The Best Live Country Album Ever

Jerry Jeff Walker is one of several Texas singer/songwriters that came to prominence in the 1970s. He covers 4 of his fellow songwriters on this recording, in addition to his own songs.

The performances on Viva (1973) ushered in a new style, as much rock and folk as country, and that eschewed the “Nashville sound”. Nashville in the 1960s felt threatened by Rock and Roll and had turned away from Honky Tonk styling to use strings, fancy background vocals and more of a “pop” feel.

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Viva inspired other, mostly Texas, musicians, most prominently Willie Nelson’s breakout album “Red Headed Stranger” (1975), which made Nelson a star (at the age of 42.) (BTW: “Red Headed Stranger” is in the running for the best country album ever.)

Walker is best known for his song Mr. Bojangles - (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), which was covered by scores of other singers, among them, Bob Dylan, John Denver, Nina Simone, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Sammy Davis Jr. (It is not on Viva Terlingua!.)

The songs he covers are terrific. Guy Clark's "Desperados Waiting for the Train," Ray Wylie Hubbard's "Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother," Michael Murphy's "Backslider's Wine," and Gary P. Nunn's “London Homesick Blues."

What you have on Viva is a collection of tremendous songs, performed by top- notch musicians who were clearly enjoying themselves. The backup band was the “Lost Gonzo Band.” The name came from Hunter S. Thompson. Walker and Thompson were friends.

As allmusic.com states: “It doesn't sound anything like it was recorded in front of an audience, but it does sound live as hell.”

Some cuts:

Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother

Somewhat tongue in cheek.

Gettin By

Desperados Waiting for the Train

Bittersweet song that Guy Clark wrote for an oil driller named Jack Prigg,” said Clark in 1996. “That one’s as true as I can make it, about a guy who was kind of like my grandfather. He lived in my grandmother’s hotel [Clark Hotel in Monahans, Texas] from the time I was born. During World War II, my dad was overseas [in the army], and he [Prigg] was the male figure around.”

Little Bird

London Homesick Blues

Austin City Limits‘ theme song

I bought Viva Terlingua! when it was released, and I literally wore it out.

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