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There are only a handful of country artists who are at once outlaws but in the same vein have respect for tradition. Johnny Cash is one and Bobby Bare is another. In his long and distinguished career, Bobby Bare tried various permutations and combinations in country music-from traditional country to rockabilly to folk country.
In the seventies, Bobby discovered the music of Shel Silverstein and this resulted in the classic "Lullabys, Legends and Lies" album. By the mid seventies Bobby's music was considered to be part of the outlaw movement and part of a new progressive country sound which unfortunately was short lived. The vinyl albums reproduced on this CD "Hard Time Hungrys and The Winner and Other Losers" are from that mid seventies period. The majority of the songs were again written by Shel Silverstein. Although Shel also wrote for Johnny Cash and Faron Young, his writings for Bobby show him at his artistic best.
The first album "Hard Time Hungrys" is about hard economic times and is quite relevant to today's economy where gas prices are off the wall and needed jobs are being sent overseas. One of the charms of this first album is that the producers went into the field to get commentary from ordinary folks as to their take on economic conditions. Such commentary serves as an introduction to the majority of the songs on this first album. And what great songs they are! The title track tells it like it is while "The Farmer Feeds Us All" is a sarcastic take on how the system is screwing the farmer. "Alimony" is a tongue in cheek song which warns against falling in love with the wrong woman. The victim is paying for his mistake big time. He thought he "...was getting steak but it was baloney". "Daddy's Been Around The House Too Long" shows how unemployment effects family members. "Warm and Free" is funny as hell. Then there's the loser-bank robber who is stuck with "$100,000 In Pennies". And you'll never guess who's on "The Unemployment Line".
"The Winner And Other Losers" is somewhat of a looser album. "Climbin' The Ladder And Climbin' the Walls" deals with role reversal. Here a husband and his children have to cope with a situation where the wife-mother becomes an established country singer. She is never home (always on the road) and it's beginning to show in increased family stress. "Bald Headed Woman" states that you should never judge a book by its cover and one can find true love in unexpected places. `Yes Mr. Rodgers" deals with changing social mores while "Brian Hennessey" is about a gambler who makes the wrong choices. "Dropkick Me Jesus" is both spiritual and funny.
This is a great addition to any collection and again. I must ask the question -why is Bobby Bare still not in the Country Music Hall Of Fame? Shame on you Nashville!
This reissue is on the Omni label and they handle reissues much better than the Raven label which I faulted in prior reviews
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Top reviews from other countries
Mr. M. Beasley
About time as well..............
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2013
