly Parton

Disc 2 Hosted by Roy Clark

Rocky Top - Roy Clark
Jimmie Rogers medley - Ernest Tubb
Comedy Routine - Roy Clark and Minnie Pearl
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels - Kitty Wells
You're the One - Oak Ridge Boys
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - Mel Tillis
Behind Closed Doors - Charlie Rich
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
One Piece At A Time - Johnny Cash (with clip)
Orange Blossom Special - Johnny Cash and Roy Clark
Ghost Riders in the Sky - Roy Clark
Winter Walking - Chet Atkins
Nashville Brass Howdown - Danny Davis & Nashville Brass with Stoney Mt Cloggers
Hank Williams medley - Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton, Roy Clark

I remember when this series of shows first aired on NBC in 1978. When the Country Music Hall of Fame started issuing compilations of historic TV shows and performers such as the Flatt & Scruggs, Marty Robbins, and Merle Haggard, I suggested they look into securing the rights to issue what I've considered the two most important country music specials to ever air - this show, and another, the Public Television airings of two entire Saturday night Grand Ole Opry shows in the late '70s. Thankfully, one of them, Country's Greatest Stars, has finally been made available to enjoy on volume 1 and volume 2 of this set.
Both DVDs are a must for any country music fan. The performances on these shows are fantastic! A rare chance to see many of these historic stars, all singing their greatest hits from various eras of the music, taped live for a network broadcast - something unheard of even today! Even today's Country Music Association Awards Shows never give sufficient time to their Hall of Fame inductees during the broadcasts. This show is a goldmine!
My favorite performances have to be the various medleys by such stars as Roger Miller, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and especially Eddy Arnold. As host of the final hour, Arnold, at 60 years of age, is still in great voice, and he gets plenty of chances to prove it with four musical segments. His medley of hits, accompanied only by his guitar, is a condensed version of exactly what he would do in his personal appearances during that period. It's a priceless performance! The orchestra, conducted by Bill Walker, backs up Arnold's other selections, just as Walker did on many of Eddy's recordings. Arnold gets a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of the show, which was taped at the then relatively new Grand Ole Opry House.
Sure, there are a bunch of great '70s era country stars - The Kendalls, Ronnie McDowell, Johnny Rodriguez, Crystal Gayle, etc. - and they all sound great, but it's the mix of both veteran and younger acts that make this show an historical masterpiece!
Thanks to the Hall of Fame for releasing this set, and let's hope we'll see that other request of mine, the PBS Grand Ole Opry telecasts, sometime soon!

This and volume 2 is a MUSTHAVE for anyone who enjoys Country Music.In both collections there are wonderful performances by some that are no longer with us like Johnny Cash,Charlie Rich,Minnie Pearl,Ray Charles,Chet Atkins,Lester Flatt,TN Ernie Ford,Eddy Arnold.The folks at Shout Factory are to be commended for putting this out.

I have both volumes 1 & 2. This is SOOOOOOOOO GOOD. If you are a classic music fan, BUY IT! You will not be disappointed. You can see all your favorites in the 1970s when they were young. Watching/listening to Charlie Pride as I type this. He is one of the hosts. WOW! So good.