This volume in the Austin City Limits series
Live from Austin, Texas features
Kris Kristofferson in 1981 playing a solid program of his hits -- "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Lovin' Her Was Easier Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," "The Pilgrim," "Silver Tongued Devil," and material from his classic yet under-heard album To the Bone -- his post-divorce record after his breakup with
Rita Coolidge -- from the same year, such as the opener "Star Crossed," "Magdalene," and "Nobody Loves Anybody Anymore."
Kristofferson is in fine form here: he's rowdy, full of piss and vinegar, and has a crack band including guitarist
Stephen Bruton, bassist Tommy McLure, drummer
Sammy Creason, keyboard boss
Donnie Fritts, and Billy Swann and
Glen Clark -- both of whom double on guitars and keyboards. There are 16 tunes in this program and it is one of the finer editions in the
Live from Austin, Texas series. ~ Thom Jurek