This is the definitive textbook on how country music ..real country music..should be remembered. Unlike today's mindless, fabrictaed country pop fluff and artists who can't sing on pitch when they perform live, Hag and the Strangers show that talent and a few Tele's and Twins can still rise above pitch correctors and lip syncing.

The tone on Roy Nichol's tele and the perfectly flawless singing by Hag and Bonnie Owens still leave me with my mouth open.

Recorded in a school gym somewhere in Oklahoma with bare bones PA and no frills, this live album set the standard for me and alot of my contemporaries.

This is the holy Grail of country...you cant afford to NOT own this recording.

JOhn Beland

Flying Burrito Brothers

Austin TX

www.johnbeland.com

Merle Hagard has long been to me the quenticential country singer.His style of singing has an almost spiritual value, it clearly shows its gospel roots. Listening to many of these songs as a child, I can still remember many of the words to his truly timeless songs. His music takes me back to better days.This music means more today thhen when it first came out.

This is Merle Haggard at his live best--not the shot performer we occasionally hear now and cringe. He only did one better live album, and I fear it's out of print. It's the one he made in Philadelphia, with 'Harold's Super Service," on it, along with him singing impressions of Buck Owens, Marty Robins, even JOhnny Cash. Until that one is re-issued, if it ever is, this one will have to do--and it's a good piece of work.. "Sing me Back Home," Branded Man," "Mama Tried, Etc., certainly weren't on the Philadelphia album, released around 1970 or so. "in the Arms of Love," is terrific--not sung by Merle but one of his boys who never amounted to anything, sadly. I love "Billy Overcame his Size," because I've always been the one overcoming stuff--blindness, asthma, small size, etc., and trying to make a living of it. this is the one Haggard album I'd buy if I could only buy one.

This album is great.

I would just like to add the previous reviewer Donald mentioned another live album that is just one of my all time favorite live albums. It is called "The Fightin' Side of Me". It is a little tough to find though because it is on a double CD. If you search for "Just Between the Two of Us" you will see "The Fightin'Side of Me" which has "Harold's Super Service", "Medley: Devil Woman, I'm Movin On, Folsom Prison Blues, Jackson, Orange Blossom Special, Love's Gonna Live Here" "T.B.Blues" etc...It is truly an incredible album.

Very happy with this purchase! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *A++